The AMA has long called for Congress to enact legislation that would: (1) permanently allow Medicare patients in every geographic area, not just patients in rural areas, to receive telehealth services by waiving the geographic restrictions in current law; and (2) permanently allow Medicare patients to receive telehealth services in their homes instead of having to go to a medical facility to receive telehealth from a distant site. To date, however, Congress has passed legislation that only temporarily waives these requirements. Most recently, in March 2025 Congress extended these telehealth flexibilities for a six-month period that ends Sept. 30, 2025.

Physicians who provide telehealth services to Medicare patients should be aware that if Congress is not able to pass legislation before Oct. 1, 2025, that extends government funding, then the current Medicare telehealth flexibilities will lapse. This means that telehealth services would be limited to rural areas as they were before the COVID public health emergency and that patients would not be able to receive telehealth services in their homes. In addition, the ability to provide audio-only services to Medicare patients would lapse, as would the Acute Hospital Care at Home program.

In past government shutdowns, whenever Congress passed legislation to reopen the government, it made the funding and policies retroactive to the effective date of the shutdown. Physician practices may want to consider adjusting their patient schedules for telehealth services, however, as neither the likelihood nor the duration of a shutdown are known.

The program utilizes industry leading multi-barrier technology consisting of membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet advanced oxidation to further purify available reclaimed water to potable water quality so it can be used to replenish the aquifer. This mimics what nature does to replenish the aquifer but in a shorter amount of time, over a smaller footprint. The program is called H2.0, as a nod to providing the 2.0 version of our water (H2O) supply.  

The three-phase H2.0 Purification Program included a pilot testing phase from 2016-2019, a demonstration phase (nearing completion), and a future full-scale implementation phase.  

The H2.0 Purification Center, being built on 12 acres in the Deerwood neighborhood on the Southside, will be used for staff training, performance optimization and community education through a visitor center. The Center is expected to open to visitors in early 2026.  

The H2.0 Purification Program offers numerous benefits to our community and the environment, including long-term water supply resiliency and sustainability, increased available groundwater supply by replenishing the aquifer and reduction of the volume of water conveyed to the St. Johns River as required by state law.  Although there are numerous water purification facilities that have been operating for decades around the world, JEA’s H2.0 Purification Center will be the first in the state of Florida.   

For more information, please visit www.jeaonewater.com  

If you're able to volunteer, please email VIM Director of Volunteers Alexa Parsons or go directly to vimjax.org/volunteer.

• GYN (complex cases requiring Colpos, LEAPs, other surgeries): 36 Patients
• ENT (complex requiring possible surgical intervention): 11 Patients
• Pulmonology:10 Patients
• Nerve Conduction Studies: 6 Patients
• Hematology: Currently one volunteer provider managing panel of 25 patients. In need of second or third option to help cover this panel.
• ONC: Care plan needs listed here are proving hard to resource and can delay Tx: ONC Surgery, ONC Infusion, Medical ONC Consult for Tx plan (chemo), 3D MRI – Tumor Imaging, and Specialty Labs / Assays for ONC patients
  

Providers interested in accepting a patient, can contact Meredith Smith, WeCareJax Director of Operations. You can also click here to learn more about the benefits of volunteering through the State of Florida Volunteer Provider Program, including sovereign immunity for all services / encounters provided for patients under the program – no impact to malpractice insurance.

Late this afternoon, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) circulated the following note. American Medical Association staff will evaluate the information and compare notes with our Federation colleagues.

New Rules

Most notably, today the Departments released final rules that account for the two district court rulings on the NSA and take into account comments from stakeholders to the interim final rules released last year. The rulemaking is narrow in scope, addressing specific issues related to disclosures by plans and issuers about the QPA and guidance for certified IDR entities on information to consider when they make payment determinations.

The new rule can be found here: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/no-surprises-act

New FAQs

The Departments also issued a new set of FAQs providing guidance on several NSA requirements including how the law’s protections apply to no-network and closed-network plans, requirements related to disclosures, and the calculation of the qualifying payment amount, among other things. The new FAQs can be found here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/faqs-part-55.pdf

Status Update on IDR and additional guidance

Finally, the Departments also released a brief status update on the federal IDR process. In short, many more disputes have been submitted to the federal IDR process than were initially anticipated. Additionally, certified IDR entities are conducting significant work determining whether a dispute is eligible for the federal process.

