‘Shared Savings’ For Health Programs Could Be Off To Slow Start

While Gov. Ron DeSantis and House leaders are enthusiastic about "shared savings" health-care programs, state economists are not so sure the programs will have a big immediate impact. The programs are designed to give insurance policyholders an incentive to shop for cheaper health-care services and are allowed under a bill (HB 1113) signed into law last week by DeSantis. Under the law, insurance companies and HMOs will be able to provide incentives for policyholders to use “shoppable services.” When services are obtained for less than what an insurance company would pay, the savings would be shared between consumers and the carriers. More from Health News Florida.

Scammers using new skimming, spoofing plot to steal money

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning consumers about a tricky new skimming/spoofing scam: A scammer uses a skimmer to steal credit or debit card information and then uses spoofing technology to pose as the representative of a financial institution. Once the scammer reaches the target, they inform the target that an account has been compromised and the card verification value, or CV2 security code, is needed to freeze the account. The scammer then uses the code to make purchases, withdraw funds or sell the stolen account information. Read more from WJXT.

House Passes Florida Congresswoman’s Proposals to Fund NOAA’s Efforts Against Toxic Algae

Now in her second term on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., was able to get two proposals combating toxic algae though the U.S. House as part of the “Commerce, Justice, Science, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act” which includes funding the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Read more from Florida Daily.

Florida texting while driving law to go into effect on Monday

If you are someone who likes to text while driving, then you may want to start thinking twice. A Florida law making the practice a primary offense goes into effect Monday, July 1. Under current law, officers can only cite drivers for texting if they are pulled over for another violation. However, the new law allows officers to stop motorists simply for texting alone. [Source: WSVN]

Want To Own a Waterfront Home? These Florida towns have more for sale than anywhere else in the country

If you live near the sea, you can generally consider yourself very lucky. There are the obvious benefits, of course: waking up to the sound of the waves, cocktails accompanied by an ocean-scented breeze, scientifically proven happiness boosts. But aside from the lifestyle perks, there’s also the fact that waterfront homes are, generally, a commodity. (There’s only so much coastline to go around, after all.) According to a new report, however, there are places you can go where the odds are ever in your favor—and they’re (almost) all in Florida. Read more from Coastal Living.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Is this county really the worst place to live in Florida? [WJXT]
For the second year running, Union County has been named the worst county to live in Florida. That unwanted distinction is courtesy of 24/7 Wall Street, which graded counties based on U.S. Census data including poverty rate, life expectancy and the number of college-educated adults.

› Federal court bars stem cell sales by Florida company in win for FDA oversight [Biopharma Dive]
FDA leaders used Tuesday's court decision to make a broader point about their ability to crack down on rogue stem cell manufacturers.

› Adaptive Video Game Controllers Help Disabled Vets Recover [Health News Florida]
Some VA medical centers have realized that helping vets get back in the game can also help with their recovery.

› Florida’s Red Tide Killed At Least 174 Dolphins [Wall Street Journal]
A prolonged algae bloom in the waters off the coast of southeast Florida in 2018 is to blame for the deaths of 174 bottlenose dolphins.

Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Commentary: Immigration bill bad for Florida families, safety and business [Orlando Sentinel]
No matter whether you are from Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, India, Haiti, China, Russia, or just about anywhere else on this globe, you can build a home and find community in the Sunshine State. Unfortunately, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently made the unfortunate decision to turn his back on that and sign the anti-immigrant SB 168 into law.

› FGCU's plans to strengthen hospitality program could mean faculty job cuts [News-Press]
The nine instructors working in the Resort & Hospitality Management program were notified upcoming program changes might mean some of the faculty could be out of a job.

› Mosquito Control Offers Tips For Dealing With Insects This Summer [Health News Florida]
They’re quick, they’re noisy, and they’re out to suck your blood this summer. As the weather heats up and Florida grows increasingly muggy, mosquitos are coming out in swarms.

› Workers’ Comp Fall Case Goes To Supreme Court [Health News Florida]
A woman who argues she is entitled to workers’ compensation insurance benefits after tripping over her dog while working at home has taken the issue to the Florida Supreme Court.