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Delay In Federal Approval Trims Medicaid Savings

Nearly $100 million the state assumed would be saved by changing a policy about patient eligibility for Medicaid won’t come to fruition this year.

Tom Wallace, assistant deputy secretary for Medicaid finance and analytics at the Agency for Health Care Administration, told members of the Social Services Estimating Conference on Monday that Florida hasn’t gotten necessary approval from the federal government to move ahead with the change.

Instead of a July 1 start date, the change in policy will likely go into effect Jan. 1. A projected $98 million reduction was included in the new state budget, which took effect last month. Now, the Scott administration says the savings should be about half that amount.

But Wallace said the state isn’t deterred.

“We are confident that we will get federal approval, we just don’t know when that would be,” Wallace told the Social Services Estimating Conference, comprised of House and Senate staff members as well as staff from the governor’s office and the Legislature’s Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

Wallace said Florida Medicaid officials have been in correspondence with the federal government about how the policy change would be implemented.

Federal law requires states to cover the costs of medical bills incurred by people for up to three months before they apply for Medicaid. So long as people qualify for Medicaid and the services are covered, hospital, doctor and nursing-home bills that accrue during that period will be absorbed.

The longstanding policy, officially known as “retroactive eligibility,” protects poor people from unpaid medical bills that they cannot afford and helps ensure that hospitals and nursing homes are paid for services they offer to Medicaid-eligible people.

The policy change would eliminate the requirement that people have three months to apply for Medicaid and make them apply the same month as they need care.

AHCA projects that 39,000 people would be impacted by the change, which does not apply to pregnant women and children. That means the policy change would heavily impact seniors and people with disabilities, and the move has come under fire from critics, including Democrats.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time the Scott administration has revised the estimated savings from the change.

In a March 2017 letter to former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, AHCA Secretary Justin Senior said Florida could save $500 million if the policy were eliminated. Months later, the Scott administration floated the proposal to the Legislature for consideration during the 2018 session. Ultimately, the $98 reduction was included in the state budget that began July 1.

While the full savings lawmakers anticipated won’t be realized, Wallace told budget conferees that overall costs for the Medicaid program this year should be nearly $732 million less than what was appropriated in the budget. Nearly $228 million of that surplus is general revenue. The lower cost is due in part to a continued dip in Medicaid enrollment.

by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida

Biscuits Take Series Finale Against Wahoos

Wyatt Strahan (L, 6-9) was tagged for nine runs in the shortest outing of his career as the Biscuits won the series finale 12-2 Monday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Strahan lasted just 1.1 innings before exiting the game. Montgomery scored five runs in the first inning before adding four more in the second. The Biscuits had sent 19 men to the plate as the game reached the third inning.

Pensacola’s offense came late when Aristides Aquino led off the seventh inning with his 17^th homer of the season. For the second consecutive season, Aquino has tied Juan Duran’s record of most home runs by a Wahoo season, this time with 25 games still remaining. Shed Long followed with a single and later scored on Narciso Crook’s double to left, which made the score 12-2. Long finished the contest with a 3-for-4 night.

Benton Moss followed last week’s complete game with six shutout innings as the right-hander earned his fifth win of the season. He has now extended his scoreless-inning streak to 13.1 innings.

The loss snaps Pensacola’s series unbeaten streak at 12. The club had gone over two months since they had lost a series, dating back to the end of May when Jacksonville took two of three in a rain-shortened series. During that stretch, the Blue Wahoos went 38-19 improved their season record from 22-33 (last place) to 59-52, which is five game back of Biloxi for the best overall record in the Southern League.

After an off day tomorrow, the Wahoos will make the short trek across I-10 for a five-game tilt against the Mobile BayBears. Pensacola left-hander Seth Varner (6-2, 2.91) will open the series for the Blue Wahoos while RHP Joe Gatto (3-4, 5.59) is expected to toe the rubber for the Los Angeles Angles Double-A affiliate.

Walnut Hill Man Dies After Being Shot, Wrecking On Highway 97

A man died after being shot and wrecking his pickup on Highway 97 in Walnut Hill Sunday night.