To help address this, on Tuesday we posted a new page on the CMS No Surprises Act website detailing some common mistakes and helpful tips for parties initiating IDR disputes. Our objective here is to help initiating parties get the certified IDR entities and non-initiating parties as much info on the front end as possible to help correctly determine eligibility and move disputes through the process. This also includes detailed technical guidance for the certified IDR entities on moving disputes through the process. While the guidance is technically for IDR entities, it’s publicly posted, and we think it could be helpful for disputing parties to keep in mind when they’re submitting information related to disputes.

We also rolled out some new functionality in the portal for initiating disputes. There’s now a dispute-level upload button which allows initiating parties to upload supporting documents to their disputes at initiation. We’re hopeful this will prevent delays in processing disputes by making sure that certified IDR entities have immediate access to documents like documents associated with the initial payment or notice of denial of payment (e.g., remittance advice or an explanation of benefits), notices of open negotiation initiation, extension requests, etc.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to provide relief where possible to clinicians responding to the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE). We’re applying the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy to ALL individually eligible MIPS eligible clinicians for the 2021 performance year (PY). Please note that this announcement is for PY2021 only.

The automatic EUC policy only applies to MIPS eligible clinicians who are eligible to participate in MIPS as individuals. The automatic EUC policy doesn’t apply to groups, virtual groups, or Alternative Payment Model (APM) Entities. 

MIPS eligible clinicians who are eligible to participate in MIPS as individuals

You don’t need to take any action to have the automatic EUC policy applied to you. You’ll be automatically identified and will have all 4 MIPS performance categories reweighted to 0% and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year unless you 1) submit data in 2 or more performance categories, or 2) have a higher final score from group or APM Entity participation.

Small practices reporting Medicare Part B claims measures

Under current policies, we automatically calculate a quality score from Medicare Part B claims measures at the individual and group level.

• Clinicians in small practices that report Medicare Part B claims measures who are only eligible to participate in MIPS as part of a group aren’t covered by the automatic EUC policy and will receive the group’s final score. (To identify these clinicians, sign in to qpp.cms.gov, navigate to the “Eligibility & Reporting” page and click “View Clinician Eligibility”. Clinicians who are only eligible to participate as part of a group will have a green check mark next to “Group”; there won’t be a green check mark next to “Individual”.)
• Some small practices may not be aware of the implications of their PY 2021 claims reporting due to some of the policies we introduced at the onset of the COVID-19 PHE.
• As a result, these small practices may wish to request performance category reweighting on behalf of the group through the PY2021 EUC Exception Application, citing COVID-19 as the triggering event.
• PY2021 EUC Exception Applications can be submitted by signing in to qpp.cms.gov and clicking Exception Applications on the left-hand navigation.

Groups

The automatic EUC policy doesn’t apply to groups. You don’t need to take any further action if you’re not able to submit data for the 2021 performance year. Group participation is optional (specific guidance for small practices noted above), and your individually eligible MIPS eligible clinicians qualify for the automatic EUC policy if you don’t report at the group-level on their behalf. (If you submit data at the group level on behalf of your MIPS eligible clinicians, the group will receive a MIPS final score based on the data submitted.) Your MIPS eligible clinicians will have all 4 performance categories reweighted to 0% and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year unless 1) they submit data in 2 or more performance categories, or 2) they have a higher final score from group or APM Entity participation.

Virtual Groups

MIPS eligible clinicians in a virtual group will receive a payment adjustment based on the virtual group’s final score, even if no data is submitted. (When no data is submitted for the virtual group, the MIPS eligible clinicians in the virtual group could receive the maximum negative payment adjustment of -9% in the 2023 payment year.)

• If you’re unable to submit data for the 2021 performance year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 PHE, you can submit a PY2021 EUC Exception Application on behalf of the virtual group, citing COVID-19, to request reweighting for all 4 performance categories.
• PY2021 EUC Exception Applications can be submitted by signing in to qpp.cms.gov and clicking Exception Applications on the left-hand navigation through December 31, 2021.

APM Entities

The automatic EUC policy doesn’t apply to APM Entities. You don’t need to take any action if you’re not able to submit data for the 2021 performance year. APM Entity participation is optional (specific guidance for small practices noted above), and your individually eligible MIPS eligible clinicians will have the automatic EUC policy applied to them if you don’t report at the APM-Entity level on their behalf. (If you submit data at the APM-Entity level on behalf of your MIPS eligible clinicians, the APM Entity will receive a MIPS final score based on data submitted.) Your MIPS eligible clinicians will have all 4 performance categories reweighted to 0% and receive a neutral payment adjustment for the 2023 MIPS payment year unless 1) they submit data in 2 or more performance categories, or 2) they have a higher final score from group or APM Entity participation.

