Florida's Medicaid enrollment numbers dip below 4.8 million in January

| 2/20/2024

Florida's Medicaid enrollment numbers dip below 4.8 million in January

Enrollment in Florida’s Medicaid program dipped slightly below 4.8 million in January, continuing months of decreases that began after the end of a federal public health emergency last spring. Data posted on the state Agency for Health Care Administration website showed 4,799,446 people enrolled in January, down from 4,866,692 in December, 4,946,551 in November and 5,105,874 in October. The federal government declared a public health emergency in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Florida Trend Exclusive
AI's emerging role in cardiac care

Sumit Verma is a board-certified specialist in cardiac electrophysiology and cardiovascular disease with Baptist Health Care in Pensacola. In a recent interview with FLORIDA TREND, he discussed the impact that artificial intelligence (AI) is having on the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. [Source: Florida Trend]

Commentary: A prescription for a robust health care workforce in Florida

We’re all aware that Florida’s population continues to grow rapidly as our state welcomes over 1,000 new residents each day. With this growth comes many challenges, and perhaps the most urgent is the shortage of health care professionals who can meet the needs of this expanding population. Fortunately, state leaders are determined to do something about it. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Florida health officials investigate measles outbreak at school

The Florida Department of Health is carrying out an epidemiological investigation surrounding the multiple cases of measles at a Broward County elementary school over the weekend. DOH-Broward announced on Sunday that it is investigating the cases in response to the four reported cases that appeared at Manatee Bay Elementary School in Weston over the weekend. More from The Hill and CBS News.

The number of abortions performed in Florida is steadily rising

The number of patients receiving abortions in Florida each year continues to rise. There were 84,052 abortions performed in Florida last year, according to an update to 2023 totals that the Agency for Health Care Administration published on Jan. 31. That’s up from 82,192 in 2022. The increase in abortion totals was once again driven by patients who don't live in Florida but traveled to the state for the procedure. [Source: Health News Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida woman in ‘shock’ over $6K bill for lifesaving rabies treatment after bat bite [Tampa Bay Times]
A suspected bat bite turned into a $6,000 hospital bill for a Seminole County woman. Worried she may have been exposed to rabies, Caroline Ford sought treatment from AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. She called her insurance company, Anthem Blue Cross, and expected she’d need to pay about $600 based on her conversation over the phone.

› $717 million health care access bill clears its final House committee [Health News Florida]
A bill to address the state’s growing doctor shortage has cleared its final House committee. The House Health & Human Services Committee on Thursday unanimously approved the bill (HB 1549), sponsored by House Majority Leader Michael Grant, R-Port Charlotte. The Senate passed its version (SB 7016) last month. The measure has been a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo.

› Miami Cancer Institute to host second Precision Oncology Symposium to advance cancer treatment [South Florida Business Journal]
Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, will host its second annual Precision Oncology Symposium from April 19-20, according to the symposium organizers. This one-and-a-half-day symposium, to be held in Miami, has been designed to provide an overview and opportunity to learn about the most recent advances in the treatment of solid tumors — including lung cancer, breast cancer, gastrointestinal tumors, genitourinary tumors, head and neck tumors, melanoma, sarcomas, and brain tumors — by novel targeted agents and treatment combinations.

› Recovery high schools in Florida help teens learn and heal from addiction [WUSF]
High school can be a tough place for any kid, especially students struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. A few schools in Florida are dedicated to helping kids stay sober while they earn their diplomas. There are no hallways lined with lockers or rowdy cafeterias. Teens share one classroom and do coursework through Grade Results, an online learning platform that offers state-approved curriculum. Teachers offer one-on-one support, while behavioral health specialists tend to kids’ emotional needs.

Tags: Health Care eNews

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