PUBLIC HEALTH TRUST

Longer patient stays drive up costs, hurt profits at Jackson

In the midst of a modest financial recovery, Jackson Health System says challenges remain, including longer patient stays, which drive up labor costs and hurt profits.

Former Miami Beach health center CEO enters agreement with state

The former CEO of the Miami Beach Community Health Center, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges of stealing $6 million from the federally funded facility for the poor and uninsured, entered Wednesday into a cooperative agreement with state prosecutors on additional charges.

Jackson Foundation CEO resigns

Thomas Schramm, chief executive of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, has resigned, the second chief executive to leave the non-profit in two years.

Healthcare

Cancer ‘parity’ bills churn through Florida Legislature

Bills in the Florida Legislature would compel health insurers to cover cancer pills the same way they cover intravenous or injectable chemotherapy.

Cheaper, better healthcare: yes, it is possible

No, it is not impossible. A new type of medical organization called an ACO is delivering encouraging results

MEDICAID

Insurers gear up for managed care plans under Medicaid

Even without an expansion of Medicaid, managed care plans remain big business in Florida.

HEALTHCARE

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DOESN’T COVER LONG-TERM CARE POLICIES

Genworth Financial, the country’s largest provider of long-term care insurance, has announced it will begin setting its prices based on sex this spring.

Jackson Health System

Jackson Health System -- in “the calm before the storm”

Jackson Health System’s long-troubled finances are looking better in some basic areas, but underlying problems linger and a precarious future lies ahead.

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE

The faces of Florida’s Medicaid system

Florida’s Medicaid system today serves more than 3 million people, about one in every six Floridians. The decision whether to expand it has widespread impact.

Healthcare

South Florida hospitals could lose $368 million from sequestration

A study reports that the federal budget sequestration, set to start March 1, could cost hospitals in Miami-Dade and Broward $368 million.

Healthcare

Jackson Health System earns $5.5 million in January

Jackson Health System reported strong financial results in January, with a surplus of $5.5 million due to an influx of patients, rigid cost controls and good cash collections, Chief Financial Officer Mark Knight told the board on Thursday.

Healthcare

Health Foundation gives $1.8 million

The Health Foundation of South Florida on Wednesday annnounced it was awarding grants worth a total of $1.8 million to 21 organizations.

Healthcare

Hawkins withdraws his name from Jackson Health System board post

A county commissioner from the early ‘90s who was fined for sexual harrassment has chosen to pull his name from consideration as a union representative on the Jackson Health Board.

Healthcare

Marshals seize Hollywood firm’s diet supplements

Marshals removed dietary supplements from a Hollywood company because the FDA found they included an ingredient that had caused an obesity drug to be pulled from the market in 2010.

Healthcare

Jackson Health System auditors: System had surplus of $8.2 million in fiscal 2012

The KPMG accounting firm reports Jackson earned $8.2 million in fiscal 2012 — far better than earlier estimates.

Healthcare

Jackson Health System dismisses trauma petition

Jackson leaders say they will focus on creating new rules for trauma centers rather than battle rivals in a Tallahassee hearing.

Healthcare

Ex-Miami Beach clinic head charged with stealing millions pleads not guilty

The former head of a Miami Beach clinic was charged in state and federal courts with stealing several million dollars.

Healthcare

Former Commissioner Larry Hawkins selected for Jackson board

Larry Hawkins, a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner, has been selected by the unions to be a member of the Jackson Health System board, following the abrupt resignation of veteran board member Joaquin del Cueto.

Healthcare

FIU medical school gets full accreditation

Florida International University announced Thursday that full accreditation has been granted to its Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine.

Healthcare

Miami Transplant gets new leader

Jackson Health System reports it is beefing up the Miami Transplant Institute as part of its efforts to make it a “signature partnership” with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.