Mark Anthony Singleton, 55, was transported by Escambia County EMS to an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to his neck, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

ECSO Maj. Andrew Hobbs said the investigation is continuing. No suspect has been named.

Deputies first responded to a shots fired call on Juniper Street in Walnut Hill about 9:55 p.m. An adult male was asked to leave a party just before witnesses reported hearing gunshots. A short time later, dispatchers received calls reporting possible shots fired on Highway 97 involving a red pickup truck and another vehicle.

About 10:25 p.m., emergency dispatchers received calls about a wreck involving a red pickup on Highway 97 near Mason Road, nearly 10 miles away from Juniper Street. The ECSO said the driver left the roadway, traveled through a fence, across the corner of a field, through another fence, across a driveway and through a third fence into a pasture.

Deputies believed the incidents to all be related.

The incident remained under investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

The Florida Highway Patrol, Escambia County EMS and  the Walnut Hill Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the accident scene.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 436-9620 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

USPS Releases Info For McDavid, Walnut Hill Residents After Mail Destroyed By Fire

The U.S. Postal Service has mailed a letter to McDavid and Walnut Hill residents with important instructions after rural mail carrier’s vehicle and the mail inside burned last week.

The mail carrier’s Kia Rio was fully involved in fire when firefighters arrived on scene on West Bogia Road on July 30. The carrier escaped the vehicle without injury.

According to the USPS letter, all of the mail in the vehicle that had not yet been delivered and all the mail collected up that point on his route was destroyed in the fire. This included the mail destined for Walnut Hill.

For a copy of the letter with more information for residents and businesses in the 32568 zip code, click here.

There has been no word on the exact cause of the fire.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Man, Granddaughter Dead At Bayou Grande

A tragic afternoon swimming took the lives of a man and his granddaughter Sunday in Escambia County.

Authorities said the man tried to save the life of his 5-year old granddaughter, but both died at Bayou Grande.

A 7-year old child who was also swimming was able to get out of the water and transported to an area hospital. An update on his condition was not available.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims as they continue their investigation.

The incident happened at the South Fairfield Park just south of Gulf Beach Highway.

Escambia County Elementary, Middle School Orientations (Plus Tate Info)

Elementary and middle school orientations are this week for Escambia County students. They are listed below, along with information for Tate and Northview High Schools

Elementary School Orientations – Aug. 9, 2018 (These events are for all grades unless otherwise noted.)

• Jim Allen Elementary School  9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Bratt Elementary School 8:30 -10:30 a.m.
• Bellview Elementary School  9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Beulah Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Blue Angels Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Brentwood Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Byrneville Elementary School – Friday Aug. 10 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Hellen Caro Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
• N.B. Cook Elementary 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for all NEW students K-5. Start with a meeting in the auditorium. Then, 10:00 -11:00 for all students to meet teachers)
• Cordova Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Ensley Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Ferry Pass Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Global Learning Academy 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Holm Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Kingsfield Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Lincoln Park Elementary School (1:00 p.m. for Grades K – 5, Pre-K Orientation is Friday, Aug. 10 at 1:00 p.m.)
• R.C. Lipscomb Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Longleaf Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
• McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
• Molino Park Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Montclair Elementary School 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. for Pre-K Orientation and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for all other grades.
• Montclair Elementary School  8:00 – 9:00 a.m..for Pre-K
• McArthur Elementary School 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
• Myrtle Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Navy Point Elementary School 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
• Oakcrest Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Pine Meadow Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades 1-5 (Kindergarten already held)
• Pleasant Grove Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Scenic Heights Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• O.J. Semmes Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• Sherwood Elementary School 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. for Pre-K students and then 9:00 -11:00 a.m. for grades K-5.
• A.K. Suter Elementary School 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
• Warrington Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• C.A. Weis Elementary Community School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.
• West Pensacola Elementary School 9:00 -11:00 a.m.