If your APM Entity would like to request performance category reweighting for the 2021 performance year, you must submit an EUC application.

• PY2021 EUC Exception Applications can be submitted by signing in to qpp.cms.gov and clicking Exception Applications on the left-hand navigation through December 31, 2021.

Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs

The MIPS Automatic EUC policy doesn’t apply to Shared Savings Program Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs can submit a PY2021 EUC Exception Application on behalf of its MIPS eligible clinicians if they are unable to report via the Alternative Payment Model (APM) Performance Pathway (APP). To submit a PY2021 EUC Exception Application, ACOs must demonstrate that greater than 75% of its MIPS eligible clinicians would be eligible for reweighting the Promoting Interoperability performance category. ACOs can submit PY2021 EUC Exception Applications by signing in to qpp.cms.gov and clicking Exception Applications on the left-hand navigation through December 31, 2021.

Note: The Shared Savings Program Quality EUC policy for determining shared savings and losses applies to all Shared Savings Program ACOs for performance year 2021. CMS considers all ACOs to be affected by the COVID-19 PHE and the Shared Savings Program EUC policy applies for PY2021. ACOs that are able to report quality data via the APP and meet MIPS data completeness and case minimum requirements will receive the higher of their ACO quality score or the 30th percentile MIPS quality performance category score. ACOs that are unable to report quality data via the APP and meet the MIPS quality data completeness and case minimum requirements, will have their quality score set equal to the 30th percentile MIPS quality performance category score.

Additional Resources

• 2021 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Application Guide
• Quality Payment Program COVID-19 Response Fact Sheet

For more information, please see the Quality Payment Program COVID-19 Response webpage on the QPP website. You can contact the Quality Payment program at 1-866-288-8292 (TRS: 711), Monday through Friday, 8AM-8PM ET or by e-mail at: QPP@cms.hhs.gov.

Disclaimer: The contents of this listserv do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way, unless specifically incorporated into a contract. This listserv is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing policies under the law.

Effective October 1, 2021, any fee-for-service (FFS) claim submitted with a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for a provider not enrolled with Florida Medicaid will be denied, and the provider will not receive reimbursement for services. This includes claims that list a Referring, Ordering, Prescribing, or Attending (ROPA) provider. ROPA providers must be enrolled with Florida Medicaid in accordance with Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 455.410(b).

Starting October 1, 2021, claims will not pay for any practitioner, group practice, facility, or pharmacy providing services to Florida Medicaid recipients based on a ROPA provider’s referral, order, prescription, or attending services, unless the ROPA provider identified by NPI on the FFS claim is actively enrolled with Florida Medicaid. This includes claims submitted to Florida Medicaid by institutional providers and paid at a calculated reimbursement rate.

Florida Medicaid features a quick and easy, automated ROPA provider enrollment application on the Florida Medicaid Web Portal Enrollment Application Wizard page.

Please visit the ROPA Provider Enrollment page of the Web Portal for updated information, including the Unenrolled ROPA Provider List, ROPA Providers Frequently Asked Questions and Quick Reference Guides on ROPA provider enrollment and claims billing.

Providers may call the Provider Services Contact Center at 1-800-289-7799, option 7, for billing assistance and option 4 for enrollment assistance

Jacksonville, Fla., August 23, 2021 – Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center has named Michael R. Olson, MD, PhD, as head, Division of Radiation Oncology effective July 1, 2021.

Dr. Olson has held numerous leadership roles for the division of radiation oncology since its inception in 2015. Most recently, he has served as head ad interim, and adjunct associate professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He serves as the chief of service, radiation oncology for Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and has led the expansion of radiation oncology services to Baptist Medical Center South. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology in radiation oncology, and hospice and palliative medicine.

“I’m honored to assume this role and oversee the continued expansion of our radiation oncology program at Baptist Health’s downtown and Baptist Medical Center South locations,” Dr. Olson said. “Each year, we’ve been able to serve more patients, and we look forward to helping additional patients receive the multidisciplinary cancer care they need.”

Dr. Olson completed his combined MD/PhD program at Duke University. He was a National Science Foundation Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. Following post-graduate training in Radiation Oncology at the Stanford School of Medicine, he joined a private physicians group in Jacksonville, and was subsequently recruited to Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville in 2014. Dr. Olson was one of the original 11 faculty physicians at Baptist MD Anderson.

Dr. Olson has multiple peer-reviewed publications, and actively participates in national professional associations. He has mentored students and fellows, co-faculty, and other radiation oncologists.

