MOMZ Expands Homestead Office to Meet Growing Need for Services
MOMZ, the obstetrical/gynecological division of KIDZ Medical Services — a private, physician-owned multispecialty healthcare organization dedicated to neonatal, pediatric, and women’s healthcare — recently opened a new, expanded Homestead, FL office that will allow the practice to see more patients. This is especially important, as some OB-GYN practitioners have retired or left the area, leaving a dearth in women’s care.
“Women in Homestead have had to travel outside to see physicians in Kendall or Palmetto Bay, spending two hours driving in traffic,” said Dr. Jamell Walker, who joined the practice in 2023. “Now they can see physicians right here.”
The new practice space includes four office rooms and one procedure room that enables the doctors to treat more OB/GYN patients and perform low-risk minor procedures.
“Dr. Walker and I can now see patients concurrently because we have more exam rooms,” added Dr. Dawn George, who also joined MOMZ in 2023. “Now we have the opportunity to counsel and care for even more women.”
Dr. Walker adds that the Homestead office also has staff fluent in Spanish to help make communication between doctors and patients easier.
Both doctors provide a full range of outpatient OB-GYN services including prenatal and postnatal care and general gynecological care for women in the community.
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| As Medical Careers Evolve, So Do Insurance Needs
As a medical professional, you know how important it is to carry professional liability insurance. What you may not realize is that it’s also imperative to have your policy reviewed regularly to ensure that it covers any changes that you’ve made in your medical career. After all, joining a new practice, offering new services, or taking on a new professional role can also mean taking on extra risk.
When starting out, it’s understandable to try to save money by taking a do-it-yourself approach; however, hiring a professional consultant or healthcare attorney to review contracts and insurance policies will actually pay off in the long run.
“For new doctors coming out of residency, having a consultant or healthcare attorney review contracts and policies can save them from legal issues later on as well as set them up for success,” said Kyla Murphy, AVP National Healthcare Practice, Risk Strategies.
For example, while an occurrence policy appears more expensive up front, it includes tail coverage. A claims-made policy increases in price every year up until the fifth year, but does not include tail coverage, which will have to be purchased if the medical provider cancels the policy, or changes practices, depending on what their contract says. This can be expensive, as tails can cost two to three times the price of the current premium.
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Clinical Trials at Memorial Cancer Institute Deliver Hope to Cancer Patients
APRIL 8, 2025 – For more than a decade, cancer has been Judith Hetlage’s constant companion, always present and threatening. What began with a diagnosis of synovial sarcoma, a rare tumor in the connective tissue of joints, ultimately resulted in cancer cells spreading to her lungs.
“I felt like that was the death sentence,” she said.
But a fortunate thing happened on the way to what Hetlage thought would be her demise. Memorial Cancer Institute began an innovative clinical trial for TCR-T (T-cell Receptor Therapy), an immunotherapy that harvests a patient’s T-cells, genetically modifies them to recognize a specific protein within cancer cells, and infuses the cells back into the person’s immune system to search and destroy the diseased cells. While a similar approach has been successfully utilized at Memorial through its collaboration with the Moffitt Malignant Hematology and Cellular Therapy program for the treatment of blood cancers, it had never before been used on a solid tumor.
“Additionally, Judith’s specific cancer hadn’t initially been included in the trial, but HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) testing indicated she had the type of white blood cells that would enable the immune system to recognize specific protein receptors within her tumor,” said Atif Hussein, MD, Hetlage’s oncologist and director of Memorial’s Hematology & Oncology Fellowship program. “We introduced the HLA type and the antigen in the modified T-cell, which then was able to recognize the cancer cells as something foreign to the body that should be killed.”
Hetlage, a mother to three daughters, was infused with what Dr. Hussein calls “super immune cells” and then received a second dose less than two weeks later to empower an immune system that had been depleted and emptied of bone marrow before the treatment. The process, called lymph depletion therapy, allows the supercells to find a home to reside in the immune system.
“Cell therapies are the next wave of cancer treatment and offer options when more traditional approaches stop working,” said Hugo Fernandez, MD, chair and medical director of the Moffitt Malignant Hematology & Cellular Therapy Program at Memorial Healthcare System. “Markers on cancer cells, even in rare cases, allow us to hit the disease where it lives, something established programs at Memorial are ready to do as new research is conducted.”
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Tampa General Hospital’s John Couris Named a Great Leader in Health Care by Becker’s Hospital Review
The academic health system president and CEO is recognized for his visionary leadership, innovation and commitment to transforming the health care industry.
April 11, 2025 – John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center, which comprises a portfolio of organizations, including Tampa General Hospital (TGH), has been named a Great Leader in Healthcare for 2025 by Becker’s Hospital Review. This recognition honors Couris’ exceptional leadership, commitment to innovation and transformative impact on health care in the Tampa Bay region and beyond.
