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Guest AuthorJanuary 16, 2018

Since the dawn of the AIDS crisis in the early 1980s, public health experts have advocated for syringe exchange programs as one the most powerful tools to reduce the spread of viral infections — including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C — by removing contaminated syringes from circulation. They have documented time and again that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2017

Sen. Rob Bradley indicated he is willing to support opening up the medical marijuana market more than he first proposed, but continues to believe vertical integration is the right system for Florida. Bradley, an Orange Park Republican, filed one of five medical marijuana implementing bills this Legislative Session. His proposal (SB 406) would, among other […]

Drew WilsonMarch 14, 2017

A bill allowing patients to stay overnight in ambulatory surgery centers cleared its first Senate committee Tuesday with a 4-1 vote. SB 222 by Sarasota Republican Rep. Greg Steube would allow patients to stay up to 24 hours at ASCs, a type of medical facility dedicated to less complicated, generally elective surgeries. ASCs don’t provide […]

Ben PollaraDecember 20, 2016

At last week’s Senate Health Policy Committee workshop on medical marijuana, much of the conversation centered on the question of whether the passage of Amendment 2 necessitated an expansion of the number of licenses to cultivate and sell medical marijuana in Florida. I participated in the workshop at the invitation of Chair Dana Young, and […]

Jim RosicaDecember 13, 2016

The right way to put the new constitutional amendment on medical marijuana into effect is to “treat (it) like medicine,” supporters said Tuesday. The Senate Health Policy committee held its first workshop for the 2017 Legislative Session on medical cannabis implementation. “The states that have done it poorly, with a lack of regulation, allowed folks to market […]

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 […]

Ryan RayFebruary 1, 2016

The Senate Health Policy committee narrowly approved pair of closely watched health care bills Monday afternoon, auguring much more debate still to come about the proposals. Bills to weaken the state’s “certificates of need” regime for hospital licensing, and to shield patients from a medical collections practice known as “balance billing” passed by votes of […]

Ryan RayNovember 17, 2015

A bill to allow terminally ill patients to use medical marijuana passed its first committee stop in the Senate on Tuesday, hours after a House panel OK’d a similar bill. Debate focused on eliminating roadblocks to care amid nearly two years of delays since a bill to allow low-THC cannabis derivatives was enacted in 2014. […]

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2015

Senate President Andy Gardiner announced a few programming notes after a more or less pro forma floor Session late Wednesday morning. Among them: The 6 o’clock rule — which has been broken a handful of times this conference season, including an 8:45 meeting of the Education budget panel — remains in effect whether budget chiefs Richard Corcoran and Tom Lee come to […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 1, 2015

Former Senate President Don Gaetz spoke briefly with reporters after the Senate Health Policy Committee on Monday to say that unless the Legislature passes a plan to increase access to health care using federal Medicaid funding, it will be a tough legislative session for everyone. “There is no way that one particular group or one […]

Tag: Senate Health Policy Committee

Kasha Bornstein, Austin Coye: Expand syringe exchange; all Florida deserves Miami miracle

Senate begins discussion of medical marijuana implementing legislation

Bill allowing overnight ambulatory surgery stay clears Senate committee

Ben Pollara: Expansion of medical marijuana business is necessary and prudent

Treat medical marijuana “like medicine,” advocates say

Small pharmacies oppose efforts to tighten managed-care networks

Senate health care panel narrowly advances CON, balance billing changes

“Right to Try” expansion bill adding medical marijuana passes Senate panel

Andy Gardiner lays out Senate schedule for rest of Session

Don Gaetz sees no one coming out of Special Session “covered in glory”

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.