Therapy halted for kids across Florida after audit reveals bogus therapists
Thousands of disabled and autistic children in Florida are losing medically-prescribed therapy after an audit revealed that unqualified therapists were being paid through Medicaid. On Dec. 31, Sunshine Health, the company contracted by Florida to run a children’s Medicaid program, will terminate its contract with MTM Health, the company it hired to recruit and manage a network of therapy providers across Florida. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
‘Huge sticker shock’: Floridians get first look at Obamacare price hikes
Millions of Floridians are facing higher Obamacare prices with the start of open enrollment Saturday. Costs are being driven up by the expiration of enhanced subsidies, enacted in 2021, that helped many people pay for health insurance — and are now at the center of the federal government shutdown dispute. The Sunshine State has about 4.7 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans, and it’s estimated as many as a third could drop their coverage given the higher prices. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Commentary: Florida’s health depends on a reliable, affordable and secure energy grid
Florida’s hospitals have experienced hurricanes, flooding and even cyberattacks on the power grid that serves them. In each case, maintaining patient safety depends on one thing above all: reliable electricity. Without it, critical services provided in emergency rooms, operating suites and intensive care units are compromised. For Florida’s health care system, power is not a convenience; it is essential to caring for 23 million Floridians. [Source: The Invading Sea]
4 Florida children's hospitals get pediatric cancer research boost
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a five-year funding initiative today to boost pediatric cancer research at four Florida children's hospitals, including Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville. The other facilities are Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida in Orlando, Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Peterburg. Each of them will receive $7.5 million each year — a total of $30 million this year — for five years through the state's Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
Stem cell law positions Florida as regenerative medicine hot spot
A new Florida law is shaking up the stem cell industry. Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July, Senate Bill 1768 gives doctors the green light to offer regenerative treatments for certain conditions that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Supporters say the law is a breakthrough for medical freedom, with Florida challenging federal regulations that can keep treatments from people who need them. Others question the ethics and safety of providing non-approved therapies to patients. [Source: South Florida Business Journal]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Nemours kept out of legal battle over Florida transplant programs
An administrative law judge has denied a request by Nemours Children’s Hospital to intervene in a battle over a proposed state rule about approving organ-transplant programs. Nemours last week filed a motion to intervene to support the proposed rule, which was issued in August by the state Agency for Health Care Administration. But Administrative Law Judge Jordan Pratt on Thursday rejected the motion, saying Nemours had not established legal standing because it had not shown it would be “substantially affected” by the proposed rule.
› Cleveland Clinic Florida advises patients about contract talks with Florida Blue
Cleveland Clinic Florida has advised patients that Florida Blue patients could lose in-network access if the two sides are unable to negotiate a new contract by as early as March 26. "We’re working hard to reach a new agreement because our goal is simple: to come to a resolution with Florida Blue in order to avoid any changes that would disrupt your coverage," Cleveland Clinic said in a statement. Florida Blue responded on its website by noting that the current contract guarantees members full access to Cleveland Clinic physicians, hospitals, and health teams at least through May.
› South Florida health network expands maternal care access as boutique-style demand grows
Sunrise-based Community Care Plan has partnered with Pacify Health to expand access to maternal health support across 19 Florida counties. The collaboration, announced Oct. 21, aims to bridge gaps in prenatal and postpartum care by offering both in-person and virtual doula services — a hybrid model that reflects growing interest in more personalized, hospitality-influenced maternal care without the costs of a full-service maternity retreat.
› Appeals court reverses $208M judgment against All Children’s in ‘Maya’ case
An appeals court has reversed a civil jury trial decision that resulted in a $208 million judgment against Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in the case made famous by the “Take Care of Maya” Netflix documentary. In a 48-page ruling issued Wednesday, a three-judge panel for Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled that the evidence from the civil trial does not support the jury’s verdict that the hospital contributed to the 2017 suicide of Beata Kowalski.