FHA News

FHA Healthcare Reform Webpage
The FHA has established a healthcare reform webpage with links to the Congressional healthcare reform plans under consideration, the President’s proposals and FHA position papers and talking points.

Free Patient Education Tools -- 03/05/2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is offering hospitals and other medical providers free copies of printed and audiovisual patient education tools that range from effective healthcare patient guides on the benefits and risks of medications and other therapies for inducing labor and for treating gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and other conditions, to preventing blood clots, and to knowing what the key screening exams are.

Statewide Terrorism / Bioterrorism Exercise -- Reducing the Fee -- 03/05/2010
The Florida Department of Health in coordination with Florida's Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Emergency Management, Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Hospital Association, request your participation in an unconventional and exciting exercise to be delivered online from April 1 - 15 and May 1- May 15, 2010.

Department of Health Hosts H1N1 Forum for Healthcare Professionals -- 03/05/2010
The H1N1 Forum for Healthcare Professionals is being held on March 22, 2010, from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. EDT. This 60-minute simulcast (available via web and satellite broadcast) is intended for physicians, nurses, laboratory staff, veterinarians, pharmacists, school healthcare professionals and other healthcare professionals.

Bill protects ERs against lawsuits -- 03/05/2010
Reopening a political battle about medical malpractice, a Florida Senate committee today passed a bill that would limit the liability of hospitals, doctors and other workers for emergency-room errors.

HMO profits down slightly, Premium revenue up -- 02/26/2010
Florida's HMOs reported net income of $438.6 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2009, compared to $441.3 million, down 0.6 percent from the same period in 2008 for the plans that have been operational for three or more years.

Low Income Pool Appropriations Spreadsheets Released
Low Income Pool (LIP) spreadsheets showing the appropriations actions of the 2009 Legislature have been released and are now available under the Advocacy Section. These documents show the revised Fiscal Year 2008-09 distributions, the Fiscal 2009-10 distributions, and a schedule for Fiscal Year 2009-10 showing an additional distribution available if Florida gets approval of an amendment to the Medicaid Reform waiver for the LIP Program.

Featured Publications

• HMO Trends in Florida - 3Q 2009 -- More Info, full report
• HMO Indicators Report - 3Q 2009 -- More Info, order form
• FHA's Florida HMO Monitor - 3Q 2009 -- More Info, full report
• HMO Market Share - 3Q 2009 -- More Info, order form
• Outpatient Surgery Utilization - 1Q 2009 -- More Info, full report