Fewer Florida kids are getting routine vaccinations
Childhood vaccination rates in Florida continue to decline, part of a national trend as misinformation spreads more widely and hesitancy increases. In the 2023-2024 school year, 88.1% of kindergartners completed required vaccines that protect against severe illnesses including measles, polio and chickenpox, among others, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s one of the lowest rates in the nation. [Source: Health News Florida]
State sues feds in children's insurance fight
Challenging what it called a “backdoor” attempt to expand entitlements, Florida has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration in a long-running dispute about a program that provides subsidized health insurance to children. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court in Tampa, challenges a rule that federal health officials finalized in November about the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which operates in Florida as KidCare. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Florida leads the nation (again) In Obamacare enrollment
More than 4.6 million Florida residents enrolled in an Obamacare plan through the “Marketplace” for 2025 health insurance coverage. Data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services show that 4,633,650 residents signed up for insurance coverage through the Marketplace by the end of 2024. [Source: Florida Phoenix]
Florida files COVID-19 related suit after accidentally overpaying company $5 million
An error in reading a decimal point can lead to a costly mistake. Just ask the state of Florida. According to a lawsuit filed recently, Florida's Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) entered into a deal in 2021 with South Florida's Trinity Health Care Services to register people for COVID-19 vaccinations. And that June, FDEM meant to pay Trinity an invoice amount of $50,578.50. But the state instead accidentally paid $5,057,850.00 to Trinity. More from the Tallahassee Democrat and Health News Florida.
Florida among states where emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are soaring
The states with the most ER visits for respiratory illnesses ranging from the common cold to COVID-19 are Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and New Hampshire, according to the CDC. The CDC calculates its activity levels (minimal, low, moderate, high, very high) with a baseline of the average illness activity level during times when COVID, flu and RSV visits were low. [Source: WFLA]
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› First Ascent Biomedical raises $6M to advance personalized cancer treatments
First Ascent Biomedical is a pioneer in personalized cancer treatment. The Miami-based startup is on a mission to transform medical oncology with highly individualized treatment planning technologies that improve patient survival, offering hope to cancer patients who have exhausted traditional options.
› Sarasota Memorial opens its newest freestanding ER in Lakewood Ranch
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System on Monday opened a new emergency care center in Lakewood Ranch. It is Sarasota Memorial’s fourth emergency care center, and the second freestanding emergency facility not attached to a hospital campus. The 21-room, 15,000-square-foot freestanding ER facility will help serve residents of north Sarasota County and south Manatee County.
› Palm Beach County approves $60 million new mental health facility - but questions remain
Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously last week to help fund a $60 million mental health and substance use crisis center. But after an emotional and contentious public meeting, many questions remain. The center will be primarily funded, built and operated by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. The behavioral health facility will include primary and 24/7 care, and in-patient and outpatient services.
› Tampa General Hospital agrees to $6.8 million settlement in data breach class action
Tampa General Hospital will pay $6.8 million to settle a class-action lawsuit arising from a May 2023 data breach that compromised the personal information of about 2.1 million people. According to the settlement, people who received written notification from Tampa General about the cyberattack may choose to submit claims to recover losses or receive a lump sum of $125.