Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJuly 12, 2015

Florida is not an early adapter. Most of the time, our state takes a “wait-and-see” attitude regarding nearly any health policy, social program or economic strategy that has been attempted by another state’s legislature. In some cases, no amount of positive data on a successful program is enough to convince our leadership to move in […]

Peter SchorschJuly 1, 2015

With more than a decade of public service experience, insurance regulation expert Monte Stevens is now moving to the private sector, joining Southern Strategy Group (SSG) as a lobbyist. SSG, one of the largest advocacy firms in the South, is adding Stevens to its roster of leading Tallahassee power players, who represent a broad range […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2015

The next time you’re in your doctor’s office, ask why he or she went to medical school. Chances are you’ll get this response: “I wanted to help people.” No matter how long physicians have been practicing medicine, they will tell you that caring for patients is their single greatest reward. It makes them love what […]

Guest AuthorMay 27, 2015

The next time you’re in your doctor’s office, ask why he or she went to medical school. Chances are you’ll get this response: “I wanted to help people.” No matter how long physicians have been practicing medicine, they will tell you that caring for patients is their single greatest reward. It makes them love what […]

James CallApril 27, 2015

The Florida Senate appears ready to move on a “glitch” bill for the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. The chamber is also preparing to consider increasing the allowable level of THC in medicinal marijuana. Sen. Rob Bradley filed a strike-all amendment Monday to increase THC limits to 15 percent, up from the current allowable 0.8 […]

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 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 […]

Ryan RayApril 14, 2015

It seems lawmakers hit the annual “drink, drop and dash” scene exceptionally hard this year. Legislators are prohibited from raising campaign cash during the Legislative Session in Tallahassee. However, in the run-up beforehand, statehouse pols pulled in more than $1 million dollars in eleventh-hour contributions. Much of it came from lobbyists and business interests who […]

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, […]

James CallApril 4, 2015

Momma bears. It’s taking the momma bears to end the reefer madness. Paige Figi, Holley Moseley and Dawn Wein are among a group of women who worked the Florida Capitol the past year persuading, pressuring and pleading with lawmakers to lift a prohibition on medical marijuana and authorize the use of cannabis products they say will ease their children’s […]

Tag: Florida Medical Association

Gary Stein: Needle exchange is the one-buck no-brainer

Personnel note: Monte Stevens moves to private sector, joins Southern Strategy Group

Timothy Stapleton: FMA Cares honors human side of medicine

Timothy J. Stapleton: FMA Cares honors the human side of medicine

Strike-all filed for Charlotte’s Web glitch bill

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

Step therapy amendment added to latest health care train bill

Legislators raked in campaign cash just before Session start

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

“Momma bears” roam Florida Capitol seeking medical marijuana for their cubs