Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannApril 27, 2015

A Lakeland hospice forced to close by the state over a paperwork error is near reopening by way of a bill passed last week by the Legislature. On Friday, both the Senate and House passed HB 441, giving Compassionate Care Hospice (CCH) on Drane Field Road access to an expedited process to reapply for its license. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

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The Senate Appropriations Committee quickly moved a health care train Thursday with little-to-no debate. The underlying nursing bill became a “train” after the committee tagged on two House priorities: direct primary care and site selection for new veteran nursing homes or HBs 7047 and 7045, respectively. Both bills were developed by the House Health Innovation Subcommittee. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 22, 2015

The Legislature should focus its efforts on securing continued supplemental Medicaid funding for Florida hospitals but not push ahead with a plan to provide health insurance access to uninsured Floridians. So said Florida Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Wilson in a memo Wednesday. The memo, directed to the Chamber’s board of directors and […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 20, 2015

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A Senate committee tagged a controversial health care bill to a measure expanding the scope of practice for Florida’s nurses, a priority for the Florida House this year. The Senate Rules Committee on Monday committee agreed to tack on an amendment to CS/CS/SB 614 that would allow doctors to override step therapy protocols within 24 hours if a […]

Peter SchorschApril 16, 2015

After years of legislative legwork and heated debate — occasionally before a national audience — Sen. Nancy Detert may land her Senate tenure’s Moby Dick at long last. Her proposal to establish state incentives for Florida-based film and entertainment projects is alive and moving through the process. Language similar to Detert’s SB 1046 has come close […]

James CallApril 16, 2015

Growers may want to start planning to plant cannabis seeds. Whether the authorization will come under the Compassionate Medicinal Cannabis Act of 2014, or SPB 7066, which is moving in the Senate or under an amended bill is still unclear. Rep. Matt Gaetz, however, said Thursday that Florida “is on the back 9” in clearing […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 14, 2015

A Senate health care spending panel on Tuesday gave the nod to a telehealth bill but House Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Brodeur says he’s not sure the Legislature needs to address the issue. The Senate health care spending panel tagged on two late filed amendments to the bill, CS/SB 478, by […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 9, 2015

Health insurers and HMOs may have won the battle in a House health care committee on Thursday but they may end up losing the war this session. The House Health and Human Services Committee approved a bill that would ban non-participating providers from balance billing patients in need of emergency care under, CS/HB 681. Additionally, […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 9, 2015

The House and Senate could be moving closer to agreement on a health care bill. The House Health Care Services Committee on Thursday tagged a strike-all amendment onto its direct primary care proposal, HB 7047, to include “medical tourism.” The move makes the bill near identical to a proposed committee bill that the Senate Health […]

Mitch PerryApril 8, 2015

Greetings from the Motel 6 off the Apalachee Parkway in Tallahassee, where things are getting increasingly hot in the Capitol. Literally. Wednesday’s temperatures are supposed to hover near 90 degrees, that’s not a record, but temps here — like in the Tampa Bay area —are consistently running about 7 or 8 degrees warmer than usual […]

Tag: Aaron Bean
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Bill to reopen Lakeland hospice goes to governor’s desk

Senate panel OKs nursing bill; it’s now a health care train

Chamber says focus should be Medicaid financing, not expansion

Step therapy amendment added to latest health care train bill

Entertainment incentives finally moving forward in Legislature

Five minutes with Matt Gaetz, talking FDA lies and being on the back 9 with medicinal marijuana

Telehealth bill moves in Senate, will House take it up?

House panel OKs balance billing ban, sponsor says unlikely to pass this year

House amends direct primary care to (almost) mirror new Senate health care train

Mitch Perry Report for 4.8.15 — Medicaid expansion. Again