The group\u2019s Valuing the Invaluable 2026 report found that 4.3 million Floridians caring for adults contribute roughly 4.1 billion hours of unpaid care annually \u2014 work valued at an estimated $81 billion based on an hourly rate of $19.66.<\/p>\n
The report underscores the outsized economic role that family caregivers play in Florida\u2019s long-term care system, helping older adults remain in their homes and reducing reliance on more costly institutional care.<\/p>\n
\u201cFamily caregivers are a major economic force that fills critical gaps in our health care system,\u201d said Jeff Johnson, AARP Florida State Director. \u201cThe economic value they provide now exceeds $81 billion annually, yet this care often comes at significant cost to caregivers\u2019 health, financial security and well-being. AARP is elevating this important issue and fighting to save family caregivers time and money.\u201d<\/p>\n Nationally, the report estimates 59 million Americans provide 49.5 billion hours of unpaid adult caregiving each year, valued at roughly $1.01 trillion.<\/p>\n AARP said caregivers now average 27 hours of care each week, with 57% providing what is classified as high-intensity care, including assistance with daily living needs and more advanced medical tasks such as wound care and injections.<\/p>\n The organization also used the report to spotlight its legislative priorities in Florida, including support for home- and community-based care funding and backing for SB 578 and HB 1121, both aimed at strengthening services for caregivers and older adults.<\/p>\n During the 2026 Legislative Session, AARP Florida also co-hosted a statewide caregiving summit with Florida State University Claude Pepper Center, focused on policy solutions for family caregivers.<\/p>\n \u2014 Protecting Florida kids \u2014<\/p>\n In a new ruling<\/a>, a federal appeals court upheld several provisions \u2014 although not all \u2014 from the 2023 injunction in a yearslong fight to protect Florida\u2019s most vulnerable children. The new opinion also ruled that the U.S. Attorney General has the statutory authority to sue Florida over violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).<\/p>\n The children at the heart of the case come from low-income families, and some depend on feeding tubes, breathing tubes, wheelchairs and around-the-clock care.<\/p>\n The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit<\/a> said the previous lower court did not abuse its power with its injunction ordering the state to make sure medically fragile children received at least 90% of the private nursing services they were entitled to under Medicaid, and for the state to collect data to make sure families aren\u2019t being left behind. The appeals court, however, said the district court overstepped its authority by giving a state monitor too much power.<\/p>\n The 115-page opinion was released after the U.S. Department of Justice sued Florida in 2013 \u201con behalf of hundreds of medically complex children\u201d over allegations the state was violating Title II of the ADA. The case went to trial in 2023 with the federal government prevailing and proving \u201cFlorida\u2019s failure to provide adequate services to medically complex children constituted an Olmstead<\/a> violation under the ADA,\u201d the opinion said. Florida then appealed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe United States alleged that Florida discriminated against these children in violation of the ADA by failing to provide care for them in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs,\u201d according to the majority opinion written by U.S. Circuit Judge Adalberto Jordan<\/a>. \u201cIn other words, the United States asserted that Florida was failing to provide families with the at-home or group-home care they needed, causing some children to be unnecessarily institutionalized and placing others at serious risk of institutionalization.\u201d<\/p>\n In a dissenting opinion, U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Brasher<\/a> argued, \u201cIn the Fifth Circuit, this kind of lawsuit would not fly.\u201d<\/p>\n Brasher wrote, \u201cBecause the majority opinion approves a cause of action that does not exist as a remedy for harms that are only hypothetical, I respectfully dissent.\u201d<\/p>\n Family members, pediatricians, nursing facility staff, Medicaid experts, and state officials testified at the 2023 trial, which raised multiple issues about Florida\u2019s care for children.<\/p>\n \u201cMedically complex children who live at home or in community settings rely on Medicaid-funded nurses who come to the home and provide skilled care. This program, called Private Duty Nursing (PDN), provides medically necessary, life-sustaining care that can include monitoring and maintenance of feeding tubes, breathing tubes and ventilators, depending on the needs of the child,\u201d the opinion said.<\/p>\n But during the trial, the federal government called a doctor to testify that Florida children were not receiving the full PDN assistance they qualified for, the opinion said.<\/p>\n That left parents struggling to get help.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, one mother testified that due to persistent gaps in PDN, she was forced to care for her son herself, causing her to miss work, which ultimately reduced her income to such an extent that she lost her home \u2014 and her son had to be placed in a nursing home,\u201d the opinion said. \u201cOne witness testified regarding a baby who had a tracheotomy and was supposed to receive 24-hour PDN. Because of PDN staffing gaps, the mother was left alone with her baby. According to the witness, the mother left the room to do laundry and when she returned, the baby had pulled his trach out, causing him to die.