Topic: Hospitals

Lawmakers failed to reach agreement on addressing a physician shortage and resolving a trauma center dispute but did agree to prop up the Low Income Pool for at least another year.

A proposal dealing with prescription drugs and insurance companies derailed two health care bills dealing with trauma centers and telemedicine regulations

The Senate removed telemedicine regulations from a House omnibus health-care bill. Sen. Rene Garcia noted that senators had previously expressed concern for out-of-state docs practicing medicine in Florida.

Among the several issues addressed in HB 7113 are new regulations for trauma centers, requirements for telemedicine and more responsibilities for highly-trained nurses. The Senate takes a different approach on many of the issues.

The proposal expands the responsibility of nurses and creates a regulatory structure for telemedicine. It is seen as a response to a statewide physician shortage.

The eight-member delegation is worried a new funding formula for hospitals will lead to steep cuts in two Jacksonville-area hospitals.

Amendment now requires out-of-state doctors to have same credentials as their Florida colleagues.

The House proposal would give advanced nurse practitioners more authority but it has yet to be scheduled for committee.

Bill by Rep. Larry Ahern would double the number of physician assistants a physician could supervise and streamlines the licensing process for a physician assistant to prescribe medication.

The sponsor of HB 739 says he's just trying to put the focus on what he calls a "broken" system.

In two weeks, consumers will be able to go online and register for insurance coverage under the ACA. The League of Women Voters and the Tampa Chamber say it makes business sense for Florida to expand Medicaid to an additional million Floridians and reap billions of dollars from Washington. ... Related Research: Report brief, "America's Uninsured Crisis: Consequences for Health and Health Care."

The proposal lifts a five-year residency requirement for legal aliens to enroll in optional Medicaid services such as Kidcare. Similar proposals have died in committee the past two legislative sessions.

The Justice Department announced a $26 million settlement in a case involving a false claims charge brought by a private citizen. An executive with a health consulting firm originally made the allegation and will receive a share of the settlement.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is more than 3 years old but formulating a response to it was the No. 1 health issue facing the Florida Legislature in 2013. Lawmakers began their spring session with select committees to address issues the mammoth health care law created and needed resolved by the end of the year. Read more ...