Since joining Tampa General in 2017, Couris has spearheaded significant growth and innovation in the academic health system, expanding the organization’s footprint from 17 care locations to over 150 across Florida, supported by nearly 15,000 team members and providers. In 2023, he led the successful acquisition of the Bravera Health Network (now TGH North), strengthening the organization’s market position despite broader market challenges. Under his leadership, Tampa General recently announced its partnership with the Health Care District of Palm Beach County to provide administrative leadership, operational management and strategic support for Lakeside Medical Center, the Health Care District’s public teaching hospital in Belle Glade, Florida, enhancing quality of care and access to health care services in rural areas of Palm Beach County. Additionally, the academic health system last month announced plans to expand its ongoing partnership with Mass General Brigham by opening a radiation oncology center in Palm Beach County, ensuring access to industry-leading oncology expertise from two of the nation’s preeminent academic health systems on Florida’s east coast.
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Dr. Thomas Utset-Ward, Pediatric Orthopedic Oncology Specialist, Joins Nicklaus Children’s
APRIL 11, 2025 – Thomas J. Utset-Ward, MD, has joined the Nicklaus Children’s Orthopedic, Sports Medicine & Spine Institute as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric orthopedic oncology. His focus is the surgical treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the bone and soft tissues, such as sarcoma, as well as complex limb-sparing reconstructions. Additionally, he specializes in pediatric arthroplasty for children and teens in need of joint replacement surgery.
“Nicklaus Children’s is one of only a few hospitals in the nation to offer patients the services of a dedicated, pediatric-specific orthopedic oncologist,” said Dr. Craig Spurdle, chief of Orthopedic Surgery with the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine & Spine Institute. “Currently, there are only seven of these specialists nationwide. The addition of Dr. Utset-Ward to our orthopedic surgical team is a reflection of our commitment to innovation and providing leading-edge specialty care for children,” he added.
Advancements in pediatric orthopedic oncology are transforming care for patients and reducing the need for limb amputations. Increasingly, limbs can be spared following resection of the cancer, through use of metal implants, bone grafts, or even bone transport instead of amputation.
Dr. Utset-Ward routinely employs these limb-salvage methods, working with engineers to create custom-made implants, some which can grow non-invasively using magnets along with the natural growth of the child. He specializes in these evolving techniques with the goal of optimizing outcomes and quality of life for patients and in many cases the children are walking the same day as surgery. In cases that do require amputation, Dr. Utset-Ward offers rotationplasty, in which the patient’s ankle is used to create a new knee as well as targeted muscle reinnervation, whereby nerves are rewired to reduce pain and even control bionic prostheses.
Clinicians at the Orthopedic, Sports Medicine & Spine Institute collaborate with colleagues at the Nicklaus Children’s Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute to offer the most advanced treatments and surgical interventions, with a focus on enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life that addresses both the immediate and long-term challenges associated with pediatric oncology care.
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Biologic Therapy Significantly Improves Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Antiphospholipid Syndrome at High Risk for Serious Complications
APRIL 10, 2025 – A landmark clinical trial co-led by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has found that blocking inflammation with the drug certolizumab significantly reduces the risk of serious adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).
The phase 2 IMPACT Trial (IMProve Pregnancy in APS with Certolizumab Therapy) was co-led by Jane E. Salmon, MD, a rheumatologist and the Collette Kean Research Chair at HSS and D. Ware Branch, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist at University of Utah Health. It is the first clinical trial to evaluate a biologic therapy to prevent serious adverse outcomes in pregnant women with APS and their babies. The study results were published online in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
“The IMPACT study represents a bold and very successful partnership over many years between government, industry, foundations, and academic health research institutions,” said Dr. Salmon, the senior study author. “It is exciting to see our preclinical work in the laboratory, which began more than a decade ago, translate into such promising results for patients. I hope our findings will allow the drug to become widely available so that more pregnant women with APS and high-risk pregnancies can benefit.”
APS is a rare autoimmune disorder affecting up to 0.05% of people. It is frequently associated with lupus, a disease most prevalent in women during their reproductive years. In APS, the body produces autoantibodies that react with blood vessels and circulating cells, causing dangerous blood clots throughout the body, which can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and phlebitis. During pregnancy, APS raises the risk of serious complications arising from issues with the placenta, including fetal death, preeclampsia, and restricted fetal growth.
Previous research led by Dr. Salmon identified lupus anticoagulant (LA), an autoantibody produced by some APS patients, as the strongest predictor of poor pregnancy outcomes in APS patients. Historically, 39% to 86% of pregnant women with APS who are LA positive have faced severe complications, despite treatment with standard-of-care blood thinners like heparin and aspirin. These patients have the greatest need for better treatments.
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Conversations Today to Empower Tomorrow: VITAS Healthcare Elevates National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 7, 2025 – MIAMI, FL – Only one in three adults in the United States have a written advance directive, a document critical in providing guidance to medical teams regarding one’s end-of-life wishes. As a pioneer and national leader in hospice and palliative care, VITAS Healthcare advocates for National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and advance care planning––regardless of a person’s age or health status. In recognition of healthcare professionals’ critical role in the process, VITAS offers resources to support them.