Dr. Olson was selected after a national search that included a diverse candidate pool, and a rigorous selection process. Christopher M. Pezzi, MD, head, Division of Surgery, Baptist MD Anderson, led a 13-member search committee including representatives from Baptist MD Anderson, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Health, and MD Anderson in Houston.

“In the past five years, Dr. Olson has managed complex clinical and operational projects while successfully recruiting additional faculty to support a growing, dynamic and thriving division,” said Bill Putnam, MD, FACS, thoracic surgeon and medical director for Baptist MD Anderson. “He will continue to provide outstanding clinical care and institutional leadership as division head.”

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About Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is one of only five partner programs nationwide of MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. Opened in 2015, Baptist MD Anderson provides multidisciplinary cancer care to patients throughout the Southeastern United States. It combines the strengths of the most comprehensive health system in Northeast Florida with the research and comprehensive treatment options of the nation’s leading cancer center. For more information, visit baptistmdanderson.com.

If you have a patient that has Medicaid or a Medicaid Advantage Plan that would normally cover the ordered item, the following applies to you.

Effective October 1st, if you prescribe a medication, order a test, home health, DME, etc. and Medicaid would normally pay for the item and you are not enrolled, Medicaid will not pay after that date. Medicaid has created a special enrollment path for providers who only need to have Medicaid recognize them as Referring, Ordering, Prescribing, or Attending (ROPA) Provider.

For Assistance:

Florida Medicaid features a quick and easy, automated ROPA provider enrollment application on the Florida Medicaid Web Portal Enrollment Application Wizard page.

Please visit the ROPA Provider Enrollment page of the Web Portal for updated information, including the recently created Unenrolled ROPA Provider List, ROPA Providers Frequently Asked Questions and Quick Reference Guides on ROPA provider enrollment and claims billing.

Providers may call the Provider Services Contact Center at 1-800-289-7799, option 7, for billing assistance and option 4 for enrollment assistance.

Welcome to the 2021-2022 Jacksonville & Northeast Florida Healthcare Guide™ (JHCG). We are proud to present this publication in partnership with the Duval County Medical Society (DCMS).

As always, this publication contains up-to-date information for directory listings, legislative news, and new technology, along with local hospital news and updates. This edition of JHCG explores the importance of vaccines, including how they have eradicated the concern of many diseases, which has helped communities flourish. We also cover the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination, including the health official’s advice to combat the pandemic and important updates regarding the virus.

Additionally, this guide contains our Green Pages™ section, a comprehensive, easy-to-read directory. The Green Pages include listings of physicians by specialty, area hospitals, ancillary and other healthcare providers and services, with an icon to mark active DCMS members. The listings include National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers, if available, for further convenience.

Our goal is to present the most current information in our publication. However, if your listing needs to be corrected for next year, please let us know. Changes can be submitted on our website at www.heritagepublishinginc.com.

Distribution will begin on August 31, 2021, with copies for advertisers and DCMS members mailed via the United States Postal Service. The distribution will be handled by Cosmic Distribution Services. This will be ongoing for a period of 90 days until all copies are distributed throughout the five counties. Please be on the lookout for your copies. Due to the resurging of COVID-19, with the Delta variant, delivery access to certain facilities may be restricted and deliveries may not be accessible. We encourage you to visit our office to pick up your copies. Please contact us in advance to coordinate the pick-up of your requested copies.

If you would like to request additional copies, please contact us at 904-296-1304. You may also email your order directly to malamad@heritagepublishinginc.com.

Finally, I encourage you to support our valued advertisers. Without their participation, this publication would not be possible. We greatly appreciate their partnership.

Cordially,    

Marzoug (Mark) Al-Amad                
Founder, Publisher & President                
Heritage Publishing, Inc.

Jacksonville, Florida, August 6, 2021 – From puzzles and Play-Doh to bubbles and baby dolls, toys now fill the shelves at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, ready to be distributed to patients fighting various health battles. The 10^th annual Christmas in July Toy and Donation Drive, which was 100% online for the second year in a row, came to an end on Saturday, July 31.

Throughout the month of July, generous donors from Jacksonville and beyond gave 1,061 new toys, with a total estimated value of $16,810. Additionally, Christmas in July resulted in $12,959 in cash donations, thanks to new ways to fundraise and give online. The funds will be used to purchase toys for Wolfson Children’s patients.

Subaru of Jacksonville, the presenting sponsor of Christmas in July, contributed $25,000 to the annual drive and purchased thousands of additional dollars’ worth of toys.

The Child Life specialists and music therapist at Wolfson Children’s Hospital use toys and games to help normalize the hospital experience and teach kids and teens about their conditions and procedures they will undergo.

