Health News Florida - HNF Stories

FL institute is part of new Alzheimer’s trial

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:13 GMT

An Alzheimer's Disease research center in Tampa will be part of a major clinical trial on the disease, part of a national initiative announced Tuesday. Nearly half a million Floridians have been diagnosed.

FL Medicaid pay for doctors could soar

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:48 GMT

The pay for primary-care doctors who treat Medicaid patients will be raised to equal Medicare rates on Jan. 1, if the Affordable Care Act survives. The pay raise would be huge in Florida -- almost double.

How efficient is your hospital? In FL, not very

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:14 GMT

FL hates health law, but plans for it in $700K study

Tue, 08 May 2012 13:03 GMT

A state-sponsored $700,000 study for a new Medicaid IT platform, which has extremely tight timelines and rules, will include the federal health exchange -- just in case.

FL passed up $200M for uninsured kids

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:30 GMT

Over the past two years, Florida qualified for as much as $200 million for efforts to find and enroll uninsured children. But the state didn't apply.

FL community health centers to get $21M

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:35 GMT

Florida's community health centers, which offer medical homes for uninsured low-income patients, will receive a share of federal grants under the Affordable Care Act -- the law that state officials are trying to get thrown out.

Suit reveals clinic’s financial incentives

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 05:20 GMT

A Clearwater doctor has filed a “whistleblower” suit against the medical practice that employed him, saying he was fired for complaining about how patients were treated. His contract included financial incentives, such as a percent of the profits on ultrasound tests he ordered.

Lost records sink case

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:20 GMT

Florida Board of Medicine members said Friday they wanted to impose serious restrictions on Miami psychiatrist Steven Leslie Kaplan, but said they cannot for legal reasons. (Updated)

Case involving death of autistic boy may end quietly

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:14 GMT

A Miami psychiatrist accused of overmedicating a 12-year-old boy who died may walk away from the long, strange case on Friday without any major penalty.

WellCare out from under cloud, could double earnings quickly, analysts say

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:36 GMT

After five years in Medicaid fraud purgatory, WellCare has emerged with a clear field ahead. Analysts say the Tampa company could more than double its revenues over the next couple of years.

Doctors fight over control of HMO

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:32 GMT

Two doctors who are among Florida’s most aggressive fund-raisers for the Republican Party have had a nasty falling-out over control of an HMO.

Judge orders FL Medicaid to cover autism therapy

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:25 GMT

In a case that could jolt Medicaid programs across the country, a federal judge in Miami has ordered Florida officials to cover behavioral therapy for autistic children.

Senate passes Dept. of Health overhaul

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:47 GMT

A massive bill reorganizing the Department of Health, sending some of its functions to other agencies and de-emphasizing prevention of chronic disease, passed the Senate today.

Anonymous warnings sent to Medicaid elderly

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:52 GMT

Someone is sending warning letters to elderly Medicaid patients about the state's plan to move them all into managed care.

Surgeon Gen. Farmer resigns, cites wife’s illness

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:37 GMT

Dr. Frank Farmer, a former military officer who led a massive, rapid-fire overhaul at the Florida Department of Health, has resigned effective Monday, March 9.

Bill bans kickbacks in urine-testing

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:33 GMT

In Florida, where drug-testing is a growth industry, the rush for market share has gone so far that companies pay doctors to let them grab the cups as soon as they’re filled.

Last obstacle cleared in WellCare fraud settlement

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:33 GMT

After holding out for years, the chief whistleblower in the long-running case against WellCare Health Plans has agreed to the company's settlement of civil fraud charges with the federal government and nine states.

State workers’ drug-testing bill gets 2nd wind

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:13 GMT

A bill that would let state agencies conduct random drug screens of staff passed the House Appropriations Committee 15 to 8 only a few days after most people thought the issue was dead.

Consumers may not lose medical-board seats

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:03 GMT

The state’s association for physician assistants has agreed to drop its request for one of the consumer slots on each medical board, the group’s chief lobbyist said today.

DOH won’t lose programs to counties

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:59 GMT

Protests by public-health experts, county commissions and consumers have defanged some of the legislative attack on the Department of Health.

Bill allowing random drug-testing for all state workers is revived

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:15 GMT

The House budget committee today killed, then revived a bill that would allow mass random drug screens on public employees.

To get out of Medicare HMO, act by Tuesday. But it’s tricky

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:40 GMT

Medicare patients who enrolled in an HMO for 2012 and now have buyer’s remorse can still drop out of their plan if they act by Tuesday. But they could wind up a lot worse off if they’re not careful, experts say.

Business, doctor groups compromise on work-comp drug bill

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:57 GMT

A workers' compensation fight between doctors and business groups has apparently been resolved with a bill that lets doctors keep dispensing drugs but promises a 2.5 percent cut in premiums.

Consumer seat at risk on state medical boards

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:29 GMT

A consumer seat on each of Florida’s medical boards would be taken away and given to a physician assistant under bills pending in House and Senate budget committees.

Breaking up is hard to do—especially for practice partners

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:24 GMT

If you and your spouse are thinking of starting a practice together, consider what happened to the dental practice of Casanova & Imhoff.