June 23, 2021 – This Saturday, as part of its virtual “Discover ALZ” program series, the Alzheimer’s Association will bring together professionals from across the state of Florida to focus on brain health in the Black community. 
 
Sponsored by AARP “Bridging the Brain Health Equity Gap” will explore health equity, the importance of brain health and community resources. 
 
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, older Black Americans are not only twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as their White counterparts, but they are also less likely to receive a diagnosis. Further, when they do get diagnosed, it is typically in the later stages of the disease, when their medical needs are greater.
 
“Although the rate of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in African Americans is much higher than in Whites, they are less likely to have a diagnosis of the condition,” said Yarissa Reyes, special guest speaker and director of diversity, equity and inclusion engagement for the Alzheimer’s Association. “Delays in diagnosis mean that African Americans are not getting treatments when they are most likely to be effective at improving quality of life, as well as taking critical steps to educate themselves on Alzheimer’s and establish support networks. As we continue to advocate for more research, programs, services and funding, we want to be sure that everyone we serve has access to all the information they need to feel empowered and confident in facing the many challenges that this disease presents.”
 
Another topic of discussion will be ways to reduce risk of Alzheimer’s – a subject that will be addressed by Tequesta Alston, Alzheimer’s community educator and community liaison for Brain Matters Research. 
 
“Since African Americans have a higher incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, they may gain greater benefit from interventions that promote cardiovascular health, such as diet, exercise, and medications to treat high blood pressure or diabetes,” Alston said. “It is never too early to start taking care of your brain because even our lifestyle choices in midlife can change our risk trajectory.”
 
Other featured panelists will include Rev. Patricia Smith Wallace, presiding elder of the St. Petersburg District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rebecca Jacques, president of the Haitian American Nurses Association of Palm Beach.
 
The free program will begin at 10:30 a.m. EDT on June 26. To register, visit https://bit.ly/BrainHealthEquity or call the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at (800) 272-3900.
 


Grants will help states modernize Health Insurance Marketplaces
 
June 21 2021 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced $20 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to support State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) to improve access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance coverage for consumers in their states. States can apply for funding to help modernize or update their systems, programs, or technology to comply with federal Marketplace requirements, including the recent provisions of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that increased the financial assistance available to certain consumers.
 
SBMs that operate their own eligibility platforms collectively enrolled over 3.8 million consumers in Marketplace coverage thus far for the 2021 plan year. Most consumers are now eligible for increased savings to reduce monthly premium payments and many may be eligible for lower out-of-pocket costs, such as lower deductibles, due to changes made through the ARP. This means states with Marketplaces will be enrolling more consumers and reassessing current enrollees’ eligibility for financial assistance as consumers seek to access this broader financial help.
“Our State-based Marketplaces are the gateway to quality, affordable health care for millions of consumers and these investments will make it even easier to sign up for coverage,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “This funding available to states will help them to provide consumers with swift eligibility determinations and enrollment into comprehensive health care plans. We applaud State-based Marketplaces – many of which have provided opportunities for special enrollment periods during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency – for their hard work.”
 
Under this funding opportunity, up to 21 cooperative agreement grants can be awarded to currently-approved SBMs that meet the application requirements, including those that use the HealthCare.gov for eligibility and enrollment. SBMs can prioritize funding to make modifications to systems or technology infrastructure related to the implementation of applicable federal requirements. This includes changes needed to ensure consumers can quickly receive a new eligibility determination in order to access the increased premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions available through the ARP. 
 
States may also use the funds for program policies or procedures required for implementation of applicable federal requirements. This includes consumer notifications, consumer education or other assistance activities, stakeholder education or training, state and federal reporting, call center or appeal supports, staff training, and oversight and monitoring activities.
 
Applications from eligible SBM applicants will be due on July 20, 2021.  CMS anticipates issuing grant awards in early September 2021. The period of performance for this grant will be from the date of the award through September 30, 2022. The NOFO provides additional details regarding eligibility and program requirements, as well as key deadline and application submission information.
 
 To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity, visit https://www.grants.gov, and search for CFDA # 93.525. 
 


Chapter Leaders Receive Three 2020 Special Achievement Awards
 
June 22, 2021 – On behalf of its members and leadership, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FCAAP) is proud to announce that it has received the 2020 American Academy of Pediatrics Outstanding Chapter Award in the Very Large Chapter Category. This award was made possible through the hard work and dedication of the Chapter’s members, especially through the trying times of 2020.
 