On April 16, VITAS will host a free webinar, Advance Directives and Advanced Care Planning, exploring the history, application and types of advance directives. VITAS Regional Medical Director Heather Veeder, MD, will provide practical advice to help healthcare professionals engage in difficult but necessary conversations with patients and families/caregivers.
“Although initiating the dialogue can be uncomfortable, the conversation empowers patients and removes the decision-making burden from families,” says Dr. Veeder. “If someone becomes unable to make decisions for themselves, the only way to ensure the care they receive aligns with their wishes is through an advance directive.”
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NCH Embarks on Planning Process for Workforce Housing in North Naples
April 10, 2025 – Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is proud to announce the launch of the planning phase for a dedicated workforce housing project designed to support its staff and meet the growing need for affordable housing in the community. The project, made possible through a generous $3.5 million gift from philanthropists Jeff and Judy Henley, will be located on the NCH Business Center campus at 1100 Immokalee Road in North Naples.
The planned development will include approximately 250 housing units exclusively for NCH employees. The initial offering will focus on essential workers and feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The vision is to provide secure, attainable housing that allows team members to live closer to where they work, helping to improve quality of life and strengthen staffing efforts at NCH.
The need for this initiative was made clear through a recent internal survey, which found that nearly 500 NCH team members expressed interest in workforce housing. Currently, nearly 30% of NCH’s workforce resides outside of Collier County – an issue further compounded by rising rental and real estate costs in the region.
“Workforce housing is a critical component of our ability to attract and retain the best talent,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO of NCH. “Thanks to the generous support of Jeff and Judy Henley, we can now take the first step toward making this vision a reality and supporting the people who care for our community every day.”
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Two Large Clinical Trials Find a Highly Effective Method to Select Appropriate Antibiotics for Patients Hospitalized With Abdominal or Skin and Soft Tissue Infection
Computerized alerts tailored to each patient help identify which antibiotic is best suited to treat patients hospitalized with common infections in two 92-hospital trials.
APRIL 10 2025- — Two large multi-state studies funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by the University of California, Irvine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, and HCA Healthcare have found a highly effective method to improve antibiotic selection for patients who are hospitalized with abdominal or skin and soft tissue infection to reduce their risk of antibiotic resistance. Results were published in JAMA Surgery and JAMA Internal Medicine and highlighted at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
Antibiotic resistance is a major public health threat. It makes infections harder to treat and adds additional risk to surgery and other procedures. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention estimates that more than 2.8 million infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur in the U.S. annually, and the World Health Organization attributed 1.27 million deaths to antibacterial resistance in 2019. Helping clinicians tailor antibiotic prescriptions to individual patients can improve patient outcomes by preserving healthy bacteria in the body and reducing the risk of future antibiotic resistance and serious adverse events, such as kidney/liver toxicity and C. difficile infection.
The two newly published studies, the INSPIRE Abdominal and Skin & Soft Tissue Trials, involved more than 316,000 patients in 92 HCA Healthcare hospitals. In half of the hospitals, clinicians were given computerized alerts with information about the best antibiotic match for an individual patient with abdominal or skin/soft tissue infection at the moment antibiotics were ordered. This resulted in a 35% improvement in antibiotic selection for abdominal infection patients and a 28% improvement for skin and soft tissue infection patients compared to the control group.
The alerts were informed by patient characteristics from the electronic medical record as well as hospital-specific data to determine the patient’s risk for an antibiotic-resistant infection. Assessment of risk was based on pre-trial data from more than 420,000 HCA Healthcare patients with abdominal or skin and soft tissue infections. Physicians treating patients with a low risk for antibiotic-resistant bacteria were prompted to switch to standard-spectrum antibiotics if they initially selected unnecessary broad-spectrum drugs.
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Oviedo Medical Center announces the appointment of Cameron Howard as chief executive officer
Cameron Howard has been named the new chief executive officer for Oviedo Medical Center
Oviedo, FL – APRIL 11, 2025 — Oviedo Medical Center, part of HCA Florida Healthcare, today announced the appointment of Cameron Howard as chief executive officer as of March 24, 2025. In his new role, Howard oversees the state-of-the art, 64-bed acute care hospital in Oviedo and its affiliated freestanding emergency rooms: HCA Florida Baldwin Park Emergency, HCA Florida Alafaya Emergency and HCA Florida Maitland Emergency.
“Cameron’s dedication to high-quality patient care and pursuit of excellence ideally suit him to lead the exceptional team at Oviedo Medical Center,” said Brian Cook, president, HCA Healthcare North Florida Division. “With more than a decade of experience in operations and administration at several HCA Healthcare facilities, Cameron’s leadership will be a tremendous asset as the hospital continues to grow and expand healthcare services to meet the needs of this growing community.”
