Friday’s Blue Angel Practice Canceled; Other Practices To Go As Planned
March 26, 2013
Due to the upcoming holiday weekend the Blue Angels have canceled their practice demonstration scheduled for Friday at NAS Pensacola.
Practices scheduled for earlier in the week will proceed as planned. Tuesday and Wednesday practice will begin at 8:30 a.m. Practice scheduled for Thursday, March 28, will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Bleacher seating is provided behind the National Naval Aviation Museum. Admission is free.
State Loses Round On Medicaid Physician Pay
March 26, 2013
A judge has ruled that the federal Affordable Care Act does not shield the state from key parts of a lawsuit alleging that Florida’s Medicaid program has provided inadequate care to children.
The years-long lawsuit, which has been led by the Florida Pediatric Society, contends that many physicians will not treat children in the Medicaid program because the state’s payment rates are too low. But the state argued that most of those issues are moot because the Affordable Care Act in 2013 and 2014 boosts pay for primary-care physicians who treat Medicaid patients.
Miami federal Judge Adalberto Jordan, who heard arguments March 15, issued a two-page opinion last week rejecting the state’s arguments.
Though the higher payment rates legally took effect Jan. 1, Jordan wrote that the state has not received a federal approval to boost physician pay. When that approval comes, the state says it will make the higher payments retroactively. The higher payments would be to the rates paid in the Medicare program.
“Without this approval, qualified and eligible medical providers in Florida have not been paid, and will not be paid, the higher Medicare reimbursement rates,” wrote Jordan, who has already held a lengthy trial in the overall case but has not ruled. “These providers, therefore, are still being paid the rates that the plaintiffs are challenging in this case, and everything remains the same as it was at trial.”
Jordan added that the state could again raise the arguments when it gets approval of the higher rates from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. But he indicated that the state likely will not succeed because the rate increases — which are fully funded by Washington — are only scheduled for 2013 and 2014.
“(The) defendants will have a difficult burden to overcome,” Jordan wrote. “If, as everyone agrees, there is speculation about what Florida will do with respect to Medicaid rates on or after January 1, 2015, and what CMS (the federal agency) will do with respect to Florida’s decision, it would appear that the defendants will have a hard time showing that their eventual payment of Medicare rates to certain providers — because of a federal mandate which lasts for only two years — moots any part of this case.”
Doctors have long complained about the state’s low payment rates. That is not the only issue in the lawsuit, which dates to 2005, but rates play an important role.
In a document filed in January, attorneys for the state argued that the Affordable Care Act gives physicians what they have wanted.
“Throughout trial, plaintiffs argued over and over that they should (have) received Medicare rates for their services,” the document said. “This was their stated desired relief. Therefore this issue is moot.”
But attorneys for the pediatric society and other plaintiffs, including children, questioned the state’s commitment to paying higher rates.
“Florida has implemented the increase only to the extent required by federal law, only for so long as federal law requires the increase and only to the extent the federal government is paying 100 percent of the cost,” the plaintiffs’ attorneys wrote.
By The News Service of Florida
Florida Special Olympics Torch Run Begins In Century (With Gallery)
March 25, 2013
The 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Florida Special Olympics began in Century Monday morning.
The torch run started at the Florida/Alabama state line in the Food Giant parking lot about 7:15 Monday. Employees from Century Correctional Institution and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office escorted the torch down Highway 29 through Century.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an event to raise awareness and support for the Special Olympics.
Law enforcement officers from over 300 Florida agencies (police departments, sheriff’s offices, Florida Department of Corrections, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Customs, Air Force Police and Marine Patrol) all participate in the state-wide torch run to benefit the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. Each year, over 5,000 officers carry the torch on a 1500-mile relay through 66 counties in Florida.
Pictured: The 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run in support of Florida Special Olympics begins in Century Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
One Critically Injured In Jacks Branch Road Wreck
March 25, 2013
One person was critically injured in a two vehicle wreck late Sunday afternoon near Cantonment.
The accident happened just before 6 p.m. in a sharp curve on Jacks Branch Road between the two entrances to Green Tree Circle. Two cars collided and came to rest in a concrete ditch. The female driver of one vehicle was transported to a Pensacola hospital with critical injuries; the driver of a Honda Civic was uninjured.
The accident remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Names and further details a have not been released.
Pictured: One person was critically injured in this two vehicle crash late Sunday afternoon on Jacks Branch Road near Cantonment. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Candidate With Century Ties Seeks Clay Ford’s Seat
March 25, 2013
A financial expert with ties to Century has announced he will seek the Florida House District 2 seat that was held by Clay Ford until his death last year.
