Florida hospitals face scrutiny over staff safety
Violence is increasingly spilling over into hospitals and making it harder to protect facilities that, by their very nature, are always open to the public. Now some workers are demanding that HCA Hospitals in Florida, which include HCA Florida Palms West Hospital and HCA Florida JFK Hospital, do more to address workplace violence and protect doctors, nurses, and other employees. More from WPEC and Axios.
Tax time triggers fraud alarms for some ACA enrollees
Because of past fraud by rogue brokers, some Affordable Care Act policyholders may get an unexpected tax bill this season. But that isn’t the only potential shock. Other changes coming soon could affect their coverage and its cost. And sorting out related problems and challenges may take longer as federal workers are laid off and funding for assistance programs is cut. More froom KFF Health News and CBS.
Lawmakers seek to make state-run children's insurance more 'cost-efficient'
Florida lawmakers are considering legislation that would streamline services for medically complex kids provided by a state program. But critics are concerned the effort would harm families seeking care for their children with chronic conditions. The measure (HB 1085) would streamline administrative operations of the Children's Medical Services program, a state- and federal-subsidized health insurance for low-income families who have children with physical, mental or emotional disabilities. [Source: Central Florida Public Media]
Florida Senate panel OKs bill that would prevent denying care based on 'vaccination status'
A Senate committee Thursday narrowly approved a bill that would prevent doctors and other health care providers from denying treatment to people based on whether they are vaccinated. The bill drew debate in the Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee because it would expand what is known as the “Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities.” [Source: Health News Florida]
Medicaid settlement sparks controversy over $10 million donation to Hope Florida program
A major Medicaid managed-care plan last year made a $10 million donation to a direct-support organization tied to a signature program of Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis as part of a $67 million settlement with the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Details about the donation emerged Wednesday during a combative House Health Care Budget Subcommittee meeting as Chairman Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, clashed with members of Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration over Hope Florida, a program launched by the first couple in 2021. [Source: CBS Miami]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› USF's med school is Florida's No. 1 and among the nation's best for research by U.S. News
The University of South Florida’s medical school has been recognized as the best in the state and one of the best nationally for research, according to a U.S. News & World Report analysis. In a list titled “The 2025 Best Medical Schools: Research,” U.S. News places the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as one of 16 nationally and the only one in Florida to receive a Tier 1 ranking, the highest designation.
› HCA Florida breaks ground on $15M project in Apopka
HCA Florida Healthcare has kicked off work on another freestanding emergency room in west Orange County. The health system — a division of HCA Healthcare Inc. — broke ground last week on a $15 million, 11,000 square-foot HCA Florida Wekiwa Emergency at 2757 West Orange Blossom Trail. The facility joins HCA's pipeline, which includes another ER underway in Winter Garden which broke ground in March.
› Orlando Health plans $750M expansion in Brevard; other providers address hospital closing
Local medical providers estimate that the closing next week of Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital will cost them $44.1 million in added expenses to help fill the gap in health care coverage that the hospital closing will create. Brevard County's two other hospital companies — Health First and Parrish Healthcare — will pick up the biggest share of the costs, according to data provided by the health care providers to the Space Coast Health Foundation.
› What happens if FSU acquires TMH? UF Health CEO breaks down academic medical center model
It's been three weeks since the city dropped the bomb that Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare could be on the market if selling the hospital is in the city's best interest. After requesting a bylaws overhaul to accommodate the hospital's expansive growth, TMH leaders and several commissioners said they were "blindsided" by the prospect of a sale, sparking robust conversation on the matter and leading to the ultimate question: What's going to happen to TMH?