\u201d<\/p>\n Parents also testified they were not informed they had more options than sending their children to a nursing facility and institutionalizing them, which should have been a last resort, the opinion said.<\/p>\n Some parents reported terrible conditions for their children being institutionalized, as children suffered with bed sores, physical abuse and other neglect, the opinion added.<\/p>\n The majority opinion noted that after children were institutionalized, parents faced roadblocks in bringing them home because of Florida\u2019s bad care coordination and transition planning services.<\/p>\n \u201cSignificantly, some parents also testified that they wanted to bring their children home but were prevented from (or delayed in) doing so due to the lack of care available,\u201d the opinion said. \u201cEven in the best of circumstances, bringing a medically complex child home from an institution is not an easy task \u2014 it requires training, equipment, nursing, and arrangements for schooling and therapy.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter hearing lengthy testimony from parents and experts from both sides, the district court made two overarching factual findings pertaining to PDN: (1) families of medically complex children are being denied access to adequate PDN; and (2) the problem is widespread.\u201d<\/p>\n Florida fought back.<\/p>\n The state asserts that the district court\u2019s systemwide injunction is an inappropriate remedy because the United States failed to prove widespread unlawful institutionalization. It claims that the injunction is overbroad, unachievable and offends principles of federalism,\u201d the federal appeals court\u2019s opinion said. \u201cFlorida also argues that Congress did not grant the United States an unbounded, freestanding right to enforce the rights of thousands of children. In its view, the United States cannot sue on behalf of those individuals who \u2018never initiated the enforcement process.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n But the majority opinion from the federal appeals court didn\u2019t buy Florida\u2019s argument.<\/p>\n The majority opinion said, \u201cWe are not persuaded by Florida\u2019s contention that the United States\u2019 enforcement authority is limited to suing on behalf of those individual children who filed administrative complaints.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2023 injunction called for other changes, including that the state must develop transition plans to help bring children home from nursing facilities, set a maximum caseload for care coordinators and collect more data on PDN for oversight and monitoring.<\/p>\n However, the appeals court called the provision in the injunction that set a maximum caseload for care coordinators \u201can abuse of discretion.\u201d<\/p>\n The opinion noted, \u201cThe district court made no specific factual findings that case workers are currently understaffed or that high caseloads are contributing to shortfalls in care coordination.\u201d<\/p>\n The opinion also stopped short of saying all families needed a transition plan to bring children back home.<\/p>\n \u2018Those residing in institutions must not be forced \u2014 or pressured \u2014 to leave the institutions if they do not wish to do so,\u201d the opinion said.<\/p>\n The federal appeals court upheld most of the injunction\u2019s directives for the state to collect more data to probe whether children were receiving their PDN services.<\/p>\n \u201cThe data collection requirement is based on the district court\u2019s finding that Florida has failed \u2018to track and analyze data that would help identify gaps in services\u2019 and \u2018to provide sufficient monitoring and enforcement of contractual compliance,\u2019\u201d the opinion said.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the appeals court upheld the injunction provision requiring a monitor to assist with tracking and data analysis, with the state paying the monitor\u2019s expenses. However, the lower court gave too much power to the monitor\u2019s oversight, the appeals court noted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe conclude that the district court abused its discretion when it granted the monitor \u2018full access to persons, employees, facilities, buildings, programs, services, documents, records, and any other materials necessary to assess (Florida\u2019s) compliance with the injunction.\u2019 Although it was within the court\u2019s discretion to require Florida to facilitate the production of certain data to assess compliance, unfettered access to staff and facilities goes beyond what is necessary for the monitor to accurately assess compliance and is therefore overbroad,\u201d the opinion said.<\/p>\n In his dissenting opinion, Brasher said 140 children living in institutions, while about 1,800 children in \u201ccommunity settings\u201d were not receiving their needs covered by Medicaid when the 2023 trial began.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district court reasoned, and the majority opinion agrees, that a state Medicaid program violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act whenever it fails to eliminate the \u2018serious risk\u2019 that a disabled child may be sent to an institution at some point in the future. After setting such a low bar to liability, the district court found that Florida is committing nearly 2,000 Title II violations because children with complex medical needs \u2014 who currently live at home \u2014 may be unjustifiably transferred to an institutional setting at some point in the future if they don\u2019t use more than 70% of their approved Private Duty Nursing hours,\u201d Brasher wrote. \u201cThe United States can sue to stop violations of Title II, but the United States did not file this lawsuit to remedy or prevent actual discrimination against any identifiable child. Instead, it sought to reduce the risk that any child might be transferred to an institution in the future by changing how Florida provides care to all Medicaid-eligible children today \u2014 even those who are not and may never be institutionalized.