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Florida Trend Health Care
Measles is a 'heat-seeking missile' experts warn as Florida outbreak grows
Measles is a 'heat-seeking missile' experts warn as Florida outbreak grows
Florida’s outbreak is the largest in the U.S. right now. And what Florida’s health officials are doing — or not doing — is drawing fire from experts who study the way diseases spread. Measles is so contagious and has such a long incubation period that the decision of the state’s Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo to let parents decide whether to quarantine their children or let them keep going to school could allow cases to spread, experts warn. More from Yahoo News, NBC Miami, and Health News Florida.
Florida House gives final OK to health care bills that next head to DeSantis
The Florida House on Thursday gave final approval to a wide-ranging health care plan that supporters say will help prepare for future population growth and fuel innovation. With little discussion, the House voted 117-1 to pass two bills (SB 7016 and SB 7018) that have been priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. The Senate last month unanimously passed the bills, which are ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. More from the News Service of Floridaand WTVT.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Unlocking stem cells' cardiac benefits
More than 20 years ago, University of Miami heart transplant cardiologist Joshua Hare became convinced that stem cells infused into heart attack patients would turn into new, healthy cells to replace damaged ones. So far, that hasn’t happened. But Hare, founding director of the university’s Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, still believes that stem cells represent a future in which cardiac care involves less medication and fewer surgeries. [Source: Florida Trend]
What a federal lawsuit filed by Florida means for low-income children’s health care
The end of pandemic-era protections has meant the end of Medicaid coverage for more than 17 million low-income Americans so far. Now, Florida is considering other changes to how it provides health insurance to children from low- to moderate-income families, expanding access for some and limiting it for others. [Source: PBS]
Walgreens closing in-store medical clinics across Florida
Walgreens is closing about 50 of its VillageMD clinics inside Florida stores next month, according to several industry reports. The closings are expected to happen after March 15, but according to the company’s website, 14 of its 52 clinics in the state have already shut down, including ones in St. Petersburg, New Port Richey, Nokomis and Zephyrhills. [Source: Business Observer]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Growing e-commerce healthcare company plots Miami move. What it means for caregivers
Carewell, a Charlotte-based online retailer focused on providing family caregivers with tools and resources to care for family members facing Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, plans to move its headquarters to Miami. To make the move, Carewell secured nearly $25 million in capital from investors, including from a team based in Coral Gables, and has hired four former executives from Plantation-based Chewy, an online pet goods retailer.
› New name for Bayfront as Orlando Health rebrands historic hospital
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg hospital is to be renamed next month, the second rebranding of the once-city-owned hospital in little more than 10 years. The South St. Petersburg hospital will be known from March 1 as Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital, reflecting its place as part of the health care chain that purchased the hospital in 2020.
› South Florida call centers linked to multi-billion dollar Medicare fraud scheme
Investigators describe it as a multi-billion-dollar fraud scheme targeting people who rely on Medicare services. A recorded phone call provided to NBC6 by federal investigators shows how criminals are targeting seniors from our own backyard. Investigators say it came from a call center tucked away inside an office building in Boca Raton.
› Orange County considers tapping COVID funds to ease residents' medical debts
Orange County commissioners are moving forward with a plan to erase residents' medical debt by using $4.5 million from leftover COVID-19 funding. The money comes from the county's share of the American Rescue Plan, and could allow for thousands of residents to have their debts cleared.
Previous Health Care Updates:
- A Florida health provider says better building design can help patients heal
- Florida hospitals: Building boom
- Abortion proposal on Florida's November ballot might not end legal fights about the issue
- More leprosy cases are popping up in Florida. Why an ancient disease might be endemic
- Thousands of Florida kids lost Medicaid, now some have no coverage
- Stuck in licensing limbo, Florida nursing students want answers. They're not getting them
- How a nationwide cyberattack is impacting Florida patients and hospitals
- The computer will see you now: Artificial Intelligence usage grows at Florida hospitals
