Thousands of Florida children have no health insurance. A new infusion of money aims to help.

Thousands of children in Florida will have greater access to health care now that legislators have steered more money to a program that reduces the cost of health insurance plans for low- and middle-income families. The action takes aim at the problem of uninsured children, whose numbers at last count have grown to an estimated 325,000 in Florida, the second-largest total in the nation. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Food as medicine: Doctors are prescribing broccoli alongside beta blockers

Hospitals and local governments across the country have been writing and filling prescriptions for healthy food in an attempt to address the root causes of diabetes, hypertension and other costly illnesses. The goal, backed by some research, is to improve health and reduce costs by subsidizing fresh produce such as broccoli and grapefruit in addition to insulin and beta blockers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Secretary post remains empty at Florida health agency

Florida is grappling with an outbreak of hepatitis A but does not have a top health officer at the agency charged with ensuring the public’s health. More than four months after Gov. Ron DeSantis took office, the Florida Department of Health does not have a secretary. DeSantis’ nominee --- Scott Rivkees --- continues to serve as chairman of the University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and as physician in chief of UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital, according to UF Health spokeswoman Melanie Ross. [Source: WUSF]

Rule changes aimed at mental health services in Florida

The state is considering changes to rules surrounding who can provide Medicaid behavioral-health services, with the changes possibly increasing access to mental-health providers in places such as schools. Ben Browning, an executive at the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, said the proposed rules would make clear that clinical social workers and psychologists can deliver and --- be reimbursed for --- individual and group mental-health therapy sessions. [Source: WOFL]

Hundreds of Florida doctors with multiple malpractice payouts still seeing patients

Hundreds of Florida doctors have paid out multiple malpractice claims – putting patients at risk 15 years after voters passed a law that was supposed to take away their licenses. Florida doctors paid out more than $460 million for malpractice claims involving nearly 1,400 patient deaths over the past decade. [Source: WFTS]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida Medical Center recognizes nurses at awards ceremony during annual Nurses Week Celebration [Miami's Community Newspapers]
As part of its National Nurses Week celebration, Florida Medical Center honored its best nurses at a special awards ceremony. Nurses from all departments were recognized for their hard work and commitment to patient care.

› Women's Care Florida opens new Women's Health Center in Plant City [Florida Trend]
The 15,372-square-foot Women's Health Center – Plant City offers plenty of space to care for patients and offer a variety of services including annual wellness exams, obstetrics and gynecology, ultrasounds, menopause treatments and in-office procedures.

› Florida health departments praised for innovation [Health News Florida]
Despite rising hepatitis A rates, Florida public-health programs have been lauded by a national group. Thirteen Florida county health departments were included in the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ list of winners for innovative public health programs.

› Get ready for more Southwest Florida hospitals. Florida poised to greatly deregulate health care. [Fort Myers News-Press]
Advocates of loosening state government oversight of health care scored major victories during this legislative session, foremost of which was their long sought-after repeal of restrictions on new hospital construction in Florida. Assuming Gov. Ron DeSantis signs off on the changes, it could soon clear the way for two new health centers in south Lee County that opponents are currently suing to keep from being built.