As Florida battles the coronavirus pandemic, the effort has exposed an inconvenient truth that the state’s public health infrastructure has been whittled down by the Republican-led Legislature, especially in the aftermath of the Great Recession.
Despite what is expected to be a tough budget year, the Florida Department of Health is asking for money to begin rebuilding the infrastructure.
Health department officials in their 2021-2022 budget request made it clear to legislators: Florida has been stretched thin due to an ongoing series of public health outbreaks over the past few years that have included grappling with Zika and hepatitis A.
“Such threats are likely to continue and are of concern to Florida’s large population with underlying health conditions and older residents,” the legislative budget request said.
The agency's proposed spending plan also notes that “the national COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated an even greater need to build and sustain a professional epidemiological public health workforce, focused on infectious diseases and protection of our growing diverse population in Florida.”
To that end, the department asked to bolster its public health efforts by nearly $7 million in general revenue, with money going to adding 68 positions, including 14 new employees to help with the state lab in Jacksonville. DOH is also seeking help in other places: Surgeon General Scott Rivkees wants more than $8 million in general revenue to boost the efforts of the Office of MInority Health and Health Equity to work with public health departments to eliminate disparities in immunizations, cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality.
The agency has also asked for $1.4 million for “addressing the HIV epidemic,” including hiring advanced registered nurse practitioners and putting additional positions in counties with the highest HIV rates.
It will be interesting to see if Gov. Ron DeSantis --- who has become the main public face of the state’s efforts to battle the coronavirus --- will endorse the budget recommendations (Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez works very closely with the health department, so one would assume she’s aware of what is in the department’s proposal).
The department was required to submit its legislative budget request for the 2021-2022 fiscal year by Oct. 15. But the Legislature won't actually address the budget, which will take effect July 1, until it meets in the spring. By then, Florida, as well as the rest of the country, should know whether or not there was another coronavirus spike over the winter.
RULES
The Agency for Health Care Administration proposes developing Rule 59A-35.115 to implement and develop patient safety surveys. More here.
The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology proposes amending Rule 64B20-2.001 regarding licensure by certification of credentials and provisional license requirements. More here.
The Board of Opticianry proposes amending Rule 64B12-9.0015 to update applications. More here.
The Board of Occupational Therapy proposes amending Rule 64B11-2.003 to incorporate revised application forms. More here.
LOBBYISTS
Carlecia Collins has registered to lobby for Automated Health Systems, Inc. and the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind.
Michael Cortes has registered to lobby for the American Heart Association.
Thomas DeRita Jr. has registered to lobby for Harmony Recovery Centers
Rachel Cone and James McFaddin have registered to lobby for Intercept TeleMed, Inc.
Dean Cannon, Jessica Love and Kirk Pepper have registered to lobby for Centene Corp. on behalf of its affiliates and subsidiaries.
CERTIFICATE OF NEED
The Agency for Health Care Administration received and accepted three letters of intent this week for the Nov. 18 application filing date for the nursing home/ICF-DD batching certificate of need batching cycles. Acante Group Inc filed letters of intent to build 91-bed nursing homes in Gadsden and Jackson counties. Pal LTC Consultants, LLC filed a letter of intent to build a new 60-bed nursing home in Miami-Dade County. A letter of intent is not binding but is a necessary step in the CON process.
In other CON news, AHCA approved the transfer of CON #10470 from Comprehensive Home Health Care, Inc. d/b/a OpusCare of South Florida to OpusCare of Florida LLC to establish a new 13-bed freestanding inpatient hospice facility. Though it received approval, tecnnicaly the project is "exempt" from the CON review process, which means it doesn't undergo competitive review. The state also approved three other exempt projects in Miami-Dade for nursing home care. It approved Health Resort Network, LLC's combined exemption for #E190013 (115 beds) and #E200006 (96 beds) for one 211-bed community nursing home; Florida International Medical Center, LLC's combined exemption for #E170010 (240 beds) and #E200006 (25 beds) for one 265-bed community nursing home; and Victoria Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Inc.'s combined exemptions #E170016 (48 beds) and #E200006 (two beds) for one 50-bed addition to its rehabilitation facility.
