260,000 Floridians would enroll in expanded Medicaid program, economists say
260,000 Floridians would enroll in expanded Medicaid program, economists say
State economists said Friday that about 260,000 low-income, childless Floridians would enroll in the Medicaid program if it were expanded. That figure is, on average, about 44 percent of the roughly 600,000 people who would qualify for the Medicaid program if it were expanded as allowable under the federal health care law commonly called “Obamacare.” More from Health News Florida and Florida Politics.
See also:
» Column: Medicaid expansion would save Florida millions in state dollars
» Florida Activists Push for Medicaid Expansion Ballot Measure
Florida Surgeon General and Florida Department of Health make hepatitis A top priority
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees said Wednesday afternoon the Department of Health's focus is hepatitis A, with a specific focus on Martin County. The county became one of the state's focuses despite its relatively low number of people infected — 30 as of Wednesday — because of the unusual number of people who died from complications of the virus in the area, Rivkees said. Four people, all from Palm City, have died since March. [Source: TCPalm]
New transplant services popping up now that Florida hospital regulation struck down
It’s been less than two weeks since Florida jettisoned some long-standing regulations for hospitals, but several facilities across the state are already gearing up to expand medically complex services, such as transplants. For the last two years, five hospitals have shown an interest in offering new high-end services, but they were unable to do so because of the state’s “certificate-of-need” requirements. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Enrollment in program to aid needy families declines
State economists on Thursday concluded that the number of people being served by the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program continues to be lower than expected. Lawmakers planned to spend $144.1 million on the program for the fiscal year that ended June 30, expecting a caseload of about 44,970 enrollees. But instead, the state’s caseload was about 40,500, costing an estimated $130 million. [Source: WOFL]
Florida courts rule medical marijuana scheme unconstitutional. What's next?
Florida courts have spoken. They say the state’s medical marijuana distribution system is unconstitutional, and that could soon force the legislature and the industry to make changes. In the case of Florigrown vs. the Florida Department of Health the First District Court of Appeal said the legislature’s rules to get a license conflict with the constitutional amendment, specifically, the portion that defines a medical marijuana treatment center or MMTC. [Source: WUSF]
› Komen Florida expands breast health navigator program in Palm Beach County [WPTV]
Susan G. Komen Florida announced Thursday it is expanding its community breast health navigator program to anyone in Palm Beach County looking for guidance and support in their battle against breast cancer. Kate Watt, Executive Director of Komen Florida, said the organization launched the navigator program in 2018 in Delray Beach for those in need and living below the poverty line.
› DeLand church pays off $7.2 million in medical debt for 6,500 struggling Central Floridians [Orlando Sentinel]
In the coming weeks, some 6,500 people in five Central Florida counties will get a letter in the mail telling them the crippling medical debt they owe has been paid off, no strings attached. It’s not a scam. It’s an act of faith worth $7.2 million to the struggling families.
› Southwest Florida health care organization promotes top executive from within [Business Observer]
With the Aug. 19 retirement of Mike Ellis, Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida has named Dr. Emily Ptaszek as its new president and CEO. Ptaszek is currently COO of the organization, which was founded in 1977 to serve migrant farm workers and their families in Immokalee. Healthcare Network provides care to more than 51,000 residents of Collier County through 21 practices regardless of ability to pay.
› Drug deaths down in first half of 2018 [WPEC]
The number of drug-related deaths in Florida, including those caused by opioids, declined in the first six months of 2018, compared to the first half of 2017, according to an interim report released by the state Medical Examiners Commission. There were 107,570 deaths in Florida during the first six months of 2018.