Florida sets record for new COVID cases as positivity rate, testing waits increase

Florida on Friday and Saturday reported its largest single-day increases of new coronavirus cases, driven by the spread of the omicron variant, according to the Associated Press. The December surge has come with a rush to get tested ahead of the holidays. That trend continued after Christmas. Many retail testing outlets were booked solid so people turned to government facilities as they returned from travel or concluded visits with famlity and friends. More from Health News Florida and the AP.

A quarter of Florida residents may have trouble finding a doctor by 2035

Florida is struggling to produce enough doctors to serve its growing and aging population. A new report by IHS Markit shows that the state could only have physicians for 76% of its population by 2035, leaving the state unable to provide for nearly 25% of its residents. In addition, as the state continues to grow — and its population continues to age — the state will need more medical care. [Source: WUSF]

Florida poised to become first state to import prescription drugs from Canada

Plans to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada have been in the works for years. In Florida, it may finally happen sooner than many may think – possibly as soon as early next year. Florida Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller recently told a state Senate panel, "I would hope we could start importing the first quarter of the new year." Helping to push the idea along is the fact that as much as they differ on everything else, President Joe Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis both support it. [Source: WTVT]

Court refuses to hear case against Florida over ‘medically fragile' children

Nearly a decade after concerns emerged about “medically fragile” children being placed in nursing homes, a federal appeals court will not reconsider a decision that allowed the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue a lawsuit against Florida. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday declined to hear the case as a full court. A three-judge panel in 2019 backed the Justice Department’s authority to pursue a lawsuit under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, prompting the state to request a hearing by the full court — known as seeking an en banc hearing. [Source: News Service of Florida]

A record number of Americans have signed up for ACA health coverage

Led by nearly 2.6 million in Florida, 13.6 million Americans have enrolled for next year . A boost in subsidies marketing and assistance in navigating the process helped increased the rolls of the insured. “This is a very big deal as it means we have made a dent in the uninsured pool and we are not only insuring people but keeping people signed up,” said Jodi Ray, program director for Florida Covering Kids & Families, a University of South Florida program that works to sign up people for insurance. [Source: Health News Florida]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tampa Bay first responders open up about mental toll of frontline [Tampa Bay Times]
Constant exposure to trauma and death, experts say, leave first responders suffering from depression, anxiety, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder at rates that far exceed the public they serve. The stigma of asking for help exacerbates the crisis. Firefighters, law enforcement officers and paramedics are 10 times more likely to attempt or contemplate suicide compared to civilians, according to a study published six years ago in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

› New AI tech helping Central Florida doctors catch more cases of colon cancer earlier [WFTV]
Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the country, but is treatable if detected early. Now, the first breakthrough in more than a decade to improve screenings is saving lives right in Central Florida. At the Center for Digestive Health in Orlando, there’s a new tool called “G-I Genius.” It’s the only computer-aided detection system of its kind, using artificial intelligence to spot colon cancer in its earliest stages.

› Northwest Florida Health Network hosts annual Christmas adoption ceremony [WJHG]
Christmas is a time where families come together, and for several Bay County families, this holiday season was one to remember. Friday was a very special day for Kayson Clifton and his family, as Christmas Eve marked his official adoption day. Christopher Clifton and his wife officially adopted their grandson, Kayson.

› Health dept. closes COVID antibody site at Manatee Memorial as supplies run out elsewhere [Bradenton Herald]
The Florida Department of Health-Manatee County announced Wednesday the state-run monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site at Manatee Memorial Hospital is closing. The hospital said in an email with the Bradenton Herald it is “exploring potential ways to offer this service to the community, and we will provide more information as it becomes available.”