The numbers of Florida residents testing positive for COVID-19 have decreased the past two weeks, according to data released Friday. The state had a reported 54,353 new cases during the week that started Aug. 5, the first time in at least 10 weeks that it had fewer than 65,000 new cases, according to the data … Read more
The Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Children and Families, and the Agency for Health Care Administration are working to launch a network-based opioid recovery pilot program in up to 12 counties, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Aug. 4th. Starting this month, Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) will include community-based resources such … Read more
Florida health agencies are collaborating to address rising overdoses and deaths due to illicit drug use, including from the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl. Agencies such as the Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, and Department of Law Enforcement issued a detailed public health and safety alert last week to spread awareness of drug … Read more
The Office of Children’s Medical Services, through the Florida Department of Health (DOH) released a request for information (RFI) last month, seeking best service delivery practices for children with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Medicaid-eligible CYSHCN under the age of 21 can receive health coverage through Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan (CMS … Read more
Florida legislators will convene next week to review and approve Florida’s 2022-2023 budget. Governor Ron DeSantis released his budget recommendations last month, totaling over $99.7 billion. Health care-wise, the “Freedom First Budget” provides support for substance use disorder services and direct care providers, but leaves COVID-19 mitigation funding virtually off the table. DeSantis … Read more
Data from the Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) shows both higher vaccination numbers over the past few weeks and lower case counts. Week-to-week case counts have been on a downward trend since the start of October. According to Florida Health, the state saw 21,844 new cases from Oct. 23 to Nov. 5, … Read more
Florida legislators are continuing to file bills with just under two months until the start of the 2022 legislative session on Jan. 11. Here’s a look at some of the bills legislators filed this month. SB 726 – Telehealth: SB726, sponsored by Sen. Loranne Ausley (D – Quincy), would prevent Medicaid managed care plans from … Read more
Three agencies — the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the Florida Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families — presented their legislative budget requests (LBR) for fiscal year (FY) 2022 to the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee for consideration on Monday. Recurring requests among the agencies included health care workforce support … Read more
Governor Ron DeSantis announced Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s appointment as Florida Surgeon General and Secretary of the Florida Department of Health at a press conference today. Dr. Ladapo will succeed Dr. Scott Rivkees in the role, who announced his departure last month upon the conclusion of his two-year term. Dr. Ladapo also recently started a … Read more
Local Florida health equity organizations have until the end of the week to apply for Orlando Health’s 2022 Community Grant Program. During last year’s grant cycle, Orlando Health, which operates 15 health facilities across central Florida, including the nation’s largest neonatal ICU, awarded over $350,000. Grant recipients that previously received funding provide services … Read more