Howard most recently served as chief operating officer at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, where he helped lead the completion of two freestanding emergency rooms, HCA Florida Airport North Emergency and HCA Florida Osceola East Emergency; worked to secure two additional freestanding emergency rooms currently under development; and supported the rollout of a $71 million expansion that is adding operating suites, post-anesthesia care unit beds and a new sterile processing department. He also has helped increase surgical volume and strengthen employee engagement.
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Ending Health Care Workplace Violence – for Good
By Mary C. Mayhew
April marks Workplace Violence Awareness Month, a cross-industry month to increase awareness and enhance advocacy to ensure workplaces are free from violence, whether verbal abuse, threatening behavior, or physical and/or sexual assault. For health care workers, whose work is healing work, the imperative for a violence-free workplace is particularly urgent.
Health care workers are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than employees in other industries. In the last two years alone, 40 percent of health care workers experienced a violent incident, according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
Putting into action zero tolerance of violence against health care workers requires an all-hands-on-deck approach from the highest levels of hospital board leadership to the front lines. It also requires support from policymakers. Florida’s Senate Bill 568, passed in 2023 and now state law, is a strong example of legislative leadership and signals that violence against health care workers is absolutely and unequivocally unacceptable. SB 568 strengthens the criminal penalties against anyone perpetrating an assault on a health care worker anywhere in a hospital
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BECKER’S HOSPITAL REVEIW: Great Leaders in Healthcare in 2025
The executives below harness cutting-edge digital technology, pioneer new care delivery models, and implement innovative solutions that enhance experiences for patients and providers alike.
SOUTH FLORIDA:
Hospital and Health System Presidents and CEOs
Bo Boulenger. President and CEO of Baptist Health South Florida (Coral Gables, Fla.). Mr. Boulenger, president and CEO of Baptist Health, leads South Florida’s largest healthcare system with emphasis on innovation, research and a patient-first culture.
John Couris. President and CEO of Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital. Mr. Couris aims to enhance Tampa General Hospital via innovation, strategic expansion and a strong commitment to workplace culture. Since 2017, he has overseen the system’s growth from just 17 total facilities to seven hospitals and more than 150 care locations, employing 15,000 team members and providers statewide.
Tomislav Mihaljevic, MD. President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Mihaljevic has served as CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic since 2018, overseeing transformative growth and guiding the organization to serve 15.1 million patient encounters annually with a $15 billion operating revenue. Under his leadership, the clinic expanded its global footprint, including the opening of Cleveland Clinic London, significant growth in Cleveland Clinic Florida, and advancements in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.
Amit Rastogi, MD. President and CEO for Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center. Dr. Rastogi is the first physician leader in Jupiter Medical Center’s 45-year history. He has led the hospital through its most transformative era, positioning it as a nationally recognized healthcare institution. Wielding over 20 years of clinical experience and expertise in healthcare management and AI, he has spearheaded major expansions, including the launch of the Robson Heart & Vascular Institute’s cardiac surgery program and the Anderson Family Cancer Institute.
Shane Strum. President and CEO of Broward Health (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Mr. Strum heads up one of the nation’s 10 largest public healthcare systems, overseeing five hospitals, more than 50 ambulatory centers and an 11,000-member workforce with a $1.6 billion operational budget. Under his leadership, Broward Health has achieved significant financial growth, with a 22.3% increase in net operating revenue and $14 million in cost savings since 2022, while also improving credit ratings from Fitch to an “A+”, Moody’s to “Baa1” and S&P to an “A-“ with an improved outlook to positive.
David Zambrana, PhD, DNP, RN. President and COO of Jackson Health System (Miami). As president and COO of Jackson Health System, Dr. Zambrana oversees operations for one of the nation’s largest public health systems, featuring seven hospitals and internationally recognized programs like Ryder Trauma Center and the Miami Transplant Institute.
Healthcare Leaders
Loudrige Jean-Philippe. COO of Palm Beach (Fla.) Health Network Physician Group. Ms. Jean-Philippe is a healthcare executive known for her transformational leadership and commitment to operational excellence. She currently serves as the COO at Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group, a division of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare. She drives initiatives that enhance patient access, streamline clinic workflows and elevate customer experiences.
READ MORE | FMA reference committee nominations due May 9
APRIL 9, 2025 – County and specialty medical societies are invited to nominate eligible physicians to serve on the FMA’s reference committees. The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 9.
Each reference committee is composed of at least five voting members of the FMA House of Delegates (HOD) who are not current FMA officers or members of the Board of Governors (BOG). Committee members are selected by the FMA Speaker and Vice Speaker to conduct open hearings on proposed resolutions before they are presented to the full HOD at Annual Meeting.
Once a reference committee has received direct feedback on the resolutions being considered, the committee members deliberate privately to make a group decision about each resolution before presenting their recommendations in a detailed report to the HOD. A resolution that passes the House and is adopted by the BOG becomes FMA policy.
