Higher health insurance premiums spark interest in religious cost-share ministries
Enrollment in religious, cost-share ministries is on the rise. The groups, which are typically backed by small Mennonite churches, pool their money to cover medical costs for members. With Floridians facing higher premiums and dropped coverage due to uncertainty around the Affordable Care Act marketplace, cost-sharing plans could become more popular — but with consequences. Research from the Commonwealth Fund shows religious, cost-sharing plans have fewer consumer protections because they are largely unregulated and do not guarantee payment of claims.[Source: Health News Florida]
Legislature approves bill restoring funds to AIDS drug program
A plan to prevent thousands of HIV positive Floridians from losing coverage for their prescriptions is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The House on Thursday passed bill (HB 697) that includes a stopgap measure to restore cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program through June 30, the end of the fiscal year. The bill includes $31 million to restore eligibility to over 11,000 people until the legislature passes a budget. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Commentary: What Florida hospitals won’t tell you, but nurses see every day
As a nurse in Florida, I know first hand how hospital systems shape patients’ experiences far beyond the bedside. While clinical care is often compassionate and skilled, the financial structure surrounding that care is deeply broken — Florida hospitals see the most revenue per capita in the country, while Floridians have faced some of the highest rates of surprise billing for hospital stays in the country. The rising cost of hospital services in Florida is not accidental or unavoidable, but rather the result of deliberate system design choices. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Two Alzheimer's-related bills headed to governor's desk
Two bills designed to protect and support many of the estimated 580,000 Florida seniors with Alzheimer's disease made it all the way through the state Legislature last week. They just need the governor's signature now. The House on Tuesday approved a special memory care license for assisted living facilities. On Wednesday, it approved a statewide Alzheimer's awareness campaign. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
1 in 5 outpatient surgery centers in Florida rated among 'Best' by U.S. News
About 20% of Florida’s ambulatory surgery centers were considered top-performing in U.S. News & World Report's third annual ratings of facilities for same-day procedures. These centers consistently showed lower complication rates and higher safety standards than their peers, covering four key specialties: orthopedics and spine, ophthalmology, colonoscopy and endoscopy, and urology. Outpatient centers, or ASCs, are where patients go for certain surgical or nonsurgical operations that - unlike hospitals - do not require overnight stays. [Source: WUSF]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› When to think about colon cancer: 4 takeaways from Spotlight Tampa Bay
As colon cancer becomes more and more common among younger adults, what should we do about it? That was the question at hand Wednesday, when a panel of health experts spoke at the latest Spotlight Tampa Bay event, hosted by the Tampa Bay Times and AdventHealth. The panel was the first spotlight event the Times has hosted in its new wellness series.
› Boca startup Sivotec combines genetics and AI to help clinicians diagnose diseases
Identifying rare diseases in children can be a harrowing task. Parents often visit multiple specialists and wait years for a proper diagnosis, a period that leaves their child suffering and also, stresses parental relationships and finances, even sparking divorce. A Boca Raton company is combining genetics and Artificial Intelligence to help health professionals diagnose diseases faster. Sivotec now focuses on rare genetic diseases in children and aims to expand to other conditions later.
› Polk State Nursing earns top spot in Florida thanks to investments from state and healthcare partners
Polk State College’s Nursing Program ranks among the top Associate in Science in Nursing programs in Florida when evaluated by both first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate and program size, boasting a remarkable 97.4% first-time licensure pass rate for the 2025 reporting period, a large graduating cohort and sustained multi-year performance above state and national averages.
› Jacksonville practice specializes in men’s psychiatric care
Jacksonville psychiatrist Dr. Marek Hirsch has created a space designed to encourage men to talk about their feelings with confidence and trust in a setting structured to have male appeal. The offices of Men’s Mental Health, at 1035 Kings Ave. in San Marco, include elements such as a large photograph depicting a car trying to outrun an airplane and a “weighting room” with kettle weights, steel plates and a lifting bench.