August 10 (Friday)

• 1:00 p.m. Lincoln Park Elementary School (Pre-K Orientation, Grades K-5 is Thursday, Aug. 9 at 1:00 p.m)

Middle School Orientations – August 9, 2018

• Ransom Middle School 1:00 p.m. for all 6th graders and new 7th and 8th graders. Returning students will receive their schedules on the first day of school.
• Bailey Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
• Bellview Middle School  2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
• Beulah Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Brown Barge Middle School 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
• Ernest Ward Middle School 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
• Ferry Pass Middle School 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. for (6th graders and NEW students, in the gym, returning students receive their homeroom assignments via the mail. Schedules will be in Focus after 5:00 p.m. on Aug.
• Warrington Middle School (1:00 -2:00 p.m. for 6th grade and NEW Students, returning students will be notified by mail and call-out)
• Workman Middle School 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

• Tate High School – Aug. 8
• Northview High School – completed
• West Florida High School – completed

Escambia BOCC Weekly Meeting Schedule

Here is a schedule of Escambia County public meetings for the week of August 6-10:

Monday, Aug. 6

Florida-Alabama Planning Organization Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting – 8:30 a.m., 160 Governmental Center

Florida-Alabama Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee Meeting – 10:30 a.m., 160 Governmental Center

Tuesday, Aug. 7

Planning Board-Rezoning – 8:30 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Planning Board-Regular – 8:35 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Environmental Enforcement Special Magistrate – 1:30 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Wednesday, Aug. 8

Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization – 9 a.m., West Florida Regional Library, 239 N. Spring St.

Contractor Competency Board – 9 a.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex. 3363 West Park Place

Master Gardener Volunteer Program Open House and Information Session – 9 a.m., Escambia County Extension Service, 3740 Stefani Road

Development Review Committee – 1 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Santa Rosa Island Authority Board – 5:05 p.m., Pensacola Beach, 1 Via de Luna Drive

Thursday, Aug. 9

Committee of the Whole – 9 a.m., Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place

Science Hour- Solar Energy For Homes, Shaun Gunter, Gulf Power Company – 6 p.m., Escambia County Central Office Complex, 3363 West Park Place

Slow Go: Here Are This Week’s Traffic Delay Spots

Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.

Escambia County

• U.S. 29 Widening from Interstate 10 (I-10) to U.S. 90 (Nine Mile Road) – Drivers traveling U.S. 29 and Nine Mile Road will encounter traffic pattern changes from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 11.
  • Nine Mile Road at the U.S. 29 overpass: North and southbound traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Alternating traffic shifts will direct all traffic onto the westbound or eastbound lanes as crews continue construction of the new center bridge deck. Nine Mile Road lane restrictions are Sunday through Friday.
  • U.S. 29 between I-10 and 9 1/2 Mile Road: Alternating lane closures as crews continue drainage and paving operations. U.S. 29 lane restrictions are Monday through Saturday.
  • Northbound traffic has been shifted onto the newly constructed bridge section as demolition efforts continue.
• U.S. 29 Resurfacing between U.S. 90 and Muscogee Road – Paving operations continue between Muscogee Road and West 9 ½ Mile Road. Lane closures will be in effect from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9.
• I-10 / U.S. 29 Interchange Improvements Phase I – Alternating east and westbound lane closures on I-10 near the U.S. 29 interchange (Exit 10) from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3 through Sunday Aug. 5 as crews perform striping operations. The following traffic impacts are planned on I-10 and U.S. 29 near the interchange (Exits 10) from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug.9.
  • Alternating east and westbound I-10 and north and southbound U.S. 29 lane closures.
  • The U.S. 29 on-ramps to I-10 eastbound will be intermittently closed. Traffic will be detoured on U.S. 29 to access I-10 eastbound.
  • Alternating lane closures on the I-10 westbound exit ramp to U.S. 29 north and south (Exit 10). • U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 12 as crews perform construction activities.
• U.S. 98 (Lillian Highway) Resurfacing from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dogtrack Road– Alternating lane closures east and westbound U.S. 98 from Perdido Bay Bridge to Dog Track Road from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews perform paving operations. • S.R. 95 (Palafox Street) in Pensacola at Massachusetts Avenue- There will be northbound, outside lane restrictions on North Palafox Street near Massachusetts Avenue in Pensacola from 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 16 as crews perform gas main maintenance. • S.R. 95 (Palafox Street) in Pensacola at the Beverly Parkway Intersection- The southbound left turn lane from North Palafox Street to Beverly Parkway (S.R. 296) will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews perform maintenance activities. • S.R. 295 from Bayou Grand Bridge to Jackson Street- The north and southbound, outside and middle lanes will be closed on S.R. 295 from the Bayou Grand Bridge to Jackson Street from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews install pavement markings. • S.R. 10 from the State Line to S.R. 10A (Mobile Highway) and S.R. 10A from S.R. 10 to Massachusetts Avenue- Drivers can expect east and westbound, outside lane restrictions from Sunday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 9 as crews install pavement markings. • S.R. 10A (Mobile Highway) North of Fairfield Drive- The northbound lane of Mobile Highway will be closed just north of the Fairfield Drive intersection from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews perform maintenance activities.