Some of FCAAP’s work during 2020 that helped the Chapter earn the Award included the COVID – 19 Forum Series, the “FCAAP Recommendations Regarding Schools During the COVID- 19
 
Pandemic” white paper, the #FCAAPWellness program for Chapter members, and the FCAAP Trainee  Tips video series for trainee members. Full details can be found in FCAAP’s 2020 Annual Report. The Chapter thanks its outstanding members, leaders, and partners that made these initiatives possible.
 
2020 AAP Special Achievement Awards
 
FCAAP is also very proud to honor the following Chapter leaders with 2020 AAP Special Achievement Awards to recognize their outstanding AAP work and Chapter achievements:
 
 
Immediate Past President David Paul Robinson, MD, FAAP for his unwavering leadership and support of Florida’s pediatricians through the many challenges of 2020, including the pelvic exam law and the COVID‐19 pandemic.
 
 
Former Vice President Toni Richards-Rowley, MD, FAAP for her leadership of the Chapter’s legislative initiatives and the education of Florida’s private practice pediatricians.
 
 
 
Secretary Nicole Torres, MD, FAAP for her dedication to pediatric education, demonstrated through her creativity and persistence in leading The Future of Pediatric Practice conferences despite natural disasters and a pandemic.
  
The 2020 award nominations were reviewed by the AAP District Vice Chairpersons and approved by the AAP Executive Committee. Awardees were honored at a special District X virtual meeting on Thursday, May 6.
 
 
 
About FCAAP
Through its more than 2,500 members, the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics promotes the health & welfare of Florida’s children and supports pediatricians & pediatric specialists as the best qualified providers of their healthcare. Learn more by visiting www.fcaap.org.
 


Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and College of Engineering and Computer Science Team Up on Two New Degree Programs
 
June 21, 2021 –  Beginning this fall, Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the College of Engineering and Computer Science will offer two new combined programs in nursing and artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering.  
 
This innovative, forward-looking and convergent curriculum design was conceived by Safiya George, Ph.D., dean, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing; Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Javad Hashemi, Ph.D., associate dean of research, College of Engineering and Computer Science; Karethy Edwards, Dr.PH, APRN, associate dean of academic programs; and Joy Longo, Ph.D., assistant dean, undergraduate programs, both within the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The need for such a program was recognized through a number of research collaborations and discussions between the two colleges. 
 
“Nurses spend more time with patients in clinical settings than any other health care provider. They are inherently problem-solvers and provide an invaluable perspective in the engineering industry,” said George. “Our joint programs in nursing and engineering are a ‘dynamic duo’ that will build the foundational skills to better position nursing students to participate as future health care innovators and inventors.” 
 
The combined degree programs will provide FAU bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) graduates with a leading edge in artificial intelligence, which includes algorithms, pattern matching, deep learning and cognitive computing to learn how to understand complex data. Artificial intelligence can be applied to almost every field of health care, including drug development, treatment decisions and patient care. Graduates of this new program will be able utilize knowledge to tackle complex problems that would otherwise be difficult or very time-intensive to address without artificial intelligence. FAU BSN graduates who continue on to the master’s in science (MS) in the biomedical engineering program will use engineering principles to define and solve problems in biology, medicine, health care and other fields.  
 
“We anticipate that in the future, health care delivery systems and personnel will rely more on automation and artificial intelligence,” said Batalama. “It is likely that there will be a paradigm shift in the nursing field towards a more targeted, technologically advanced and data-oriented health care delivery system. FAU wishes to be at the forefront of developing the necessary workforce for such a future.” 
 
Details of the program were developed by Mary Ann Leavitt, Ph.D., R.N., an assistant professor in the Christine E. Lynne College of Nursing; Mihaela Cardei, Ph.D., associate dean of graduate programs and a professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science; and Hanqi Zhuang, Ph.D., chair and professor, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Leavitt is board certified in critical care nursing and heart failure nursing. Her current research interests include transitional care interventions for patients with heart failure to decrease hospital readmissions, and the development of skin-based wearable sensors to alert for heart failure decompensation. Cardei and Zhuang have been leading the educational efforts in artificial intelligence and data science in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, which is housing the first master and certificate programs in artificial intelligence in the state of Florida. 
 
