Florida's Latest News

State works to procure health care for medically complex children

This could go down as the summer of the health care procurements.

The Department of Health (DOH) issued a request for information asking interested parties to inform the state of ways to improve and provide information to help make an upcoming procurement of a Medicaid managed care program for medically complex children.

Interested parties have until 2 p.m. on Aug. 5 to provide insights on ways to improve upon the Children’s Medical Services managed care program designed to serve the needs of children who, because of chronic medical conditions, require more complex care. 

The RFI asks for insights on ways to increase pediatric specialists and clinics that provide medically complex care to participate in the CMS network; improve behavioral and mental health access and outcomes; address health inequities; and increase preventative dental visits and dental sedation access.

Florida Realtors back Wilton Simpson for Ag Commissioner, makes legislative Primary endorsements

Florida Realtors, a powerhouse trade group not shy in doling out political donations, released its slate of legislative endorsements in the primary Thursday, and announced it is supporting Senate President Wilton Simpson in his bid for Agriculture Commissioner.

“Florida continues to be an economic beacon of success for the nation, largely due to the perseverance and growth of its real estate industry,” said Danny Nix, chair of Florida Realtors PAC Trustees.

“This success has been driven by sound economic policy from our state leaders who understand the important link between Florida’s economy and its real estate industry. The candidates being endorsed today have demonstrated that they understand this connection and will work tirelessly to enact laws and policies that promote homeownership and protect the rights of homeowners throughout the state.”

Tampa moves closer to expanding 'ban the box' policy to city contractors

The Tampa City Council voted unanimously Thursday to move forward with a plan to reward businesses contracting with the city when they hire individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system.

The proposal calls for contractors to “ban the box,” meaning to eliminate questions on an initial job application asking whether an applicant has a criminal history. The city already uses such a policy for their own hires, but the new ordinance seeks to motivate private businesses who want to contract with Tampa to do the same.

This isn’t the first time the city council has voted on the expansion of a “ban the box” ordinance to include contractors. While they passed their own "ban the box" measure for city employees in 2013, they rejected a proposal to expand the move to contractors in 2015.

Federal mandate could force massive Florida fishery closures

The effects of extensive red snapper bycatch in federal South Atlantic waters, and attempts to rein it in within existing regulations, may lead to a massive economy-twisting fishery closure for bottom fishing off Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

“I can’t underscore how big of an issue this is,” said Jessica McCawley, Director of Marine Fisheries Management for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), at the Commission’s July meetings in Jacksonville.

McCawley also serves on the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC), the regulatory body responsible for federal fisheries from North Carolina to the Florida Keys.

“I don’t know how many people are aware of the kind of magnitude of what we’re talking about here,” McCawley said. “We’re talking about 55 species (of the snapper-grouper complex) that you couldn’t fish for, or maybe there’s giant areas in federal waters that you couldn’t go to bottom-fish.”