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Florida\u2019s Top 10 Killers \u2014<\/p>\n Heart and vascular diseases are taking more lives in Florida than any other contributing cause of death.<\/p>\n New data from Compare the Market<\/a> ranked the leading causes of death in each state and heart issues are the deadliest in the Sunshine State. Of the top 10 causes of death in Florida, heart and vascular diseases lead to more than 1,000 deaths per 100,000 residents and that more than doubles the second leading cause of death.<\/p>\n So-called \u201cneoplasms,\u201d including cancer, are second in Florida among the causes of death. There are some 415.39 deaths out of every 100,000 people in Florida that die due to those issues.<\/p>\n Accidents and injuries, including homicide, are third in Florida, with 251.16 fatalities for every 100,000 people. Respiratory diseases are fourth, neurological diseases fifth, metabolic diseases are sixth, infectious diseases seventh, digestive diseases eighth, diseases of the genitourinary system ninth and COVID-19 10th.<\/p>\n Florida\u2019s top 10 causes of death matched the same order for the lethal causes across the country.<\/p>\n Steven Spicer, executive general manager of Health, Life and Energy at Compare the Market, said people can stave off many of those threats with simple changes.<\/p>\n \u201cWith heart and vascular disease accounting for such a significant share of U.S. mortality, focusing on cardiovascular health should be a national priority,\u201d Spicer said. \u201cRegular exercise, improved diet, routine health screenings and managing underlying conditions such as diabetes can significantly reduce long-term risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 TGH \u2013 USF Health \u2014<\/p>\n Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine have been designated a Cancer Center of Excellence by the state.<\/p>\n The designation, awarded by the Florida Department of Health following a review by the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Council and members of the Biomedical Research Advisory Council, recognizes the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute and its academic partnership with USF Health for excellence in comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care and research.<\/p>\n \u201cThe designation of the TGH Cancer Institute as a Cancer Center of Excellence is a testament to our academic-rooted and patient-centered approach, cross-collaboration of our teams, access to cutting-edge treatments and therapies and our ability to provide patients the best possible chance at the best possible outcome,\u201d said John Couris, President and CEO of Tampa General Hospital.<\/p>\n Hospital officials said the recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for the institute, which ranks among the nation\u2019s top 10% for cancer treatment in U.S. News & World Report\u2019s 2025-26 Best Hospitals rankings.<\/p>\n The institute also holds accreditations from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology\u2019s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative and several other national bodies.<\/p>\n Tampa General said the state designation is a crucial step toward its long-term goal of securing a designation from the National Cancer Institute, considered one of the highest benchmarks for cancer centers nationwide.<\/p>\n The Cancer Center of Excellence program was established by the Florida Legislature in 2013 to promote top-tier cancer care and research across the state. According to the hospital, only seven cancer centers in Florida currently hold the designation.<\/p>\n \u2014 TGH, part two \u2014<\/p>\n Tampa General Hospital has released a new white paper on health care affordability built from AI-analyzed input gathered from hundreds of industry leaders who attended its 2026 NEXT Summit in Tampa.<\/p>\n The report, titled NEXT Intelligence: A Crowdsourced Framework for Health Care Affordability, was developed using AI-powered crowdsourcing technology from Vu and draws on more than 1,300 insights collected from over 300 health care leaders representing 16 states and 10 industry subsectors.<\/p>\n According to Tampa General, the white paper is designed as a roadmap for improving health care affordability and access.<\/p>\n \u201cAt Tampa General, we believe that innovation can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time, and we were proud to convene hundreds of our industry\u2019s brightest minds who are shaping the future of health care,\u201d said Couris. \u201cThe NEXT Intelligence white paper takes their visionary perspectives and transforms them into a tangible, actionable framework. Our hope is that leaders will bring these insights back to their respective organizations so we can work together to solve health care\u2019s toughest challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n The framework identifies six major themes: price transparency, expanded use of artificial intelligence and digital tools, scaling value-based care, addressing social determinants of health, workforce sustainability, and policy and payment reform.