ETC …
--The Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists has established a panel to advise it on diversity and inclusion issues. The Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists represents more than 5,400 certified registered nurse anesthetists.
--Does the election have you worried? The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the non-profit HealthyMinds Innovations have released a free app that hopes to help calm anxiety surrounding the election. The HealthyMinds Program App has two new meditations: Dealing with Election Anxiety and Healing Division.
WEEK IN REVIEW
--Biden, not Bernie … During the final presidential debate, President Donald Trump claimed that 180 million people would lose their private health insurance to socialized medicine if the Democratic presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, is elected. More here.
--It's a first ... The Food and Drug Administration approved the antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) for use in adult and pediatric patients who are 12 or older and weigh at least 88 pounds for the treatment of COVID-19 that requires hospitalization. More here.
--COVID, COVID, COVID ... Democrats, buoyed by gains in the 2018 elections, at one point saw the future of Obamacare --- with health coverage for millions of Floridians at stake --- as a driving issue in this year’s campaigns. But with less than two weeks left before the Nov. 3 general election, Republican and Democratic strategists say the election isn’t about broad policy issues like health care, the environment, gun control or immigration. More here.
--Nope ... In a case involving a woman who died at age 52 of smoking-caused lung cancer, a state appeals court Friday tossed out a $16 million punitive-damages award against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. More here.
--Restrictions eased ... Despite a steadily growing number of COVID-19 cases in Florida communities, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced the state will begin allowing outdoor visitation at long-term care facilities, regardless of whether the facilities have COVID-19 infections. More here.
--Danger of easing restrictions ... The coronavirus pandemic is set to cause half a million deaths in the U.S. by February, with Covid-19 on course to ravage states across America throughout the coming winter, a new study has forecast. More here.
--Administrative court watch ... Broward County Supervisor of Elections Pete Antonacci and John Van Laningham, a long-serving state administrative law judge, are two of the candidates who have applied to become chief judge of the state Division of Administrative Hearings. More here.
--Accuracy issues? ... With reported COVID-19 deaths of Florida residents topping 16,000 this week, the state Department of Health said Wednesday that information about fatalities needs a “more rigorous review.” More here.
--Not "vectors?"... Florida Department of Health data shows 10,317 cases of COVID-19 related to Florida public and private schools, colleges, and universities since Sept. 6. The number includes students, teachers, staff and other cases related to Florida schools. More here.
--No sale … Florida fails to attract bidders for Canada prescription drug importation program. More here.
--Why worry … Partying during pandemic: Florida college students complain about classmates packing bars, parties. More here.
--Shut it down … Orange health officials to parents: Don’t throw birthday parties. More here.
--Back at it? … Florida Gators hope to return to practice Monday after COVID-19 spike. It won’t be easy. More here.
CALENDAR
Oct. 26
9 a.m. The Board of Nursing meets to consider cases where probable cause has been found. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 275112502.
Oct. 27
10 a.m. The Information Clearinghouse on Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council meets. Meeting link here. Call-in number: (866) 899-4679. Access Code: 650222205. Email Anna.Simmons@flhealth.gov for a copy of the agenda.
Oct. 28
9 a.m. The Governor's Panel on Excellence in Long-Term Care will meet to review applications received for consideration for the Gold Seal Awards. Call-in number: (888)585-9008. Participant code: 998518088. Email LTCStaff@ahca.myflorida.com for a copy of the agenda.
Oct. 29
11:30 a.m. The Board of Physical Therapy meets to consider cases where probable cause has been found. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 564341766. Agenda here.
1 p.m. AHCA hosts a public meeting on proposed rule 59G-4.127 regarding Florida Assertive Community Treatment Services.
5 p.m. The Full Pediatric Cardiac Technical Advisory Panel meets. Call-in number: (877) 309-2071. Participant code: 127759469.
Oct. 30
8 a.m. The Board of Psychology meets. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 564341766. Agenda here.
9 a.m. The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists meets. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 744469610.
9 a.m. The Board of Nursing Home Administrators meets. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 136103141. Agenda here.
1 p.m. The State Child Abuse Death Review Committee meets. Call-in number: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 574649225.