Online testimony will open to delegates on Monday, June 23, at 9 a.m. ET and close on Thursday, July 3, at 9 p.m. ET. Delegates may submit testimony on any properly filed resolution. Delegates who choose to submit testimony must indicate their support or opposition of each respective resolution.
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HCA Florida Lake City Hospital unveils $103 million expansion
APRIL 10, 2025 – HCA Florida Lake City Hospital, an affiliate of HCA Florida Healthcare, announced today the completion of the new two-story patient tower, part of its $103 million investment to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community. The expansion significantly increases the hospital’s capacity and adds 65 new healthcare positions.
To support and grow vitally needed healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Lake City Hospital also donated $16,000 to local schools to supply resources and train students. Donations included:
Florida Gateway College – $5,000
RIVEROAK Technical College – $5,000
Columbia County Schools – $2,000
Suwannee County Schools – $2,000
Hamilton County Schools – $2,000
“Today marks an exciting milestone for our hospital and the community we serve. The opening of this two-story tower is a testament to our commitment to providing care close to home for Columbia, Suwannee, and Hamilton County residents,” said Jill Adams, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. “This new facility will enhance our ability to meet the growing needs of our patients and ensure our community has access to the highest standard of care, now and in the future. We value our partnership with the local school systems and are proud to donate funds to train and foster skilled professionals to support the health and well-being of all.”
The 58,543-square-foot tower addition doubles the footprint of surgical services to 21,815 square feet. An enhanced waiting area and recovery room for surgical services are included to ensure patients have privacy and enhanced comfort during their recovery. The investment also includes new state-of-the-art equipment for surgical procedures.
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The Role of Black Box Analysis in Healthcare Decision-Making
By Sabina Kotelnik
In pursuit of improved financial performance and stability, many healthcare organizations are exploring clinical alignment or integration deals to strengthen their financial foundations.
For these strategies to succeed, however, organizations need access to the right data and information to make informed business decisions. Otherwise, their efforts to strengthen or grow their businesses could fall short, resulting in disruptions to care in their communities and financial losses.
Black box data analysis is a key component of successful healthcare deals and partnerships that can help healthcare leaders ensure physician-organization alignment.
What is black box analysis?
Black box analysis refers to an independent and confidential third-party comparison of two or more healthcare organization’s reimbursement, productivity and compensation models.
This analysis is commonly used when health systems, academic medical centers, faculty practice plans, and medical groups are evaluating strategic physician-organization alignment models. It’s a crucial part of due diligence, practice valuation, funds flow modeling, and strategic planning that supports growth and expansion strategies and tactics. Some of the activities black box analysis supports include:
-Acquisitions and divestitures
-Design of network development strategies
-Development of community practice and private practice network models
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Dr. Mehmet Oz Shares Vision for CMS
APRIL 10, 2025 – As Dr. Mehmet Oz completes his first week as the 17th Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), he is sharing his agenda and vision for the agency. A cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of an award-winning TV show, he now leads the largest agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with a $1.7 trillion budget, tasked with delivering health outcomes for more than 160 million people.
“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Kennedy for their confidence in my ability to lead CMS in achieving their vision to Make America Healthy Again,” said Dr. Oz. “Great societies protect their most vulnerable. As stewards of the health of so many Americans – especially disadvantaged youth, those with disabilities, and our seniors, the CMS team is dedicated to delivering superior health outcomes across each program we administer. America is too great for small dreams, and I’m ready to get work on the President’s agenda.”
“I am proud to welcome Dr. Oz as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Dr. Oz has proven himself as a trusted voice in health and wellness, both through his clinical expertise and his years of educating the public on television. His leadership and ability to communicate effectively will be invaluable as he takes the helm at CMS. Together, we are committed to Make America Healthy Again by combating fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, and ensuring that these programs truly serve the American people.”
We aim to mark our Make America Healthy Again efforts with curiosity, courage, competence, and compassion. Under his leadership, CMS will work to modernize Medicare, the Marketplaces and Medicaid, so Americans get the care that they want, need, and deserve. This includes:
-Empowering the American People with personalized solutions they can better manage their health and navigate the complex health care system. As a first step, CMS will implement the President’s Executive Order on Transparency to give Americans the information they need about costs.
-Equipping health care providers with better information about the patients they serve and holding them accountable for health outcomes, rather than unnecessary paperwork that distracts them from their mission. For example, CMS will work to streamline access to life saving treatments.
-Identifying and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse to stop unscrupulous people who are stealing from vulnerable patients and taxpayers.
-Shifting the paradigm for health care from a system that focuses on sick care to one that fosters prevention, wellness, and chronic disease management. For example, CMS operates many programs that can be used to focused on improving holistic health outcomes.
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Statement from CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz on Letter to State Medicaid Agencies
APRIL 11, 2025 – As a doctor and now CMS Administrator, my top priority is protecting children and upholding the law. Medicaid dollars are not to be used for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments in minors – procedures that can cause permanent, irreversible harm, including sterilization. We have a duty to ensure medical care is lawful, necessary, and truly in the best interest of patients. CMS will not support services that violate this standard or place vulnerable children at risk. It is a CMS responsibility to steward Medicaid dollars and ensure resources focus on protecting our most vulnerable.