<\/p>\n Hospital officials said participants emphasized that affordability cannot be addressed solely through hospital operations, citing housing instability, food insecurity, transportation access and workforce burnout as major cost drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what innovation looks like in practice: not just adopting new technology but using it to catalyze knowledge that leaders representing different parts of the health care ecosystem agree will move the needle,\u201d said Rachel Feinman, senior vice president, Innovation, Ventures and Digital Solutions at Tampa General Hospital. \u201cThe NEXT Intelligence framework is a model on which we intend to build, and we believe it represents a genuinely innovative way for health systems to collaborate with stakeholders across the industry and move from conversations to consensus.<\/p>\n The insights were gathered during the Feb. 11-12 summit through a combination of live sessions, workshops and a dedicated AI-enabled insight booth that used voice capture, transcription and real-time clustering tools.<\/p>\n Tampa General said the summit will return Feb. 24-25, 2027.<\/p>\n \u2014TGH in Citrus \u2014<\/p>\n Tampa General Hospital is expanding its Hospital at Home model into Citrus County.<\/p>\n The new program, launched through TGH Crystal River, allows certain patients evaluated in the emergency department or admitted to the hospital to transition to in-home treatment with their consent.<\/p>\n According to the hospital, the program combines in-person clinical visits with remote monitoring and telehealth services to replicate elements of traditional inpatient care.<\/p>\n \u201cTGH at Home is a true model of innovation,\u201d said Couris. \u201cWe can give patients what they really want: world-class care in their own environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Eligible conditions include congestive heart failure, urinary tract infections, cellulitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n Patients enrolled in the program receive at least two in-person visits each day from members of the TGH at Home clinical team. The hospital is also partnering with the telehealth provider VSee<\/a> to offer virtual visits via iPads provided at no additional cost.<\/p>\n The care team includes physicians and nurses who remain in close contact with patients throughout treatment, with 24-hour access available for questions or concerns. To qualify, patients must live within 30 minutes of a TGH hospital or emergency department.<\/p>\n Hospital officials said the model is designed to improve patient comfort while reducing risks associated with traditional inpatient stays, including hospital-acquired infections.<\/p>\n \u201cTGH at Home is all about improving access to care and the patient experience,\u201d said Linda Stockton, Senior Vice President and President of TGH Crystal River. \u201cWe know that patients have a better recovery when surrounded by what is familiar to them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 Heritage healthy \u2014<\/p>\n Tampa-based Heritage Insurance Holdings has earned national recognition from Cigna for workplace wellness for the second consecutive year.<\/p>\n Heritage Companies announced it received Cigna\u2019s Healthy Workforce Designation for a second straight year, earning Gold-level recognition for leadership involvement, employee participation and wellness programs addressing multiple dimensions of well-being.<\/p>\n The national designation recognizes employers that demonstrate a sustained commitment to employee health and workplace support initiatives.<\/p>\n \u201cI am proud of the team at Heritage who have made it possible for us to earn this recognition two years in a row. The work we do can be tough, and our team members show up ready to take care of our policyholders when it matters most. It\u2019s important that we support our team by implementing wellness initiatives and creating an environment that supports their physical and mental health. That\u2019s something we\u2019re going to stay focused on to make sure our team can succeed,\u201d said Ernie Garateix, CEO of the Heritage Companies.<\/p>\n Susan Meister, Chief of Human Resources at Heritage, added: \u201cAt Heritage, we have been intentional about building a culture of wellness that supports our employees personally and professionally. This recognition reflects the programs and initiatives we\u2019ve put in place to engage with our team and promote healthy outcomes. We are proud of the progress we have made and remain committed to continuing to invest in our people.\u201d<\/p>\n Heritage Insurance Holdings said it writes roughly $1.4 billion in gross premiums and provides personal and commercial residential coverage across the Northeast, Southeast, Hawaii and California, with a focus on catastrophe-prone markets.<\/p>\n The company specializes in coverage for risks tied to hurricanes, wildfires, Winter storms and severe convective weather events.<\/p>\n \u2014 Not an afterthought \u2014<\/p>\n During a visit to Miami, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced a commitment to nutrition-based care at America\u2019s hospitals.<\/p>\n U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, the Republican co-chair of Florida\u2019s congressional delegation, cheered the decision as a good step toward preventive medical care. Buchan chairs the U.S. House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee.<\/p>\n \u201cFor too long, our health care system has focused on treating illness rather than preventing it. I applaud the Trump administration and Secretary Kennedy for putting nutrition at the forefront of health care,\u201d the Longboat Key Republican said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we serve patients matters as much as their prescriptions. To achieve better outcomes, lower costs and healthier communities, we must prioritize prevention, champion better nutrition, encourage more physical activity and intervene earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n Kennedy also said the commitment would boost Florida agriculture. He and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz, while at Nicklaus Children\u2019s Hospital, announced a special alert<\/a> reinforcing hospitals\u2019 obligation to provide high-quality nutrition and guidance to follow dietary guidelines set by the administration.<\/p>\n \u201cQuality health care starts with quality food. The actions announced today will help improve patient outcomes, prevent chronic disease and Make America Healthy Again,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n A memo from the agency requires hospitals treating Medicare beneficiaries to meet individual patient nutritional needs, maintain dietitian oversight and current therapeutic diet manuals, and to integrate nutrition into quality and performance improvement programs.<\/p>\n \u201cFood should not be an afterthought in health care,\u201d Oz said. \u201cWhen hospitals align what\u2019s on the tray with what\u2019s in the chart, we give patients a better chance of faster recovery, avoiding complications and healthier long-term outcomes. By connecting hospitals directly with local farmers, we\u2019re not just improving meals; we\u2019re rebuilding a care model that treats nutrition as essential medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2014 ICYMI \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cPentagon seeks $200 billion in additional funds for the Iran war, AP source says<\/a>\u201d via Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking of The Associated Press \u2014 The department sent the request to the White House, according to a senior administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private information. Asked about the figure at a news conference, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not directly confirm the amount, saying it could change. \u201cIt takes money to kill bad guys,\u201d Hegseth said. But he said, \u201cWe\u2019re going back to Congress and our folks there to ensure that we\u2019re properly funded.\u201d House Majority Leader Steve Scalise signaled the negotiations ahead. \u201cUltimately, we\u2019re going to have negotiations with the White House on an exact amount,\u201d Scalise said. \u201cWe\u2019re not at that point yet.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMedicaid cuts threaten hundreds of hospitals, new report finds<\/a>\u201d via Berkeley Lovelace Jr. of NBC News \u2014 More than 400 hospitals across the United States are at high risk of closing or cutting services because of the Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump\u2019s \u201cbig, beautiful bill,\u201d according to an analysis from the progressive watchdog group Public Citizen. The fallout could make it harder for millions of people to get care and put thousands of health care workers\u2019 jobs at risk as hospitals lose a key source of federal funding. Medicaid covers about a fifth of all hospital spending. Medicaid cuts come in phases, with more significant changes, including work requirements, in 2027 and limits on how states raise funds in 2028. Overall, the law is expected to reduce federal Medicaid funding by roughly $1 trillion over the next decade.<\/p>\n \u201cA nursing home owner got a Trump pardon. The families of his patients got nothing<\/a>.\u201d via Jeremy Kohler of ProPublica \u2014 Often overshadowed in the attention around Trump\u2019s decisions is the emotional and financial devastation left behind. Few clemency decisions illustrate that more clearly than the case of Joseph Schwartz, who paid himself millions of dollars from his nursing homes while diverting tens of millions owed to taxpayers and employees, and who has failed to satisfy at least three multimillion-dollar judgments against him. Trump has granted clemency to several figures in major health care fraud cases. In 2020, he commuted the 20-year federal prison sentence of Philip Esformes, a Florida nursing home magnate convicted in a scheme that prosecutors said involved about $1.3 billion in fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims. The White House cited allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, echoing claims from Esformes\u2019 defense that prosecutors improperly invaded attorney-client privilege by reviewing documents seized in an FBI raid.<\/p>\n \u201cAshley Moody introduces bill to let states go after people who file fraudulent Medicaid claims<\/a>\u201d via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics \u2014 U.S. Sen. Moody introduced the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act in the Senate. Currently, state Medicaid Fraud Control Units primarily focus on investigating providers who file bogus claims. If the measure is approved, it would allow those investigators to go after people who file for benefits based on claims that have deceived providers. One of Moody\u2019s motivations is reports of Medicaid fraud in Minnesota. Moody said in her press release that there is as much as $9 billion in fraud billed across 14 Medicaid services in that state. The suspicions of fraud in Minnesota led the Trump administration to declare a \u201cnew war on fraud\u201d in February. But Trump did not limit his claims in Minnesota. This month, administration officials opened an investigation in Florida regarding suspected fraudulent Medicaid claims.