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Thousands of Florida doctors, dentists skip required opioid training

Thousands of Florida doctors, dentists skip required opioid training

About one in four Florida health care providers failed to take a two-hour continuing education course on proper opioid prescribing by the required Jan. 31 deadline, according to state officials. In Florida, physicians, podiatrists, dentists, physician assistants and advanced registered nurse practitioners can prescribe controlled substances for the treatment of pain. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WPEC.

Inmate health costs drive up prison budget

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to fund the Florida Department of Corrections next year at $2.7 billion, a spending plan that has some criminal-justice reform advocates pointing to struggles facing Florida’s prison system as a result of increased health-care costs. [Source: WJXT]

Gov. Ron DeSantis goes light on Medicaid cuts

As a congressman, Ron DeSantis carved out a name for himself railing against Medicaid spending. But as a newly elected governor, DeSantis released a $91.3 billion proposed spending plan Friday that, for the most part, maintains the status quo for Medicaid providers in Florida. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Opinion: Community mental health funding is vital

When it comes to mental health and substance abuse, Florida ranks 50th, dead last among states in per-capita spending for mental health and substance abuse, an embarrassment and particularly troubling with opioid addiction on the rise. This must change. [Source: ]

Feds approve moratorium on Medicaid home-health providers

The federal government has approved the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration’s request for a six-month ban on any new or pending applications from home health-care providers that want to participate in the Medicaid program. The moratorium, established to help ferret out fraud, does not apply to home health agencies that already were part of a Medicaid managed-care network. [Source: ]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› This business helped transform Miami into a national plastic surgery destination. Eight women died.
They fly in from across the country for deals they can’t get back home – thousands of dollars off cosmetic surgeries, available, if they like, on payment plans. But this clinic is run like a factory assembly line, where individual doctors – many with little specialized training – line up patients and operate on as many as eight a day.

› West Florida Healthcare to offer free community seminars during February in recognition of Heart Month
During the month of February in recognition of “American Heart Month,” West Florida Healthcare and physicians of West Florida Cardiology and Nemours Children’s Specialty Care will offer free community seminars in several locations throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa County.

› Feds threaten to cut funds to All Children's Hospital
The federal government said a recent inspection of Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital found serious problems and threatened to cut off the institution’s public funding unless the issues are addressed in a matter of weeks.

› Florida Blue hosts Recovery and Healthcare Expo
A free health expo is giving Bay County Resident a chance to sign up for health insurance. Representatives of Florida Blue set up shop at the Panama City Square, helping residents navigate through open enrollment.