Drug coverage, telehealth, physician-assisted death. What’s at stake for Florida healthcare in this week’s legislative session?

Florida lawmakers are about to make big decisions about your healthcare. When the 2023 Legislative Session convenes on Tuesday, state legislators will tackle topics such as the type of healthcare you can get over the phone, how much power a physician’s assistant has to prescribe medication, and possibly even whether women in the state will be further restricted on how many weeks they legally can get an abortion. A lot is at stake during a year when most of the COVID public health emergency benefits will disappear. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida's COVID new cases continue to decline as death count nears 87,000

The Florida Department of Health’s latest COVID-19 report showed a continued decline in newly reported cases but nearly 87,000 deaths related to the virus. The state had 11,191 reported cases from Feb. 24 to Thursday, the lowest total in at least 10 weeks, according to the department’s data release Friday. Meantime, 86,850 COVID-19 deaths had been reported as of Thursday. [Source: News Service of Florida]

High risk, maximum profits: Regulators worry about Florida’s butt lift boom

Social media marketing lures people to Florida's lucrative cosmetic surgery scene with the promise of cheap Brazilian butt lifts. Researchers, patient advocates and surgeon groups say the risks are generally not understood by prospective patients. Unlike ambulatory surgery centers and hospitals, where a patient might stay overnight for observation after treatment, office-based surgery centers offer procedures that don’t typically require an inpatient stay and are regulated as an extension of a doctor’s private practice. [Source: Health News Florida]

States move to crack down on nurses with bogus diplomas

Medical licensing officials in multiple states are scrambling to stop nurses with fraudulent academic credentials from caring for patients, after three South Florida schools were accused of selling thousands of bogus diplomas. In some cases, lawyers for the nurses contend states are questioning the credentials of caregivers who earned diplomas legitimately. But there's wide agreement in the industry that nurses with fraudulent degrees need to be rooted out. [Source: WLRN]

Stomach bug cases increasing in Central Florida as CDC warns of a drug-resistant bacteria

Reports of stomach bugs are growing throughout the country. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health warning regarding Shigella bacteria, which is drug-resistant and causes severe, bloody diarrhea. It is commonly spread through fecal matter either in person-to-person contact or contaminated food. [Source: WMFE]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Alzheimer's Association revives art program in Altamonte Springs [WMFE]
A program bringing the experience of making art to Alzheimer's disease patients and their caregivers resumes this week in Altamonte Springs three years after shutting down due to the pandemic. Facilitator Pamela Levin of the Alzheimer's Association said Art Connects ALZ is a relaxing program using watercolors -- it's therapeutic but not art therapy or art instruction. Caregivers join in and often form new friendships during the seven-week course.

› East Gainesville residents clarify their needs for the new UF Health urgent care center [WUFT]
Chanae Jackson came to Lincoln Middle School ready to voice her dissatisfaction. “We don’t trust you, and we don’t trust you for a good reason,” she said. Jackson, a local activist, was spurred to participate because of issues she had with her father’s experience with the UF Health system as well as personal experience regarding widespread community access.

› Tampa’s St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital holds prom for pediatric patients [Tampa Bay Times]
Dozens of current and former pediatric patients, along with family members and friends, took part in their own arcade-themed prom held at the hospital Friday. The evening included music, dancing, refreshments and photos. The Child Life team at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital organizes special events in an effort to provide patients with experiences that may never have the opportunity to enjoy. “This is a great milestone event,” said Child life specialist, Karlyn Crawford. “It gives a chance for the kids to be kids.”

› A man dies of a brain-eating amoeba in Charlotte County, possibly from sinus rinse [NPR]
A man in Southwest Florida died after becoming infected with a rare brain-eating amoeba, which state health officials say was "possibly as a result of sinus rinse practices utilizing tap water." The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County confirmed Thursday that the unidentified man died of Naegleria fowleri.