Other advanced nations are rethinking these types of interventions – which in the U.S. can cost up to $134,000[1] according to recent research. Like them, we believe psychotherapy, not life-altering drugs, or surgery, should be the first line of treatment. This isn’t about politics or stigma. It’s about protecting people from decisions they may not fully understand, and consequences they can’t undo.
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Fiscal Year 2026 Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System and Quality Reporting Updates Proposed Rule CMS-1831-P
On April 11, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that proposes updates to Medicare payment policies and rates for Inpatient Psychiatric Facility, under the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) and Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Updates Proposed Rule (CMS-1831-P), for fiscal year (FY) 2026. CMS is publishing this proposed rule consistent with its statutory authority to update Medicare payment policies for IPFs annually.
This fact sheet discusses the major provisions of the proposed rule, including proposed annual updates to the prospective payment rates, the outlier threshold, the wage index, and associated impact analysis. In addition, the rule includes a proposal to update the facility-level adjustment factors, with increases to payments for teaching status and rural location.
For the IPF Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program, CMS is proposing to remove four measures from the program, as well as modify the reporting period of one measure. In addition, CMS is proposing to update the Extraordinary Circumstances Exception (ECE) policy and codify the process for requesting or granting an ECE. CMS is also issuing Requests for Information regarding future changes to the IPFQR Program, including future star ratings for IPFs, measure concepts on well-being and nutrition, and digital quality measurement.
Request for Information on Streamlining Regulations and Reducing Administrative Burdens in Medicare
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Upcoming Healthcare
Events are Listed Below |
The Marcus Neuroscience Institute Brain and Spine Symposium is a two-day academic event designed to assist attendees in expanding their knowledge of the latest advances in the field of neuroscience through didactic lectures, interactive panel discussions and case-based presentations. Thursday & Friday, May 15 & 16 Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center 5150 Town Center Circle Boca Raton, FL 33486 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR LEARN MORE |
United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention, in collaboration with the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition and Florida Department of Children and Families will host the 10th Annual South Florida Behavioral Health Conference: The Power of Prevention on Wednesday, May 21 and Thursday, May 22 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center to promote community awareness and support of behavioral health and substance use prevention.
The two-day Conference is for professionals in the behavioral and mental health fields to share insights, research, and best practices in promoting mental health and well-being. The Conference will feature renowned subject matter experts ranging from psychologists, behavioral health clinicians, professors, trauma and grief specialists, and prevention specialists who will provide crucial continuing education seminars, workshops and keynote sessions. Licensed Clinicians and Certified Professionals can earn CEU credits. For more information and to register/purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.unitedwaybroward.org/event/bhc2025/. |
Encompass Health, Hanger Clinic, Strive Recreational Therapy, and Broward Parks would like to invite you and your patients with limb loss and limb difference to join us for our Get Unstuck: Spring Into Your Next Step! Saturday, April 26, 2025 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Sunrise Athletic Complex: 11501 NW 44th St. Sunrise, FL 33323
Event is Free and includes all meals and activities. Participants will break through limitations, build momentum, try new activities, discover the power of shared experiences, and support from an uplifting community and expert healthcare professionals in South Florida. We will offer: - Personalized assessment clinic - Balance and Fall Recovery - Yoga / Stretching - Pickleball - Adaptive Cycling - And more!!! Attached is more information for you to share with any patients who might be interested. Please click link below to register:
https://forms.office.com/r/vh4SLmZdND Please register no later than April 14, 2025.
Please email Luzcategui@hanger.com if you have any questions. Together we can help people with limb loss/difference achieve their best outcomes! |
UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY CELEBRATES 85 YEARS OF IMPACT DURING ANNUAL MAYORS’ GALA ON SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
The Annual Mayors’ Gala will shine a spotlight on United Way of Broward County’s 85-year legacy of impact, celebrating its commitment to strengthening lives and transforming the community.
This prestigious evening brings together influential leaders, philanthropists, and changemakers dedicated to building a stronger, more resilient Broward County.
The program will showcase United Way of Broward’s far-reaching impact, including more than 130 programs offered annually and an extraordinary contribution of over half a billion dollars to the community over the past 85 years.
WSVN Local 7 Anchor and Emmy Award winning journalist Lynn Martinez will serve as the evening’s emcee.
All proceeds from the event will benefit United Way of Broward County to help support its mission.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 26, 2025
6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, Florida 33314
DETAILS: Individual tickets are $500.
READ MORE |
Below you will find a list of educational and social events we have available this month to support your rehabilitation process and ensure you have the resources and activities you need to reconnect and/or live a full life with limb loss/difference. These AMPOWER/Hanger Clinic events are also open to your families and loved ones! Healthcare professionals are also invited and encouraged to join us to celebrate our accomplishments as we are moving forward together and embracing life!
