Author: Dorron Blumberg

The following is a summary of the regulatory bills that have been passed so far this year by the Florida Legislature, and that are of particular interest to hospitals. All bills become effective July 1, 2019, with one exception, which is noted:

Evacuating elderly residents from a flooded nursing home and finding a generator for a sweltering assisted living facility were some of the challenges the Florida Department of Health in Broward County faced during a recent hurricane preparedness exercise.

Utilizing data taken from CMS hospice claims, the latest Facts and Figures report from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) found that while 1.43 Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in hospice care for one day or more in 2016, 27.9% were enrolled for seven days or fewer. 

When June approaches, the thoughts of people in South Florida can’t help but turn to hurricane season, and what might be pending in the coming months. But Mark Watson doesn’t believe the term "hurricane" covers it all. Watson, owner of Gulfstream Petroleum Services (GPS), said, "We use ‘hurricane’ as a generic term, because what we’re actually preparing for is a power outage."

According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, EMTs and Paramedics are projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Emergencies, such as car crashes, natural disasters, and acts of violence, will continue to require the skills of EMTs and paramedics.