Melanie Brown-Woofter, CEO of the Florida Behavioral Health Association, is focusing on the expansion of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model in the state. Demand for the model, which provides prospective payments to CCBHC providers, is already in place, with 15 grant awardees in place and at least 30 more providers that applied … Read more
HCA Florida Healthcare, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, today announced HCA Healthcare Foundation’s $600,000 grant to Volunteers of America (VOA) through the Healthier Tomorrow Fund to promote mental wellness and resilience among first responders. Through this contribution, VOA intends to scale its VOA|ReST 4 First Responders program in targeted areas served by HCA Healthcare, including … Read more
Community Health of South Florida, Inc (CHI), a federally-qualified health center, received $700,000 in state funds to expand comprehensive primary and behavioral care and medical professional training when the 2022-2023 state budget went into effect July 1st. Sen. Ileana Garcia’s (R–Miami-Dade) presented a ceremonial check to CHI last Thursday. Garcia, who chairs the Committee on … Read more
Ashely Grimes is the President of NAMI Florida, the state affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI Florida works with its 24 affiliate communities across the state to provide education, advocacy, and care coordination for people with mental illnesses and their loved ones. In this Q&A, Grimes highlights the ways Florida can strengthen … Read more
The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), which administers Florida’s Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program, received several recommendations to improve care delivery for behavioral and women’s health, along with other services as part of its federally-required External Quality Review (EQR). Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), an EQR Organization for Medicaid, conducted the … Read more
Christine Cauffield, PsyD, is the President and CEO of LSF Health Systems, a managing entity that provides behavioral health services in Northeast and North Central Florida with a focus on uninsured individuals. Cauffield actively works with policymakers to ensure Florida’s most vulnerable residents have access to the behavioral health care and resources they need. In … Read more
Community-based initiatives are coming to the forefront of maternal and infant health discussions in Palm Beach County (PCB). The Florida Institute for Health Innovation recently hosted a community forum featuring maternal health experts and members of the fetal infant mortality review (FIMR) program. The discussion showed the evident need for an equity and community-based lens … Read more
Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris announced the award winners of the $12 million procurement of behavioral health services for Florida’s first responders and their families on March 25. These services will connect first responders to a provider or peer who is trained to provide referrals, information, and counseling. For more information, … Read more
Four insightful health care leaders offered an on-the-ground look at Florida’s health care system at our 2022 Federal State of Reform Health Policy Conference earlier this month. Highly-discussed topics included behavioral health, community-based care, and moving towards value-based payment models. Joining the conversation was Beth Kidder, managing principal at Health Management Associates, Jennifer Sweet, CEO … Read more
Florida is one step closer to joining the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which would allow residents to continue receiving behavioral health care from their provider via telehealth, even across state lines. Legislators discussed the benefits of House Bill 953, sponsored by Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D – Broward) at the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee meeting … Read more