Please mark your calendars now and RSVP by emailing me at luzcategui@Hanger.com to know which events you will be attending to make plans accordingly: Saturday, April 26 @9:30 AM: Get Unstuck: Spring into Your Next Step! At Sunrise Athletic Complex 11501 NW 44th St Sunrise, FL 33323. You do not want to miss this event!! Join us to break through limitations, build momentum, try new activities, discover the power of shared experiences, and support from an uplifting community and expert healthcare professionals in South Florida. This event is FREE and includes all meals and activities. See flyer attached for me details. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED & REQUIRED. Please register no later than Monday April 14.
Monday, April 28, @ 11:30 AM: AMPOWER Support Group Meeting at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Sunrise, located at 4399 N Nob Hill Rd, Sunrise FL 33351. Group discussion.
Wednesday, April 30 @ 5:30 PM: AMPOWER Virtual Session: Join us for a group discussion. Once you RSVP, I will send you the link to join this virtual meeting.
LOOKING FOR MORE VIRTUAL SESSIONS? Join Hanger Clinic’s Director of Patient Advocacy & Education, Leslie Green, for Limb Loss Education Series. Please see attached or follow the link below for a complete list of virtual sessions. There are sessions everyday of the week! https://www.balancedamputee.com/communities-1 |
AUTISM SPEAKS HOSTS INAUGURAL EMPOWER SUMMIT & CHALLENGE
Rising Diagnoses, Growing Demand: Insights, Resources and Pathways to Support the Transition to Adulthood
APRIL 2025 – Autism Speaks will unite more than 50 organizations, experts, self-advocates and industry leaders at the inaugural Empower Summit & Challenge, a two-day event taking place May 16–17 in Miami Beach. Part of a five-city national series, the summit will focus on how to best support autistic individuals during the transition to adulthood by addressing key areas such as employment, postsecondary education, healthcare, independent living, and community engagement.
Florida is home to an estimated 329,131 adults—2.03% of the state’s population—on the autism spectrum. Many face significant challenges after aging out of school-based supports, including limited access to jobs, housing, medical care and educational opportunities.
READ MORE |
A Safe Haven for Newborns, will host its annual fundraising golf event on Friday, May 16, 2025, on the manicured greens of the Red Tiger golf course at the Trump National Doral Golf Resort in Doral, Florida, with a one o’clock shotgun start. This year marks the eighth charity golf tournament, Tee Off for a Cause, benefiting the Foundation’s mission to end infant abandonment. Funds raised will go toward the many programs offered to the distressed teen or woman who is facing an unexpected pregnancy and feels she has no one to turn to for help.
Register your foursome and preview our sponsor brochure by clicking on the link. Sponsors receive exclusive benefits and opportunities.
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.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS
CLICK HERE |
Nursing Consortium of Florida’s next conference set for June 2025 at St. Pete Beach
Make plans to join us at the TradeWinds Resort on St. Pete Beach on the 27th and 28th of June 2025 for our next educational conference Empowering Nurses at the Bedside & Beyond: Moving towards improved outcomes & satisfaction through greater mental health. Please click here to be among the first to register to attend and save with our best rates including discounted member rates for individuals and groups of ten or more!
We are now accepting abstracts addressing programs, research, scholarly projects, and process improvement exemplars that have succeeded in advancing staff and student mental health and contributed to strong workplace cultures or learning environments that have measurably improved staff or student retention in either practice or academic settings, contributed to improved team interaction, interaction with patients or students, and improved patient or student outcomes and experiences
READ MORE |
Tampa General Hospital Hosting Free Community Event Focused on Lung Health
Tampa General continues its lecture series, “Caring for Ourselves and Our Planet – Together,”
in collaboration with Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Juno Beach, Fla. – April 9, 2025 – Tampa General Hospital (TGH) invites the community to a free public event, “Every Breath You Take: Clearing the Air on Lung Health.” The panel will feature a Tampa General pulmonologist, an oncologist, and a thoracic surgeon, who will separate fact from fiction when it comes to lung health. Guests will learn about both common and complex lung issues, the latest advances in treatment, and overall lung wellness.
WHAT: “Every Breath You Take: Clearing the Air on Lung Health”
WHEN: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
WHERE: Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach, FL 33408
WHO: Dr. Luis Peña-Hernández is board certified in both internal and pulmonary medicine. He treats many pulmonary conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea at TGH Pulmonary Care & Sleep Institute.
Dr. Sujal Shah is a board-certified medical oncologist with TGH Cancer Institute. He treats patients with multiple cancers, with a focus on lung, and head and neck cancers.
Dr. Marcus Eby is a board-certified thoracic surgeon with the TGH Cancer Institute. He specializes in lung cancer and other multiple complex thoracic conditions via advanced thoracoscopic and robotic techniques.
