Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Christine Jordan SextonApril 23, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner isn’t making any promises that the Senate will confirm Gov. Rick Scott‘s appointments for agency heads. Gardiner said he couldn’t make any assurances that the Senate will confirm any of the governor’s appointments, including Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek, who transformed the state’s Medicaid program into a mandatory […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 15, 2015

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee voted 8-1 to approve Liz Dudek‘s appointment as head of the state Agency for Health Care Administration but only after she answered more than an hour’s worth of questions regarding Low Income Pool funding, Medicaid expansion and how negotiations are evolving with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 10, 2015

Elizabeth “Liz” Dudek, a longtime state health care planner and administrator and now head of the state’s Medicaid agency, will appear before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee when it meets Wednesday. Though it’s Dudek’s second step in the Senate confirmation process, it’s the first time she’ll appear before the Senate since her boss, Gov. […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 8, 2015

The Florida Senate isn’t going to play games with Gov. Rick Scott’s executive appointments in the wake of the Medicaid meltdown that is occurring in Tallahassee. Senate President Andy Gardiner on Wednesday told reporters that he holds Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Liz Dudek in high regard and doesn’t see her nomination to run […]

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 […]

Christine Jordan SextonApril 7, 2015

The Senate Health Policy Committee on Tuesday delayed Department of Health Secretary John Armstrong‘s confirmation after he refused to answer Medicaid questions. Panel members asked him whether expanding Medicaid would improve Floridians’ health care outcomes or whether he supported the Senate’s alternative proposal to expand Medicaid. Sen. Aaron Bean asked Armstrong to return soon and […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 16, 2015

Legislative heavyweights lined up outside the third floor Capitol clinic on Monday. The four most influential legislators in health care — Reps. Jason Brodeur and Matt Hudson and Sens. Rene Garcia and Aaron Bean — weren’t talking Low Income Pool, telemedicine, Medicaid expansion, or any other health care issues, though. They lined up to weigh in and compete in the 2015 Biggest […]

Christine Jordan SextonMarch 16, 2015

Legislative heavyweights lined up outside the third floor Capitol clinic on Monday. The four most influential legislators in health care — Reps. Jason Brodeur and Matt Hudson and Sens. Rene Garcia and Aaron Bean — weren’t talking Low Income Pool, telemedicine, Medicaid expansion, or any other health care issues, though. They lined up to weigh in and compete in the 2015 Biggest […]

James CallMarch 13, 2015

I was all prepared to begin this week’s column telling you how cool and smooth I think John Armstrong is. I’ve taken some shots at the Secretary of Health over his handling of developing rules to implement the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014. The process places us in an adversarial relationship and the Scott administration communication strategy makes it a […]

James CallMarch 11, 2015

It’s coming down to the wire with the finishing line on the move. A deadline to challenge the proposed rule for the state’s medicinal marijuana law is March 24, according to the Department of Health, not Thursday. “The later date is due to the Revised Statement of Estimated Regulatory Costs, which was prepared in response to the […]

Tag: John Armstrong
Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is developing a 'mini-brain' for those suffering from Lewy body dementia (LBD).

Rick Scott’s executive appointments may be in trouble after all

Senate grills, then confirms, AHCA Secretary Liz Dudek

Ethics and Elections considers Liz Dudek’s confirmation next week

Andy Gardiner says Senate won’t play games with executive appointments

Mitch Perry Report for 4.8.15 — Medicaid expansion. Again

Medicaid questions stall John Armstrong’s confirmation in Senate

Capitol heavyweights aim to slim down in “Biggest Loser” contest

Capitol heavyweights aim to slim down in "Biggest Loser" contest

The week that was in Florida politics — March 13, 2015

Charlotte's Web challenge deadline now is March 24