Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 8, 2015

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Florida’s leading physician lobby released its 2015 legislative wish list during the first committee week of the year, and has made keeping “insurance company and government bureaucrats” from getting interfering with the patient physician relationship its top priority. In addition to insurance and Medicaid-related proposals, the physicians have included a four-pronged telemedicine initiative (which includes […]

Christine Jordan SextonJanuary 6, 2015

What charges are appropriate when insured patients appear in hospital emergency rooms? What if the hospital is under contract with the insurance company but not the doctors who work there–such as anesthesiologists -because they generally are never employees. An “all star” panel of health care industry experts discussed the issue with members of the Senate […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 5, 2015

With Gov. Rick Scott’s Jan. 6 inauguration approaching, Florida political observers are anxiously waiting to hear his second term priorities. Inaugural addresses often set the tenor of a governor’s term. Undoubtedly, Scott will focus on jobs and the economy – two strong suits of his administration. Just in case the governor’s speechwriters need some help, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 5, 2014

Sen. Aaron Bean is returning as the point man on substantive health care policy in the Senate. He told SaintPetersBlog on Thursday that he’s ready to “get back in the ring” when it comes to balancing technology and health care and that he’s also willing to expand Charlotte’s Web to include other diseases. “Telemedicine is […]

Peter SchorschDecember 5, 2014

Sen. Aaron Bean is returning as the point man on substantive health care policy in the Senate. He told SaintPetersBlog on Thursday that he’s ready to “get back in the ring” when it comes to balancing technology and health care and that he’s also willing to expand Charlotte’s Web to include other diseases. “Telemedicine is […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 17, 2014

Recently some FSU professors bought a full-page ad in the Tallahassee Democrat and another professor wrote an op-ed criticizing Sen. John Thrasher, who is a candidate to become FSU’s next president. I was appalled when I read the advertisement because it seemed like I was reading a political ad. There was a kernel of truth […]

Marc YachtAugust 4, 2014

I recently attended the Florida Medical Association annual meeting, where the organization develops policies for the coming year. The legislative agenda is drafted and approved. FMA delegates from the specialty groups and county medical societies will vote on each resolution coming before the House. FMA lobbyists will then bring approved policy to Florida’s legislators and […]

Guest AuthorApril 28, 2014

On a Thursday night in December, in a rural Panhandle town, a 50-year-old woman looked at her husband during dinner and noticed his normally handsome face had morphed into an odd appearance, with the left lip sagging downward. She asked her husband how he felt, and the response was gibberish. They both recognized that these […]

Guest AuthorApril 20, 2014

As insurance coverage expands and more Floridians have access to our system of high quality medicine, we at the Florida Medical Association recognize that our state is facing a potential shortage of doctors and nurses. These shortages are likely to come in primary care and in certain regions of our state. We recognize this growing […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 11, 2014

There is no doubt that Florida’s shortage of primary-care physicians and nurses can make it difficult for patients to get access to health care. While it is important for the medical community and lawmakers to seek solutions, doing so by lowering standards of care is not the answer. One proposal that Florida lawmakers are considering does just that. […]

Tag: Florida Medical Association

FMA targets "Insurance company and government bureaucrats" in 2015 wish list

Costs for emergency and out-of-network care eyed by Senate panel

What do you want to hear in Rick Scott’s 2nd inaugural address?

Aaron Bean’s back, and so is telemedicine and Charlotte’s Web

Aaron Bean's back, and so is telemedicine and Charlotte's Web

Barney Bishop: FSU faculty criticisms of Thrasher are hypocritical

Marc Yacht: Florida Medical Association supports expansion of Medicaid

Jason Wilson and Janet Cruz: Legislature needs to pass strong telemedicine bill

Tim Stapleton: Telemedicine has its benefits but here’s a word of caution

Dr. W. Alan Harmon: House proposal puts Florida patients in danger