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Warehoused without any protection\u2019: Florida traps seniors in elder care homes<\/a>\u201d via Carol Marbin Miller and Linda Robertson of the Miami Herald \u2014 Once they are labeled \u201cvulnerable adults\u201d by Florida\u2019s Department of Children and Families (DCF), elders can lose their autonomy, their homes and their dignity. They can lose control of their money, which the state spends on lawyers and professional guardians assigned to protect them, whether they need that assistance or not. Decisions by DCF Adult Protective Services caseworkers depriving elders of their freedom are almost always made without court oversight and beyond public view. Almost 95% of elders removed from their homes statewide never appear before a judge and never consult with a lawyer, the Miami Herald found.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida company suspended over \u2018threat\u2019 to public health and welfare<\/a>\u201d via Lawrene Mower of the Tampa Bay Times \u2014 State regulators on Monday ordered the suspension of a Brooksville health administrator for outsourcing claims handling on more than 23,000 Floridians to India and the Philippines. Mirra Health Care LLC\u2019s business actions pose an \u201cimmediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare of Florida residents,\u201d the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation said in a news release. According to the state\u2019s order, Mirra Health Care was hired to oversee enrollment, claims adjudication and appeals for three health maintenance organizations or HMOs: Secur, Solis Health Plans and Ultimate Health Plans. Mirra Health Care then outsourced those services to four unlicensed overseas companies, in violation of its contract with the HMOs, according to the state. The company also couldn\u2019t produce all contracts with those overseas companies when regulators requested them, in violation of state law.<\/p>\n \u201cHospitals\u2019 greed is pushing Florida families to the breaking point<\/a>\u201d via Adam L. Buckalew for USA Today \u2014 Hospital monopolies aren\u2019t just a problem in Florida \u2015 they\u2019re creating a health care affordability crisis for patients across the country. Hospitals are the leading driver of health care costs, capitalizing on pricing abuses that cost hardworking Americans an estimated $240 billion each year. A recent KFF analysis found that hospitals alone accounted for 40% of the growth in national spending between 2022 and 2024 \u2015 a much larger share than any other health spending category. Hospitals are acquiring a wide range of doctors\u2019 practices, leaving patients confused when they receive a bill from a hospital even after a routine checkup at a specialist\u2019s office. When corporate hospital systems adopt these practices, they often impose additional facility fees or site-of-care charges, raising prices by an average of 14% after acquisition. In particular, emergency department facility fees have skyrocketed over the past two decades. From 2004 to 2021, they\u2019ve increased by more than 500% in the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida is taking obesity seriously. Now is time for the next step<\/a>\u201d via Joseph Nadglowski for the Tampa Bay Times \u2014 Obesity is not a lifestyle choice. It is a chronic, relapsing disease recognized by leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association. Many factors, including genetics, cause it. Yet for decades, insurance coverage has lagged behind medical knowledge, often covering the consequences of untreated obesity like Type 2 diabetes or heart disease, without providing access to comprehensive treatments for the disease itself. The pilot program is a strong start. However, to fully realize its potential, it must be funded in a way that allows more eligible state employees to participate. Limiting access due to budget constraints undermines both the health and economic rationale for the initiative. Untreated obesity drives substantial health care costs through increased hospitalizations, specialty care utilization, disability claims and reduced workforce productivity. Addressing obesity earlier can mitigate the progression of costly chronic diseases and improve overall health plan finances.<\/p>\n \u201cBayCare, Northwestern Medicine to launch organ transplant program with 2027 debut<\/a>\u201d via Anjelica Rubin of the Tampa Bay Business Journal \u2014 BayCare Health System Inc. plans to launch a solid organ transplant program at St. Joseph\u2019s Hospital in Tampa. The Clearwater health system said the program is expected to launch in 2027, initially focusing on kidney transplants. Solid organ transplants involve replacing organs such as kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs or pancreases with healthy organs from a donor, procedures that require highly specialized surgical teams, intensive post-operative care and long-term clinical management. A 2024 study commissioned by BayCare found roughly 570 patients in its 12-county service area should have received kidney transplants each year. In reality, only around 320 and 385 patients received those procedures locally over the past four years. A BayCare spokesperson said the program will serve the entire five-county region with additional operational space for the program to be added at St. Joseph\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cPensacola\u2019s<\/a> freeze on Baptist Hospital master plan begins to thaw<\/a>\u201d via Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal \u2014 Pensacola is exploring what to do with two \u201cextra\u201d buildings it acquired through the land donation from Baptist Hospital. The options could include finding another use, such as converting the properties into a day care center or selling the properties outright. The Pensacola City Council officially gave the green light to explore possibilities by officially declaring the properties as \u201csurplus\u201d on March 26 in a unanimous vote. The approval came as Council member Delarian Wiggins said he is working with Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves on a new proposal to develop a comprehensive plan for the rest of the former Baptist Hospital campus.