Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 18, 2017

Since the early 1980s, when the state Agency for Health Care Administration conducted its last major overhaul of the Medicaid payment system for nursing homes, the quality of care in Florida nursing homes has vastly improved. Although there are still exceptions, Florida is no longer home to the flood of nursing home horror stories that […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2016

After years of Medicaid reform experiments, the state of Florida rolled out managed care for more than 3.6 million Floridians in the summer of 2014. But at a hearing of the Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services on Wednesday, the reviews were poor from long term health care providers about lengthy delays in receiving Medicaid payments. […]

Jim RosicaAugust 3, 2016

Tamela I. Perdue is leaving the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) for Sunshine Health, one of the “largest health care plans in Florida.” Sunshine Health announced the hire in a news release Wednesday. Perdue was AIF’s general counsel for 10 years, according to her bio, and is an expert on workers’ compensation law. Gov. Rick Scott in April appointed her […]

Drew WilsonMarch 11, 2016

The Florida Hospital Association patted the Legislature on the back in a Friday email celebrating the passage of their preferred healthcare transparency bill. “The Legislature has demonstrated responsible leadership by passing House Bill 1175 to increase the availability and usefulness of information about health care prices and quality of care,” FHA President Bruce Rueben said. “This bill will help […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 25, 2016

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved Thursday several bills with some cost-saving measures for health providers. The bills now head to the Senate floor. LobbyTools is reporting on SB 1686, sponsored by Fernandina Beach Republican Sen. Aaron Bean, which will allow Florida’s health care practitioners to provide telehealth services. The bill creates a task force under the Agency […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2016

A measure sponsored by Palm Harbor Republican Rep. Chris Sprowls to provide more transparency about health care costs advanced in the House Health & Human Services Committee on Wednesday. Sprowls said that among the provisions in the bill (HB 1175) would include allowing access for patients to learn about specific cost assessments that hospitals charge, as […]

Ryan RayFebruary 16, 2016

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday heard a workshop about changes to the state’s managed-care plans as they relate to pharmacists. The state Agency for Health Care Administration’s Deputy Secretary for Medicaid Justin Senior said the current plan works just fine, with providers abiding by strict time and distance standards: the maximum time from a pharmacy […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 26, 2016

Efforts to expand telehealth options in Florida are moving through the state Legislature, and the state Senate on Tuesday approved a measure (SB 1686) aimed at improving access. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Aaron Bean, defines telehealth, creates a telehealth task force, and authorizes healthcare practitioners in Florida to participate in telehealth. The measure passed […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 14, 2016

The Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs, chaired by Hollywood Democratic Sen. Eleanor Sobel, on Thursday unanimously passed Senate Bill 12, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, sponsored by Hialeah Republican Sen. Rene Garcia to improve the delivery of mental health and substance abuse services. “Our current system of behavioral health services is fragmented […]

Ryan RayJanuary 14, 2016

It’s no secret Gov. Rick Scott, former health care CEO, has a newfound zeal for protecting Floridians from mayhem wrought by allegedly out-of-control hospitals and providers. Scott insists on more regulations, disclosure, and even criminal penalties for providers who charge “unconscionable” rates. He has even gone so as far to say a bill towards that end currently […]

Tag: ahca

Steve Bahmer: Nursing home care in Florida has come a long way in the last 30 years

At Senate hearing, lawmakers get earful about managed Medicaid system

Personnel note: Tamela Perdue to Sunshine Health

Email Insights: Florida Hospital Association thanks lawmakers for transparency bill

Senate committee passes series of cost-saving health care proposals

Transparency, telehealth bills advance in House committee

Small pharmacies oppose efforts to tighten managed-care networks

Capitol Reax: Telehealth, Dozier School for Boys, dental plans, economic incentives

Senate committee passes legislation to improve delivery of mental health, substance abuse services

Amid debate, FHA unveils new health care info site