Santa Rosa County

• I-10 Widening from Escambia Bay Bridge to S.R. 281 (Avalon Boulevard/Exit 22) – Alternating lane closures on I-10, from the Escambia Bay Bridge to east of Avalon Boulevard, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Friday, Aug. 10 as crews work to widen the roadway. In addition, alternating lane closures on Avalon Boulevard, near the I-10 interchange, will also be encountered as crews reconstruct the travel lanes.
• U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge Replacement – Alternating lane closures between 14th Avenue in Pensacola and Bay Bridge Drive in Gulf Breeze, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 12 as crews perform construction activities.
• S.R. 87 Multilane from Eglin AFB boundary to Hickory Hammock Road – Traffic between County Road 184 (Hickory Hammock Road) and the Eglin AFB boundary will continue to be restricted to loads less than 11-feet wide. The restriction will be in place until the project is completed.
• U.S. 90 Utility Work in Pace- There will be eastbound lane restrictions on U.S. 90 in Pace, near Immanuel Baptist Church, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 as crews trim trees over the roadway.

All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or re-scheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.

Escambia County Native Inducted Into Florida 4-H Hall Of Fame

Florida 4-H honored several lifetimes of positive youth development last week week when five community leaders — including a North Escambia native — were inducted into the UF/IFAS Extension Florida 4-H Hall of Fame.

Henry Davis was born to John A. and Annie V. Davis and raised in Davisville. He joined 4-H in Escambia County in 1937, when he was 10-years old. A World War II veteran and UF alumnus, he became the director of UF/IFAS Extension Taylor County in 1954 and retired in 1982. During his tenure, five Taylor County youth served as state 4-H president — an impressive track record, considering Taylor County’s small and largely rural population.

Davis has been very involved in giving back to the Taylor County community, holding numerous positions in local organizations. In 2002, the Henry P. Davis Scholarship Fund was established to help disadvantaged Taylor County 4-H members attend 4-H summer camp.

Biscuits Beat The Wahoos

Montgomery score six runs over the seventh and eighth innings to even the five-game series with a 7-3 win Sunday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

The Wahoos led 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth before the Biscuits took control of the game. Brett Sullivan led off with a double, followed by Dalton Kelly getting hit by a pitch. Lucius Fox laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first base got away and Sullivan dashed home all the way from second base to tie the game. Nathan Lukes delivered an RBI single to give the Biscuits the lead 3-2. In the eighth the Biscuits would send nine to the plate and score four runs off reliever Alejandro Chacin to extend the lead to 7-2. Jesus Sanchez led the inning off with a home run, which sparked the rally. The inning featured three hits, two walks and an error which put the game out of reach.

Jose Siri tied the franchise second-half record with his 10^th home run in the ninth inning in the 7-3 defeat. It was the only run Mike Broadway allowed over his 2.1 innings to close out the game.

Starter Daniel Wright (L, 6-7) threw a career-high 107 pitches in the losing effort. Wright had a rough first inning when he allowed one run on three hits. He settled down, posting five scoreless innings that included sitting down 12 consecutive batters spanning from the last out in the second until Jake Cronenworth drew a walk with two outs in the sixth. Wright’s night ended without getting an out in the seventh after surrendering the lead.

Monday night the Wahoos will look to win the rubber match, to extend their series unbeaten streak to 13. Pensacola will start RHP Wyatt Strahan (6-8, 6.46), and RHP Benton Moss (4-4, 3.82) will take the hill for Montgomery.

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