<\/p>\n \u201cFSU owns a hospital: City of Tallahassee deal green-lit by trustees, <\/a>Governors\u201d via Jay Waagmeester of the Florida Phoenix \u2014 The Florida State University Board of Trustees and State University System Board of Governors approved Thursday for the university to purchase Tallahassee\u2019s main hospital. This is the first major step in building FSU Health and taking a significant step toward improving health care and advancing clinical and biomedical research at Florida State University. So, it\u2019s a big deal.\u201d FSU President Richard McCullough said during the FSU meeting. The agreement upends a decadeslong relationship between the city, which owned the hospital, land and all the assets and Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Inc., a nonprofit that administered and operated the hospital. Through the end of 2034, FSU will contribute $100 million to upgrade the property and an additional $150 million to clinical faculty, resources and academic operations, as stipulated in the contract. The Tallahassee City Commission voted, 3-2, on March 11 to approve the sale.<\/p>\n \u201cA Florida hospital drops its lawsuit against a woman who refused to leave the facility<\/a>\u201d via The Associated Press \u2014Tallahassee Memorial Hospital filed the lawsuit this month, requesting an injunction to force the woman to leave room 373 and authorizing the county sheriff\u2019s office to assist if necessary. She was officially discharged from the hospital in early October. A hearing had been scheduled for Monday, but was canceled after the hospital filed a notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice. The case is no longer active because the patient \u201cis no longer at TMH,\u201d hospital spokesperson Sarah Cannon said. According to the lawsuit, the woman was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment, and a formal discharge order was issued on Oct. 6 because she no longer needed acute care services. The hospital repeatedly tried to coordinate her departure with family members, including by offering transportation.<\/p>\n \u2014 RULES \u2014<\/p>\n The Board of Nursing\u2019s final rule regarding requirements for licensure goes into effect on April 13. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 PENCIL IT IN \u2014<\/p>\n April is Parkinson\u2019s Disease Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising public understanding of Parkinson\u2019s disease, supporting the millions of people and families affected by the progressive neurological disorder and highlighting the importance of early detection, treatment, research, and compassionate care.<\/p>\n April 9<\/p>\n Happy birthday to Rep. Robert Brackett!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/family-caregiver-network-640x349.jpeg\")
<\/a>AARP report says Florida family caregivers provide $81 billion in unpaid care, sustaining the state\u2019s health system.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/moffitt_ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AdobeStock_667284162-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>11th Circuit ruling preserves key protections for medically complex children while limiting oversight powers in Florida.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/moore_ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/heart-Large-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>New data show heart and vascular disease remains Florida\u2019s deadliest health threat by a wide margin.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/26-FHCA-005-Quality-Sunburn-Ad-V1_2_UPDATE.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/TGH-USF-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>Tampa General Hospital and USF Health earned Florida\u2019s Cancer Center of Excellence designation for patient care.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tampageneral_ad.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AI-hospital-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>Tampa General Hospital released an AI-informed roadmap focused on lowering costs and expanding access to health care.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tampa-general-citrus-640x426.jpg\")
<\/a>Tampa General Hospital expanded its Hospital at Home program into Citrus County through TGH Crystal River.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/aarp_ad.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/RFK-JR-640x392.webp.webp\")
<\/a>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoted nutrition-based hospital care during a visit to Miami with Mehmet Oz.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/baptist_ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IRAN-WAR-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>The Pentagon is seeking an additional $200 billion as the Iran war drives up new federal spending.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/brackett-Large-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>Robert Brackett celebrates a birthday as colleagues and constituents recognize his public service and leadership.<\/p>\n