Scott Names Hospital Panel Without Hospital Executives
May 12, 2015
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday appointed nine people — none of them hospital executives, and only one of whom appears to have significant medical experience — to a commission meant to examine the economics of health care and hospitals in Florida.
The appointments to Scott’s Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding came as industry officials are still digesting the governor’s call to have hospitals share profits like Major League Baseball teams if federal officials decide not to extend a $2.2 billion program that helps pay for the care of uninsured patients.
The nine people named to the panel, which is aimed at making recommendations for a special legislative session scheduled to begin June 1, are Carlos Beruff, president of Medallion homes, who will be the chairman; former SunTrust Bank executive Tom Kuntz; retired Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl; attorney Marili Cancio Johnson; former Gadsden County Commissioner Eugene Lamb Jr.; Jason Rosenburg, a physician and former chairman of the Florida Board of Medicine; Ken Smith, owner of Integrated Beef Consultants; former Destin Mayor Sam Seevers; and Robert Spottswood, president and director of Spottswood Companies, which has interests that include real estate and hospitality.
Scott, a former hospital chief executive officer, put together the commission after lawmakers ended the 2015 legislative session without a budget due to a complicated stalemate over health-care funding.
The U.S. Health and Human Services Department hasn’t ruled on the state’s application to extend the Low Income Pool, or LIP, program beyond a scheduled expiration date of June 30. The program mostly sends money to hospitals and other medical providers that care for large numbers of low-income patients. But the agency said last week that, at first blush, the state’s application “falls short of key principles” that federal officials will consider when weighing the program’s future.
Tony Carvalho, president of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, said Monday that the members of the commission looked to be “very competent people” despite the lack of health-care executives.
“We are disappointed that there were no hospital CEOs or financial experts on the commission,” he said.
Lawmakers who had asked to serve on the commission were also turned aside by Scott’s decision.
Funding for LIP is part of a complex health-care logjam that has left legislative leaders unable to reach agreement on a spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1. Hoping to encourage federal officials to approve the state’s LIP proposal, the Senate offered a $2.8 billion initiative that would use Medicaid expansion funding to help low-income Floridians purchase private insurance.
But Scott and the House have fiercely opposed the expansion alternative, and the governor has sued the Obama administration in an effort to prevent federal officials from linking the LIP decision to Medicaid expansion.
The naming of the panel came after Scott on Friday proposed revenue sharing among Florida hospitals if LIP is not extended for another year.
“Your assistance in suggesting fair profit sharing to replace federal LIP funds at those institutions that rely on them most, like Shands Jacksonville, will be critical to keeping them up and running,” he wrote in a letter to the president of the Florida Hospital Association. “This would be similar to how large market baseball teams share revenues with small market baseball teams.”
Scott said he wanted the hospitals to submit three models by May 22, so that his Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding could consider them on May 26.
So far, industry groups have been cautious about the governor’s initiative.
“We received the letter and will be issuing a response to Governor Scott this week,” said Monica Corbett, a spokeswoman for the FHA.
The Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals has a conference call scheduled for Wednesday to discuss the suggestion.
Carvalho didn’t foreclose the possibility of some form of revenue sharing, but said the commission first needs to consider how much hospitals already contribute, including the hundreds of millions of dollars they pay in taxes.
“I think people will realize that hospitals are doing enormous amounts already,” he said.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
Alert: Fundraising For Northview Baseball Team
May 11, 2015
The Northview High School baseball team is headed to the Florida High School Baseball State Championships in For Myers this week, and the school’s principal wants businesses and organizations to know that an Illinois company is not authorized to solicit funds on behalf of the school or team.
Principal Gayle Weaver said Royal Publishing has contacted local organizations and solicited funds for the Northview baseball team. She said those funds will not benefit the team in any manner, and any representation of the school or team by the company is unauthorized.
The NHS team is in need of additional funds for their trip. Donations can be made with checks payable to the “Northview Diamond Club” and dropped off at the school.
Pictured below: Email warning from Northview Principal Gayle Weaver, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Man Reported Missing; Vehicle Found In McDavid
May 11, 2015
Authorities are searching for a missing Flomaton, AL, man whose vehicle was found abandoned near McDavid.
John Douglas Oswalt, 35, was last seen by and communicated with family members on Sunday, May 3, according to Flomaton Police Chief Bryan Davis. His silver in color Chrysler Crossfire was found abandoned on Pine Barren Road near McDavid on Tuesday, May 5 by the Escambia County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.
Oswalt is described as a white male, about six feet tall with hazel eyes and bald head. No clothing description was known. He previously listed a home address in Cantonment.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Oswalt should contact the Flomaton Police Department at (251) 296-5811 or their local law enforcement agency.
New Traffic Signal Now Installed At Dangerous Molino Intersection
May 11, 2015
A new traffic signal is now installed at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. The signal is still is flash-only mode, and is expected to remain that way for a period of time before it becomes operational.
In October 2013, the Escambia County Commission affirmed its support for improvements at the intersection and expressed a willingness for the county to pay for the red light at the intersection. A Florida Department of Transportation study determined the intersection did meet the criteria for the light due to a high number of serious crashes, with an agreement in place that FDOT would design and construct the upgrades with Escambia County paying for the construction.
FDOT completed the design phase. and the Escambia County Commission approved $265,400 in funding for the light in August 2014, with the payment made from the county to the state in late October 2014. The project then faced several delays before the light was installed.
Once the Florida DOT announces the first day of operation for the light, the date will be published on NorthEscambia.com.
A second upcoming project will redesign the intersection of Crabtree Church Road and Highway 97, which is currently just feet away from Highway 29.
