A look at the health care initiatives in DeSantis' $99.7 billion budget proposal

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday rolled out a $99.7 billion budget recommendation for the coming year. He calls the plan the “Freedom First Budget,” attributing the state’s financial health to his opposition to coronavirus lockdowns and mandates. The budget offers a variety of proposals targeting needs in the health care sector, including a $226.5 million increase for Medicaid payment rates for health and human services providers such as nursing homes as a way to address staffing problems. [Source: Health News Florida]

Florida's weekly report shows nearly 13,000 new COVID cases and a 2.6% positivity rate

Florida added 12,984 cases of COVID-19 and deaths related to the virus incrased by 325, to 62,026, according to weekly data released Friday by the state Department of Health. Nearly 75 percent of the deaths, or 46,272, involved people ages 65 or older. Another 5,104 deaths involved people ages 60 to 64. By comparison, people under age 30 accounted for 464 deaths. The health department reported 122,513 more Floridians were vaccinated for COVID in the week ending Thursday. [Source: WUSF]

Florida's Healthy Start program is celebrating 30 years of success

Florida's Healthy Start program is celebrating its 30th birthday. The effort to improve the lives of new parents and their babies is touting significant success. There are 11 Healthy Start regions in Florida. Cathy Timuta, the coalition's executive director, says all of them have reason for celebration. "Over the last 30 years, one of our biggest achievements with all of our partners across the state of Florida is the reduction of infant mortality by 32%," she says. [Source: WFSU]

Pandemic creates nursing shortage in South Florida

There was already a nationwide nursing shortage before the pandemic. Now it’s a full-blown crisis impacting every hospital in South Florida. “We’re down about at least 400 nurses within our system,” said Carol Biggs, the chief nursing executive of Jackson Health Systems. “We’re now hiring nurses even prior to them getting their license.” Nursing students feel like the cavalry riding in to save the day. [Source: NBC Miami]

Florida Department of Health rejects complaint against Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo

The Florida Department of Health rejected a complaint alleging that Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo violated state medical laws by publicly casting doubts about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and promoting unproven treatments against the disease. “We have determined from our review that we can take no further action because the healthcare provider has not violated any laws or rules regulating this profession,” Investigation Manager Anthony Jusevitch told Dr. Howard Goldman in a letter dated Nov. 22. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› The Orlando VA Healthcare System is building a new outpatient clinic in Daytona Beach [WMFE]
The Orlando VA Healthcare System is building a 130,000-square -foot outpatient center in Daytona Beach that is scheduled to open in 2024. The Daytona Beach VA Multi-Specialty Clinic will replace two existing clinics that have a combined total of 74,000 square feet. The clinic will serve veterans with primary care, mental health services, radiology and labs on-site.

› See how this Gainesville woman turned her battle with cancer into hope for others [WUFT]
One night while sleeping in her bed with her daughter, Nicole Miller of Gainesville had a dream that she had breast cancer. Four months later, she was diagnosed with just that. At age 32, Miller had both breasts removed to avoid having the cancer come back. She also had a hysterectomy after finding out how likely it was that she would develop ovarian cancer. Unwilling to think of a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence, Miller took a look at her situation and decided that not only would she survive, but she found peace and empowerment.

› Omicron variant found in Miami-Dade, mayor’s office reports [Miami Herald]
The first case of the new omicron variant of the coronavirus was reported in Miami-Dade on Friday, bringing to three the total of known cases of the latest coronavirus strain in Florida. The other two omicron cases in Florida were confirmed earlier in the week in Tampa Bay and St. Lucie County.  

› UF continues construction on its new student health care center [Health News Florida]
The University of Florida held a beam signing event commemorating the construction of its new student health care center. The beam signing event invited UF students and faculty to sign their names on an I-beam that will be used in the construction of the building. The student health care center will provide a variety of functions such as a women’s clinic, nutritional education, and primary care.