Florida doctors want more children to get vaccinated against infectious diseases
As the new school year begins, health care providers in Florida are raising vaccine awareness to avoid having clusters of undervaccinated children that lead to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Florida has immunization requirements that apply to children attending day care facilities as well as public and private schools. But rates in the state, like in the rest of the country, have fallen to below pre-pandemic levels. [Source: WLRN]
Global emergency declared over a new mpox outbreak. What to know in Florida
Federal and state health officials are still recording cases of mpox in the U.S., including in Florida, but none so far are caused by the more contagious clade I strain fueling the wave of infections in Africa, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Source: Miami Herald]
Judge schedules hearing in a dispute over Medicaid-managed contracts
An administrative law judge has scheduled a September hearing in cases filed by two health plans that allege the state improperly shut them out of new Medicaid managed-care contracts. The health plans AmeriHealth Caritas Florida Inc. and Sentara Care Alliance LLC are challenging decisions by the state Agency for Health Care Administration to deny them contracts to manage care for Medicaid beneficiaries. [Source: News Service of Florida]
A conversation on all sides of Florida's controversial abortion amendment
Abortion is a polarizing issue. But whatever your opinion, if you’re a Floridian voting this November, you’ll have a say in whether access is written into the state constitution. The proposed Amendment 4 says, in part, that no “law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider.” [Source: WUSF]
The clock is ticking as Florida Blue and Baptist Health negotiate new contract
Florida Blue is the state’s largest health insurer, and it may soon be rejected at Baptist Health facilities. Florida Blue Insurance continues to negotiate with Baptist Health, the two sides have been at it since February but have not agreed to a deal. If the parties can’t reach an agreement before October, Baptist would be considered out-of-network for thousands of patients, making care unaffordable for many. [Source: News 4 Jax]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Orlando Health bids $439M to bankrupt Steward Health for 3 Florida hospitals
Orlando Health has made an offer to buy bankrupt Steward Health Care’s “Space Coast” Florida properties for $439 million, according to a court document filed Wednesday. The qualified, binding purchase agreement includes Rockledge Regional Medical Center and Melbourne Regional Medical Center, both in Brevard County, and Sebastian River Medical Center in Indian River County. The deal also includes some of Steward’s medical clinics in those areas.
› What lower prescription drug prices mean for South Florida seniors
Sherri Williams may no longer see as many patients who don’t take their prescription medication because they can’t afford it. On Friday, the Miramar nurse practitioner applauded the Biden administration’s agreement with drugmakers to lower prices on the 10 costliest prescription drugs under Medicare.
› 'Higher quality of life': New UF Health urgent care center opens in east Gainesville
A new UF Health urgent care center has expanded the hospital’s presence in east Gainesville. More than 100 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday of the UF Health Urgent Care Center – Eastside – an 8,900-square-foot building that features state-of-the-art equipment and amenities that will serve as an alternative to the emergency room for non-life threatening injuries and conditions, officials say.
› Affordable housing crisis forces Tampa General to build its own
Worried by the lack of affordable housing for its workers, Tampa General Hospital is moving ahead with plans for a $60 million apartment complex that will be offered to employees at rents below market rate. The hospital has already secured $10 million from the state budget toward the cost of a 160-unit apartment block on Delaney Creek Boulevard in Brandon.