Florida's Latest News

Federal judge tosses challenge to air ambulance ‘balance billing’ law

A North Florida federal judge on Wednesday issued a final order dismissing a challenge to a 2020 law banning non-contracted air ambulance providers from “balance billing” insured patients.

Balance billing is a practice providers use to charge a patient the balance of bill not paid by insurance, and it can cost those left on the hook tens of thousands of dollars.

Air Methods Corp. and Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC filed the suit.

Florida Association of Health Plans President and CEO Audrey Brown, one of the lobbyists who pushed for the law, hailed Wednesday’s ruling.

“Florida is the only state in the nation to find a legislative path forward, that has been upheld time and again by the court system, to ban air ambulances from balance billing Floridians, an anti-consumer practice that burdened our state’s families,” said Brown, whose organization represents commercial, Medicaid and Medicare health insurers and managed care organizations across the state.

Florida lawmakers may expand COVID-19 protections

Florida senators asked COVID-related questions and got few answers Wednesday from both the state Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration.

One question not asked was about pending fines for businesses and governments who have been accused of asking for proof of vaccination.

When the Department of Health appeared before lawmakers Wednesday, it wasn’t asked about the $3.57 million fine it is imposing on Leon County for its vaccine mandate.

So, Capitol News asked after their presentation in the Senate committee.

“We’ll get back to you as soon as possible,” said Department of Health spokesperson Megan Moran.

After long absence, Tampa’s port set for cruise ships’ return this weekend

Over at Port Tampa Bay, they’re polishing every surface and and touching up the terminals with fresh paint.

It’s been more than a year and a half since the last cruise ship departed from Tampa around the start of the coronavirus pandemic. And in the days leading up to the return of ships this weekend, the port’s staff is making sure everything is ready.

“It’s not that we waited and now we’re jumping,” said Raul Alfonso, the port’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “We’ve been ready.”

When the Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas departs Tampa for a five-night cruise to the Bahamas, it’ll be cause for celebration for port executives, who plan to be on hand to personally welcome passengers. Cruises normally brings in more than a fifth of the port’s annual revenue, and it’s also an economic driver for tourists who travel to the region before and after their departure.

Not a lot of vape shops applying for new nicotine permits, regulators told

One.

That’s how many vape shops have applied for and received permits to sell nicotine products under the new “Tobacco 21” law the Florida Legislature approved last spring.

“We’ve had one,” Daniel McGinn, assistant director of the Department of Business and Professional Regulations’ Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Division, told the House Regulatory Reform Committee Wednesday.

“One?” replied an incredulous-sounding Rep. Jackie Toledo, who had sponsored the House version of the bill. She had just asked him how many new Retail Nicotine Product Dealers Permits the department had issued under the new regulatory framework the Legislature created to deal with vape shops popping up all over the state.

The law went into effect Oct. 1.