An RSVP is required to attend. To RSVP, call 561-339-2508 or scan the provided QR code. READ MORE |
CALL CHARLES FELIX TO ADVERTISE YOUR JOB OPENINGS - 954-605-4785 STARTING AS LOW AS $50 |
HSS at NCH to Host In-Person Job Fair for Key Positions
Naples, FL. – Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) at Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) is hosting a job fair with the opportunity for on-the-spot interviews on Tuesday, April 15 from 4-7pm at the new lobby of the HSS at NCH facility located on the NCH North Hospital campus, 11190 Health Park Blvd, Building 2 – Suite 101, Naples 34110.
At HSS at NCH, we don’t settle for ordinary—we redefine what’s possible in healthcare. HSS is ranked the #1 orthopedic hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, and the #1 orthopedic hospital in the world by Newsweek. HSS at NCH will bring that world-class expertise to Naples and is looking for qualified candidates to join NCH’s team.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field driven by a relentless pursuit of innovation. We offer a competitive salary, low-cost health insurance premiums, generous paid time off, shift differentials, 401K, tuition reimbursement after 90 days, and more.
READ MORE |
APRIL 9, 2025
READ THE CURRENT NEWSLETTER FROM
CANNABIS NEWS FLORIDA |
FLORIDA MEDICAL CANNABIS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
The 8th Florida Medical Cannabis Conference & Exhibition (FMCCE 2025) will be held May 30- June 1, 2025, at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. This conference is a networking and educational forum on the subject of medical cannabis.
This conference is designed for attendees who are active or interested in the medical cannabis industry.
For medical professionals and entrepreneurs, the conference will cover a range of topics, all relevant to the medical cannabis industry, as it pertains to the State of Florida, including but not limited to:
•An Introduction to the Endocannabinoid System and Medical Cannabis
•Florida Medical Cannabis Legislative Update
•A Review of Qualifying Conditions Case Studies
•Medical Cannabis Dosing and Public Health Issues
•Medical Cannabis Research
•State of Florida Medical Cannabis Regulatory and Program Update •The Business of Medical Cannabis: How to Make Sure Your Practice is Successful
“Education is the key to raising awareness of the clinical uses for medical cannabis.” said Eugene Jones, Executive Director of Can-Ed, Inc. “This conference will provide a forum for industry leaders to expand their social capital, and healthcare professionals to expand their knowledge about medical benefits and applications.”
READ MORE
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Over
909,000
Patients in Florida are using Cannabis as their Medicine
FOR LATEST OMMU REPORTS FROM OFFICE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA USE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA HERE
Highlights from APRIL 11, 2025 BY THE NUMBERS Qualified Patients: (Active ID Card)
Apr 11 2025- 909,711 Apr 04 2025- 907,575 Mar 28 2025- 905,556
Mar 21 2025- 905,006 Mar 14 2025- 903,790 Mar 07 2025- 902,566
Patients Added Last Week: 2,136 Qualified Ordering Physicians:
2,391
New Doctors added Last Week: 0
Reporting Period: APR 4 - APR 10, 2025
Amount of Medical Marijuana Dispensed - (mgs THC) 382,882,493
Amount of Low-THC Cannabis Dispensed - (mgs CBD ) 32,207
-Amount of Marijuana in a Form for Smoking (oz) 132,397.268 Approved Dispensing Locations: 714 Added Last Week: 2 TRULIEVE - ST. PETERSBURG |
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RECENT EDUCATION SEMINARS HOSTED BY THE SOUTH FLORIDA HOSPITAL NEWS NETWORK DISABILITY INSURANCE EDUCATION WEBINAR
Understanding the Disability Insurance Market in Florida with Howard Wolkowitz and Michael Tyler. June 27, 2024 CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law How Experienced Physicians Protect their Assets. May 21, 2024 CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Dabdoub Law Firm
PHYSICIAN DISABILITY INSURANCE WEBINAR – TIMING IS EVERYTHING – PART 2 MAY 21, 2024
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law How to start your Healthcare Practice? March 19, 2024
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Coleman Consulting Physician Practice Management - Managing Pit Falls in your Practice - Recorded on Feb 13, 2024.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Dabdoub Law Firm PHYSICIAN DISABILITY INSURANCE WEBINAR – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW – PART 1
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "HOW TO HANDLE COLLECTION CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH HEALTH PLANS"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How Experienced Physicians Protect their Assets"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How to Minimize the Risk of Malpractice Lawsuits"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "So, I Signed a Non-Compete, Now What?"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How to Approach and Do Business With Large Healthcare Systems"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How Mergers & Acquisitions in Healthcare are Done!"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How to Navigate - Hospital Medical Executive Committees, Peer Reviews, Investigations, and Bylaws"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "How Experienced Physicians Negotiate Employment Agreements"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law “ASSESSING LIABILITY RISKS: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND REPUTATION”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law "So, I Signed a Non-Compete, Now What?"
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Presented by Mirza Healthcare Law Stark Law - How can Physicians and Hospitals Avoid Problems and Still Work Together
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
CLICK HERE VIEW ADDITIONAL WEBINARS |
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