For the “B.S. in Nursing to M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Degree Program,” students will complete a BSN degree first and then continue to complete a master’s in science degree in artificial intelligence within the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. For the “B.S. in Nursing to M.S. in Biomedical Engineering Degree Program,” students will complete the BSN degree first and then complete the MS in science in biomedical engineering within the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering. Students will receive their BSN degree from the College of Nursing and their master’s degree from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Both programs can be completed in approximately five years and provide an attractive way for students to continue their graduate work after completing the undergraduate program.  
 Both combined programs require up to 120 credits in the bachelor’s degree and up to 30 credits in the master’s degree. Students in the programs will take pre-requisite courses while pursuing the bachelor’s degree, ensuring a smooth transition into the artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering programs. The combined programs preserve and enhance the quality of both degrees and are open to Freshman Direct Admit students who have a cumulative FAU GPA of 3.25 or higher. 
Nursing students can apply to the MS program at the end of their junior year in the nursing program, after completing at least 90 credits. Bachelor’s degree students who take graduate courses in the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science may count up to nine credits of approved graduate coursework toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 
 
Students must meet the admission criteria for each program to be eligible. They also must complete these pre-requisites for artificial intelligence: methods of calculus; introduction to programming in python; and data structures and algorithm analysis with python, as part of the BSN program. Students must complete these pre-requisites for biomedical engineering: methods of calculus; genetics; introduction to programming in python or introduction to programming in C, also as part of the BSN program. 
 
 
 
 
 
About the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing: 
FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is nationally and internationally known for its excellence and philosophy of caring science. The College was ranked No.11 nationwide by U.S. News and World Report in 2021 for “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Administration Programs” and No. 32 for the “Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs.” In 2020, FAU graduates earned a 95.9% percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN®) and 100% AGNP Certification Pass Rate. FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is fully accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). For more information, visit nursing.fau.edu.
 
 
About FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science:
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Masters of Science in AI (first in Florida), Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Masters of Science degree in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.  
 
 
 
About Florida Atlantic University: 
Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu. 
 
 
 
 


Acquisition Adds 10 Medical Centers and Approximately 5,000 Medicare Advantage Members
 
June 21, 2021 – CareMax, Inc. (“CareMax”) (NASDAQ: CMAX; CMAXW), a leading technology-enabled provider of value-based care to seniors, announced today the closing of the acquisition of Senior Medical Associates, LLC (“SMA”). SMA operates 10 conveniently located medical centers across Broward County with approximately 5,000 Medicare Advantage members in the SMA network. CareMax intends to use SMA’s footprint as the foundation of CareMax’s expansion initiative in Broward County, a market with more than 335,000 Medicare eligible beneficiaries. CareMax expects the transaction to be immediately accretive.
 
“This is an important acquisition for CareMax and is a step forward in executing our multi-pronged expansion strategy focused on de novo growth and strategic M&A.”
 
Tweet this
“We believe the acquisition of SMA will further CareMax’s ability to provide high-quality, compassionate care to seniors,” commented Carlos de Solo, Chief Executive Officer of CareMax. “This is an important acquisition for CareMax and is a step forward in executing our multi-pronged expansion strategy focused on de novo growth and strategic M&A.”
 
With this acquisition, CareMax now operates 36 medical centers, serving approximately 62,000 patients, including approximately 22,000 Medicare Advantage members. SMA brings to CareMax a track record of high-quality clinical care and member satisfaction. CareMax plans to build upon this success and accelerate the growth of the SMA network through multiple strategic avenues, including:
 
Utilizing CareMax’s proprietary technology platform, CareOptimize, to provide data, analytics and rules-based decision tools/workflows for SMA care teams to customize high-touch, whole person care and improve medical loss ratios;
Driving further organic growth by utilizing CareMax’s sales and marketing infrastructure and additional health plan relationships to fill existing patient capacity in SMA clinics (currently at ~50% capacity); and
Creating a leading presence in the region by filling in location gaps in a key adjacent market.
About CareMax
 
CareMax is a technology-enabled care platform providing value-based care and chronic disease management to seniors. CareMax operates medical centers that offer a comprehensive suite of healthcare and social services, and a proprietary software and services platform that provides data, analytics, and rules-based decision tools/workflows for physicians across the United States. Learn more at www.caremax.com.
 
About Senior Medical Associates
 
Senior Medical Associates is a group of primary care physicians with medical centers throughout Broward County. The group is dedicated to patients over 65 years of age, allowing for the full focus on the needs of seniors. The team consists of experienced physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants and staff all dedicated to providing compassionate and caring, personalized, primary care.