Hello, and happy Friday.
Options in Florida’s Medicaid managed-care market are shrinking.
One health plan --- Centene Corp. --- will have nearly 43 percent of the Medicaid managed-care market share now that its acquisition of WellCare Health Plans is complete.
A review of the latest enrollment data from the state Agency for Health Care Administration shows that WellCare, which operates in Florida as Staywell Health Plans, has a 25.8 percent market share. It has managed-care contracts in 10 of the 11 regions of the state. Centene, which operates in Florida as Sunshine Health, has contracts in all 11 regions and a 16.8 percent market share.
WellCare also offers specialty plans for people with serious mental illness. According to the data, 84,772 people had enrolled as of December. Centene is the only health plan contracted with the state to provide managed-care benefits for the child welfare program.
AHCA spokesman Patrick Manderfield said contracts with the managed care plans require that the company being acquired, Tampa-based WellCare, submit a transition plan, which must be approved by the state.
“That plan will have specific requirements the merged entity will have to meet with regards to enrollee notices and provider network requirements, among other standards,” Manderfield said in a statement. “Before the merged entity begins operations, the agency will ensure that all transition requirements are met.”
The $17.3 billion merger, announced in March, was subject to approval by numerous state and federal agencies.
Meanwhile, jobs also could be on the line. The St. Louis-based Centene said in a statement to The News Service of Florida that the newly merged company has a combined workforce of 5,400 jobs in the Tampa area.
“Over the next few years, we will migrate select duplicative corporate roles to other sites. At this time, it is our plan to have Tampa as our headquarters for our Medicare and Pharmacy operations," the statement said.
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children last year examined the impact the merger might have on children and families in its blog, "Say Aaa." More here.
HEPATITIS A
After a major outbreak in 2019, Florida has topped 100 cases of hepatitis A in the new year. As of Saturday, 101 cases had been reported in January, including 40 cases last week, according to the state Department of Health. More here.
RULES
The Board of Athletic Training proposes amending Rule 64B33-2.001, updating and clarifying the rule for licensure requirements. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER20-1, regarding certified marijuana testing laboratory definitions. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER20-2, regarding certified marijuana testing laboratory certification and applications. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER20-3, regarding certified marijuana laboratory testing. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER20-4, regarding on-site inspections of certified marijuana testing laboratories. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER20-5, regarding certified marijuana testing laboratory suspension and revocation. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-7, regarding testing methods for certified marijuana testing laboratories. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-6, regarding standard operating procedures. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-8, regarding certified marijuana testing laboratory submissions for testing. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-9, regarding certified marijuana testing. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-10, regarding quality control samples. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-11, regarding calibration standards for certified marijuana testing laboratories. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-12, regarding analysis certification for certified marijuana testing laboratories. More here.
The Department of Health proposes emergency Rule 64ER205-13, regarding background screening requirements for certified marijuana testing laboratories. More here.
WEEK IN REVIEW
—They want to know ... Florida's U.S. senators, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., have sent a letter to the American Hospital Association asking about steps it has taken to safeguard U.S. research and intellectual property from the influence of foreign adversaries, including the Chinese government and Communist Party. A copy of the letter is here.
—Strange bedfellows ... A group of Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurers is doling out $55 million to create a new subsidiary of a nonprofit drug company that initially was launched by a group of hospitals in 2018. More here.
---Pushback ... Former attorney general says cities, counties shouldn’t sue businesses like Big Pharma. More here.
—Troubling ... Top Moffitt Cancer Center doctors failed to disclose payments from China, report says. More here.
—Buyer's remorse ... Two years after $88 million buy, NIcklaus Children’s wants to sell Miami medical center. More here.
—Beware ... Critics: Consumers should be wary of short-term health plans. More here.
—Good news ... Pinellas health officials: County hepatitis A outbreak on the decline. More here.
—Growing pains ... South Florida hospital chains and insurers are getting better. Is that good for patients? More here.
—Expansion ... Orlando Health plans to buy land for future hospital in Polk County. More here.
—Permanent? … A Senate health panel on Tuesday split along party lines as Republicans pushed through a measure to permanently eliminate a 90-day period that seniors and disabled people previously had to apply for Florida's Medicaid program. More here.
—Money shift … A Senate health care committee on Tuesday approved a bill that would increase funding for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute by giving the center a larger share of the state’s cigarette tax collections. More here.
—Tough on tobacco? ... Florida would tighten tobacco and vaping regulations as smoking, chewing tobacco and using electronic cigarettes would be off limits for anyone under age 21, under a bill that started moving forward Tuesday in the Senate. More here.
—Closer look ... The Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday backed a bill that would establish in law elder-abuse fatality review teams. More here.
CALENDAR
Jan. 27
3:30 p.m. The House Ways & Means Committee meets. Place: 17 House Office Building.
Jan. 28
8 a.m. The House Health Quality Subcommittee meets. Place: 306 House Office Building.
11 a.m. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee meets and will consider changes to the Medicaid iBudget program contained in SB 82 and the permanent elimination of Medicaid retroactive eligibility, SB 52. Place: 412 Knott Building. Agenda here.
12 p.m. The House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee meets. Place: 404 House Office Building.
1:30 p.m. The Senate Health Policy Committee meets and will consider a spate of bills and hear an update on Florida's organ donation and transplantation system by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability. Place: 412 Knott Building. Agenda here.
3:30 p.m. The House Health Market Reform Subcommittee meets. Place: 306 House Office Building.
4 p.m. The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee meets and will consider SB 1564, which would ban use of genetic testing information for long-term, disability and life insurance. Place: 412 Knott Building. Agenda here.
4 p.m. The Senate Judiciary Committee meets and will consider SB 1080 regarding non-opioid alternatives. Agenda here.
4 p.m. The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee meets. Place: 301 Senate Building.
Jan. 29
8 a.m. The House Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee meets. Place: 12 House Office Building.
11 a.m. The Senate Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee meets. Place: 412 Knott Building.
12:30 p.m. The House Appropriations Committee meets. Place: 212 Knott Building.
2 p.m. The Board of Opticianry and the Board of Optometry meet to discuss inspections of optical establishments. Call (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 293557173. Call (850) 245-4292 for a copy of the agenda.
3:30 p.m. House session. Place: House chamber, the Capitol.
4 p.m. Senate session. Place: Senate chamber, the Capitol.
Jan. 30
9 a.m. The House Health & Human Services Committee meets. Place: 17 House Office Building.
9:30 a.m. The Board of Medicine Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council holds a general meeting. Call: (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 564341766. Call (850) 245-4373 for a copy of the agenda.
2 p.m. AHCA hosts a public hearing on amendments to Rule 59A-35.110, regarding electronic submission of reporting requirements. Place: Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building #2, HFR Conference Room, Tallahassee.
3 p.m. AHCA hosts a public hearing on amendments to Rule 59A-12.012, regarding licensed risk managers and online reporting requirements. Place: Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Dr., Building #2 , HFR Conference Room, Tallahassee.
3 p.m. House session. Place: House chamber, the Capitol.
Jan. 31
9 a.m. The Board of Hearing Aid Specialists holds a general board meeting. Call (888)-585-9008. Participant code: 744469610.
12 p.m. The Department of Health will hold a meeting to review new research studies involving human participants, modifications to existing studies, and continuing review of ongoing research to make sure research studies comply with regulations and the department’s ethical standards. Call (888) 585-9008. Participant code: 5264283.
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