Other HNF Stories

HNF STORIES

Hospitals to compete with HMOs if pilot expands

By Jim Saunders 
3/10/2010 © Health News Florida
Florida hospitals are gearing up to compete with health-maintenance organizations in a possible expansion of Medicaid managed care. 
 

Family struggles to pay $3,000-a-month premiums

By Mary Jo Melone
3/10/2010 © Health News Florida 
Jeanne and Randal Wills are selling off their property, trying to keep up with their family health insurance premiums of over $3,000 a month. They can’t afford the policy, but they can’t afford to drop it. 

Savings in Medicaid linked to managed-care expansion

By Jim Saunders
 3/9/2010 © Health News Florida
Consultants said Monday that Florida Medicaid could save the most money by pushed managed-care plans statewide; by contrast, the 'medical home' model would cost money. 

Top spenders on health lobbyists

3/5/2010 © Health News Florida
Hospital corporations and alliances were the top four spenders on health-care lobbying in Florida during 2009.

FL health lobbyists rake in $24 million

By Jim Saunders 
3/2/2010 © Health News Florida
When legislative committees discuss health-care issues, lobbyists pack the room, fill the seats and line the walls. There's big money at stake for their clients -- and themselves.

Should FL worry about cancer map?

By Cynthia Washam
3/5/2010 © Health News Florida
A new study by a team of North Florida researchers suggests the risk of pediatric cancer is elevated in a significant part of Florida, including the entire southern third and the north. But the results, which were published Jan. 6 in Pediatric Blood & Cancer, are drawing skepticism from many epidemiologists.

Medicaid Pilot scores go up

By Carol Gentry
3/4/2010 © Health News Florida
Those who want to expand Medicaid's pilot program from its current five counties to 24 have new ammunition: performance data.  

Bill shields ERs from lawsuits

By Jim Saunders
3/4/2010 © Health News Florida
Reopening a political battle about medical malpractice, a Florida Senate committee today passed a bill that would limit the liability of hospitals, doctors and other workers for emergency-room errors. Will it go all the way this time? 

Pres. Obama takes FL cushion out of health bill

 By Carol Gentry
3/3/2010 © Health News Florida
Remember Florida's cushion from Medicare Advantage cuts included in the Senate bill? It's gone, says President Obama, in one of several concessions to Republicans to be announced formally today.

House leaders want to shrink Dept. of Health

 By Jim Saunders
3/3/2010 © Health News Florida
With one lawmaker describing it as a "dumping ground,'' House leaders are targeting the Florida Department of Health as part of a push to save money and revamp the operations of state government.