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Christine Jordan SextonJune 10, 2015

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center — included in the list of hospitals with some of the highest Medicare charges in the nation — could get a $1 million gift from the Florida Legislature. House and budget health care conferees on Tuesday made their best and last offer to settle differences between the House and Senate […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 6, 2015

After making quick progress early on Saturday, legislative health care budget writers announced at 4 p.m. they won’t meet again until Sunday. House and Senate legislative leaders have agreed to pour $400 million in recurring general revenue into hospitals in an attempt to absorb the loss of $1 billion in supplemental Medicaid funding known as […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 6, 2015

Budget conferees have agreed to target $400 million in recurring general revenue to hospitals and, as of Saturday morning, to not fund graduate medical education. Eliminating the funding — a $100 million concession for the Florida Senate — is a “work in progress” Sen. Rene Garcia said. Rep. Matt Hudson quickly agreed. “It’s certainly not off […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

Health care committees in the House and Senate on Monday discussed the same proposal to expand health care access to the uninsured–SB 2A–in Florida. But it might not have sounded like it. In a “Tale of Two Cities”-esque tableau, the Senate discussed the bill for one hour before unanimously agreeing to pass it with sponsor […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 11, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott‘s blue ribbon health care and hospital commission meets in two weeks but the governor’s office remains quiet on the appointments. Scott created the commission via executive order this past week. The order doesn’t mention how many members would be on the commission or whether any would be lawmakers but it did note […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 8, 2015

Interest is mounting in Gov. Rick Scott‘s new healthcare commission. Sen. Eleanor Sobel is the latest to publicly announce her desire to serve on the commission and sent a press release announcing she is requesting Scott place her on the commission. The release notes with Sobel “you get a broad range of knowledge and experience […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 6, 2015

Sen. Rene Garcia sent Gov. Rick Scott a letter Wednesday expressing his interest in being on the new healthcare and hospital commission that Scott created through an executive order. “Our state is facing many critical health care challenges and our hospitals are an important partner in providing services to Floridians in need of medical treatment,” […]

Christine Jordan SextonMay 1, 2015

House Speaker Steve Crisafulli late Thursday night apologized for a controversial Twitter post made by Rep. Matt Gaetz. Crisafulli said he “does not condone the Tweet by @MattGaetz. He is an agitator, yes, but not a racist. Please accept my apology to those offended.” Gaetz started a Twitter war Thursday afternoon after remarking that the Senate Democrats […]

Peter SchorschApril 23, 2015

As the 2015 legislative session winds down – and the state’s budget standoff heats up – money is on everyone’s mind. With that, the darkening prospects of the House and Senate settling differences over Medicaid expansion lead a casual (and maybe not so casual) observer to ask the obvious question. Why? Why is the Senate […]

Peter SchorschApril 23, 2015

As the 2015 legislative session winds down – and the state’s budget standoff heats up – money is on everyone’s mind. With that, the darkening prospects of the House and Senate settling differences over Medicaid expansion lead a casual (and maybe not so casual) observer to ask the obvious question. Why? Why is the Senate […]

Tag: Rene Garcia

NW Florida hospital with high Medicare mark-ups could get $1 million from Legislature

Rick Scott’s office on health care funding: “We are continuing to watch the process”

Chambers agree to $400 million in general revenue to hospitals, zero for doctor training (for now)

Dueling committee presentations on FHIX plan show merits of health care expansion all in the eye of the beholder

Hospital meeting 2 weeks away; still no word on Rick Scott’s appointments

Interest is mounting in Rick Scott’s healthcare/hospital commission

Rene Garcia wants in on Rick Scott’s healthcare, hospital commission

Steve Crisafulli apologizes for Matt Gaetz’s “disgraceful” tweet

Peter Schorsch: In the deadlock over the state budget, follow the money

For some Florida Senators, healthcare budget standoff isn’t business, it’s personal