Ed Gray III of Gulf Breeze heads up Capital Trust Agency and Gulf Breeze Financial Services.
Capital Trust Agency is an independent public body for the purpose of financing or otherwise accomplishing development programs. Century entered into the Capital Trust Agency with Gulf Breeze in 1999 with Century essentially serving as the “second signature” for CTA.
Century has received over a half million dollars in fees since the inception of CTA.
Gray has previously served on the Gulf Breeze City Council and later serviced as mayor. He later served as chair of the Santa Rosa County School Board.
Search Continues For ID Of Man That Exposed Himself In Multiple Stores
March 25, 2013
Investigators said Sunday that the search in continuing for the identity of a man that allegedly exposed himself to children at multiple stores last weekend. The joint investigation is being conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Pensacola Police Department.
The incidents occurred around 1 and 3 p.m. March 16 inside retail stores in the city and county, said Pensacola Police Detective Jeff Brown. The suspect reportedly followed the two females, ages 10 and 11, around the stores and when they were alone, he exposed himself to them.
The man was wearing a gray T-shirt with a dark logo on the front and back and a dark baseball cap. In one surveillance photograph he was wearing long dark pants and in another he had on dark shorts.
Authorities said he appears to be a middle aged white male with short or bald hair with a light colored goatee or beard. He is believed to be about 40 to 60 years old. He’s wanted for a lewd and lascivious act involving a minor.
Anyone with information on his identity is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP, the Pensacola Police Department at (850) 435-1900, Detective Jeff Brown at (850) 435-1980, or the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Sex Crimes Unit at (850) 436-9632.
Unique Crop: Sodbuster Radish In Hwy 29, Hwy 97 Field
March 25, 2013
A rather unique, and pretty, plant grew throughout the winter in a field at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 97 in Molino.
According to Libbie Johnson UF IFAS Escambia County extension agent, the crop was a mixture of Sodbuster radish and oats in a filed owned by local producer Eric Koehn.
Sodbuster brand radish is a new cover crop developed in New Zealand, according to Richard Petcher, retired Auburn Extension Agronomist agent and proprietor of Petcher Seeds. The Sodbuster’s large taproots are superior and can penetrate as far as six feet deep. The fleshy upper part can “bust” a hole from 10-20 inches long and 2-3 inches wide. And the taproot both plows and breaks the hard soil while scavaging for plant nutrients.
The crop was recently sprayed by a herbicide to kill it. The root will decompose in just a few weeks, leaving open holes where rainwater can penetrate the soil. According to Petcher, the crop is an excellent scavenger for nutrients and can release 80 pounds of Nitrogen and 5 tons of organic matter for the next crop. Wildlife, especially deer, love this radish.
In November, Eric planted five pounds of seed per acre and added some oats to the mixture. Although he didn’t add apply any fertilizer to the crop, he said he is satisfied with the stand and hopes to see some benefits in the cotton he plans on growing on the field this summer.
For more information on Sodbuster radish, visit www.petcherseeds.com or call the UF IFAS Escambia County Extension office at (850) 475-5230 or email libbiej@ufl.edu.
Molino Man Critically Injured In Early Morning Wreck
March 25, 2013
A Molino man was critically injured in a single vehicle wreck early Sunday morning in Molino.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Mark Allen Ships, Jr. was traveling west on Molino Road near Chestnut Road about 3:30 a.m. when he crossed over the eastbound lane and onto the shoulder. He continued on the shoulder until he struck a cement culvert and cement embankment with the front of his 2002 Jeep Liberty.
Shipps was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital as a “trauma alert”.
Charges against Shipps are pending, according to the FHP. The Molino, Cantonment and McDavid stations of Escambia Fire Rescue were also dispatched to the crash.
Pictured: One person was critically injured in this one vehicle accident early Sunday morning in Molino. Photos by Kristi Smith for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHP Investigating After Driver Flees Creighton Road Crash
March 24, 2013
The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for the driver that fled the scene of rollover accident this morning. The accident happened about 7:05 a.m. on Creighton Road just off Davis Highway. Authorities said the occupant or occupants of the vehicle had fled the scene before first responders arrived on scene. Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Rivers Signs Soccer Scholarship With Belhaven
March 24, 2013
Tate High School senior Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Rivers played soccer all four years at Tate High School, with two goals and 10 assists this year for the Aggies. He was chosen as this year’s Tate Boys Soccer Scholar Athlete.
In addition to his stellar performance on the soccer field, Rivers has earned numerous awards and accolades during this four years in ROTC at Tate. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Tate’s Interact, Spanish and Beta clubs.
Pictured: Tate’s Michael Rivers has signed to play soccer with Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
