Florida will have to wait on plan that would have boosted rural health care
When Florida lawmakers begin budget conference talks Tuesday, a priority of Senate President Ben Albritton to improve health care in rural areas looks to be off the table. Lawmakers aren’t expected to approve Albritton’s “rural renaissance” plan, which seeks to also bolster education, transportation and economic development in rural areas. Albritton’s proposal included $25 million for mobile health care units and telehealth kiosks and $25 million to help physicians and advanced registered nurse practitioners start practices in the state’s more sparsely populated areas [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida attorney general issues subpoenas to hospitals for probe into price transparency
Noting that "we must protect patients," Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Friday opened an investigation into the price transparency and billing practices of Florida hospitals. "For years, many hospitals have extorted patients who have come in with life-or-death cases and left with crippling debt," Uthmeier said in a video posted on X. "Florida is not going to sit by on the sidelines." [Source: Health News Florida]
DeSantis vetoes ‘free kill’ malpractice bill
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday vetoed a bill aimed at clearing the way for some people to pursue medical malpractice lawsuits over the deaths of family members. DeSantis, who earlier had indicated he would veto the bill (HB 6017), said during an appearance at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers that the proposal could “open flood gates” for litigation. The bill would have repealed a long-controversial 1990 law that prevents people ages 25 and older from seeking what are known as “non-economic” damages in medical malpractice cases involving deaths of their parents. More from WUSF and the Florida Phoenix
Hackers stole $3M from Florida nonprofit as health firms remain target
In the past month, two more Florida health care firms have joined a growing list of companies that have reported incidents of hacking or unauthorized access of patients’ personal data. Information on more than 4,000 patients of DermCare Management and Apollo Medical Supply were exposed in two separate breaches, according to recent reports made to the Department of Health and Human Services. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Pediatric flu deaths remain high in Florida as child vaccination rates fall
The latest influenza season is over in Florida, with state data showing a high number of pediatric deaths and leaving some public health experts concerned for future seasons as vaccination rates fall. For the past two years, Florida's pediatric deaths have been high relative to recent years, with the 2023-24 and the 2024-25 seasons both seeing a total of 20 deaths, according to the state Department of Health. This season, Florida's total made up 9% of the national pediatric deaths observed. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Brevard’s billion-dollar battle for patients: Orlando Health vs. Health First
Brevard County’s growing population has triggered a billion-dollar race to build new medical facilities, following Orlando Health’s recent closure of Rockledge Hospital. Orlando Health shut down the 298-bed Rockledge facility in April, citing the hospital’s deteriorating condition when it was acquired from Steward Health Care. But rather than abandon the Space Coast, Orlando Health has committed to an aggressive $750 million expansion plan throughout the county. Health First, Brevard’s other major hospital system, isn’t sitting idle.
› New technology improving organ transplants in South Florida
If you’ve ever known someone on the organ transplant wait list you know the process is grueling, emotional and there’s no guarantee you may get off that list. As of today — more than 100,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant according to data collected by a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. New technology being used in South Florida is increasing the amount of successful organ transplants.
› Bridging academia and industry, UNF health care program to tackle nonprofit challenges
Poised at the cross section of health care and innovation, MedNexus — the University of North Florida’s health education initiative — is partnering with Jacksonville-based telemedicine provider Telescope Health to solve real-world challenges facing nonprofits. It’s the launch of what its leaders hope will be an annual program connecting teams of UNF’s honors college students with specifically health care nonprofit organizations.
› Survivors bring fight over cancer linked to breast implants to Tampa
The gathering in Tampa drew women from as as far as Europe. It was organized by the Breast Implant Safety Alliance, a nonprofit group made up mainly of survivors. The group hoped to to put more pressure on plastic surgeons and oncologists who attended a breast implant safety conference in downtown Tampa.