Pictured: A new traffic signal in flash-only mode Sunday at the intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Softball Baby Gender Reveal: The Pitch Is Good…It’s A Girl!
May 11, 2015
A single softball pitch and an explosion of pink made Mother’s Day extra special for mom-to-be Ali Martin of Bratt.
Ali and boyfriend Marshall Rolin are expecting a baby in mid-October. The couple picked a gender reveal that was a bit different than most — an “exploding” softball filled with colored chalk. Both love softball, and decided that it would be a home run way to answer the big boy or girl question.
Neither knew the gender..Ali was given a sealed envelope by the ultrasound tech last Wednesday. She made two softballs, one filled with blue chalk, the other with pink. They looked exactly the same, so she placed them in bags with a note labeling which was which.
Sunday at the ballpark, Ali’s cousin Sydney McGhee went to her car, opened the envelope and picked the correct softball to be pitched before family and friends. No one else knew before the pitch.
“I was really nervous about pitching it,” she said. Ali wound up and pitched it to Marshall, who slammed the ball into an explosion of pink.
“I’m extremely excited about it,” she said Sunday night, now knowing that she has a little girl on the way. “Now that we know the gender and everything, I am so excited for the big day.”
The couple has not yet picked a name for their little girl, but they already know they’d like her to have the initials “MJR”. Marshall, his mom, his dad and his two brothers all share the initials “MJR”.
“I just pray that I can be the best mom to my sweet little girl and give her everything she deserves and even more,” Ali said. “My heart is so full of happiness and love, that I can’t imagine how I will feel when the big day is finally here. I am so ready for it.”
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vendors Needed For Quintette Park May Day Celebration
May 11, 2015
The Quintette Park Association is planning for their annual May Day festivities later this month, and they are looking for vendors.
The May Day celebration will be held on May 23 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Quintette Park. Interested vendors should contact Jackie Weaden at (850) 968-6941 for more information.
File photo.
Free Small Business Workshops Continue In Century
May 11, 2015
As part of Century’s ongoing economic development efforts, the town has partnered with the Small Business Development Center at UWF to host a free “Amplify Your Business Through Fundamentals” training series for businesses in Century and the surrounding area.
All workshops are free to the general public but pre-registration for each workshop is recommended through the SBDC’s website. Attendees may pick and choose the workshops that will be most beneficial to them. All workshops will be held at the Century Business Center at 150 East Pond Street from 9 am. until noon on the dates below:
Tuesday, May 12
Financial & Cash Flow Statements, Pt. 1: Learn how to create and use profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements to manage a small business.
Thursday, May 14
Financial & Cash Flow Statements, Pt. 2: More information on how to create and use profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements to manage a small business.
Tuesday, May 19
Human Resources: This training will provide an overview of the many aspects of human resources management. During this session, we will provide training on the following topics: Fair Labor Standards Act, effective recruiting, effective hiring, drug testing, employee motivation, costs of employee turnover, and effective communication.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Second Man Charged With Delivery Thefts
May 11, 2015
A second man has been arrested for stealing packages from doorsteps after they were dropped off by a delivery man, and for the theft of multiple utility trailers.
Paul Anthony Brown, 50, is facing more than two dozen burglary and theft related charges. According to multiple arrest reports, Brown would steal recently delivered packages from homes in the north Pensacola and Cantonment areas. The packages, in total, contained thousands of dollars of merchandise, including hundreds of key chains, a baby stroller, prescription medication, Lysol cleaner, toilet paper, a baby gate, cat food, wedding photos and Depends undergarments.
Several of the alleged thefts were caught on residents’ surveillance video.
He is also accused of stealing three utility trailers, including one that was loaded with $250 in worth of pool chemicals. Brown remains in the Escambia Count Jail with bond set at $141,500.
Suspected accomplice John Clifford Wilson IV, 41, was arrested last month in connection with the package thefts and remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $493,500.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators obtained surveillance video from two of these thefts that showed a dark blue SUV pulling up to the residence and two males removing packages that was posted on social media. Another citizen recognized the vehicle driving through his neighborhood, captured the vehicle on video and wrote down the tag number before contacting deputies.
Registration Underway For VPK Programs At Local Schools
May 11, 2015
Registration is underway now for Voluntary Pre-K programs.
The programs will be held at Bratt, Molino Park, Jim Allen, West Pensacola, Navy Point, Sherwood, Lincoln Park, McMillian, Ensley, Montclair, Oakcrest, Warrington, Semmes and Weis elementary schools and the Global Learning Academy.
Eligibility
Children whose parents reside in a Title I school attendance area and will be 4-years old on or before September 1 of the school year.
How to register?
Parents must obtain a VPK Certificate of Eligibility before registering at the school site. This can be obtained by contacting Debbie Layton at 850-595-6915 ext. 277. You may also apply through the Early Learning Coalition at www.elcescambia.org. For the online application, documents must be uploaded.
Documents needed for registration:
- Child’s Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residency (Florida driver’s license or power/utility bill)
School Enrollment Documents:
- Child’s Birth Certificate
- Proof of Residency (Power /utility bill within 90 days or lease)
- Immunization Record
- Physical (within one year of enrollment date)
Northview, Jeff Davis Grad Inks Volleyball Scholarship
May 11, 2015
A Northview High School grad has signed a volleyball scholarship after completing two years of junior college play.
Morgan Smith graduated from Northview High School in 2013 after two years playing varsity volleyball. She signed a two-year volleyball scholarship with Jefferson Davis Community College, where she graduated last week. Now, she has signed a volleyball scholarship with Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon, GA, as a starting middle hitter.
After graduating with a bachelors degree in biology, Smith plans to join the U.S. Air Force to pursue a nursing career.
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.