Additionally, toys help babies and younger children continue to develop physically and cognitively on track during their hospital stays. Though Wolfson Children’s receives many toy donations during the winter holidays, the supply tends to dwindle during the summer months. Christmas in July helps restock the shelves.

Though there were no public in-person drop-offs at Wolfson Children’s Hospital this year due to COVID-19, people were once again able to purchase toys from the hospital’s Amazon wish list that were specifically curated by the Child Life and Music Therapy team. Additionally, members of the community could drop off new, unwrapped toys at Subaru of Jacksonville. Employees from the dealership took on the role of Santa’s helpers to deliver the toys to the Wolfson Children’s Child Life and Music Therapy team.

“This has been a tough year for all children, and even more so for those who required treatment in the hospital,” said Susan Kinnebrew, CCLS, associate director of Family Support Services at Wolfson Children’s. “These toys help bring some joy and encouragement to help children persevere through whatever health battles they are fighting.”

Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and interim chief philanthropy officer for the Baptist Health Foundation, said, “Our community continually steps up to support the patients here at Wolfson Children’s, and Christmas in July was no different in 2021. We are so grateful to everyone who contributed.”

Those who wish to donate toys year-round can do so by visiting the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Amazon wish list. To make a financial contribution to Wolfson Children’s Hospital throughout the year, which allows our Child Life and Music Therapy team to purchase the toys and musical instruments that are needed most, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com/give.

Services provided at Wolfson Children’s Hospital are provided primarily by pediatric physician specialists with Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (for cardiac surgery services) andEmergency Resources Group.

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Wolfson Children’s Hospital relies on the generosity of members of our community. To support Wolfson Children’s Hospital, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.

About Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, is a part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system serving every stage of life. Wolfson Children’s is the only children’s hospital in Northeast Florida and serves as the pediatric referral center for North Florida, South Georgia and beyond. Staffed 24/7 by pediatric nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to work with children, the 216-bed, patient- and family-centered hospital features the latest pediatric medical technology in a welcoming, child-friendly environment. At Wolfson Children’s, nationally recognized pediatric specialists representing nearly every medical and surgical specialty work with pediatricians to provide care for children of all ages with congenital heart conditions, cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and endocrinology disorders, orthopaedic conditions, behavioral health conditions, traumatic injuries, and more. Wolfson Children’s pediatric institutional partners include Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonville and  Mayo Clinic Florida. A Magnet™-designated hospital since 2010, Wolfson Children’s Hospital has been named among the U.S. News & World Report 50 Best Children’s Hospitals year after year, and in 2019, was selected as one of only 10 children’s hospitals in the country as a Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, a recognition of patient quality and safety. For additional information, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.

Jacksonville, Fla., August 3, 2021 – Given the dramatic rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Florida and in anticipation of full FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccines before year-end, Baptist Health today announced that it will require full vaccination for its team members and professional staff by November 15. 

In keeping with the organization’s flu shot policy, Baptist Health will grant exemptions for medical contraindications and sincerely held religious beliefs.

New variants have contributed to a 300% increase in hospitalizations – and, among Baptist Health patients, more than 90% of those hospitalized in recent weeks have been unvaccinated. 

“While we respect personal choice, the aggressive rates of infection resulting from the Delta variant have made it necessary to take this step,” said Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Baptist Health.

“In our defense against new variants invading our region, vaccination is the most powerful tool we have,” stated Timothy Groover, MD, interim Chief Medical Officer at Baptist. “The evidence strongly confirms that COVID-19 vaccination reduces hospitalizations, severity of illness and deaths. In order for us to care for the community, we must remain healthy ourselves.”

“We have been considerate of those with deep concerns about receiving the vaccination,” Mayo continued. “But the time has come to provide a deadline. Consistent with our mission and core values, it is our ethical responsibility to do all we can to protect the health of our patients, team members and the communities we serve.”

The decision to require COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers is supported by numerous medical organizations including the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Nurses Association, American College of Physicians and more. 

“This is an extension of current infection control policy; we already require annual vaccination against flu,” said Vincy Samuel, PhD, MPH, CIC, System Director for Employee Health at Baptist Health. “This year, we will offer COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as annual flu shots, so it will be easy for our team members to get both done at once.”

“With more than 12,500 employees, Baptist Health is the area’s largest private employer, and we feel an obligation to lead by example,” Samuel added. “Given the fact that North Florida is considered an ‘area of substantial or high transmission,’ we have to do it all – vaccination, physical distancing, hand hygiene and masking – to truly protect ourselves and others.”

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About Baptist Health

Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system in Northeast Florida comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; Baptist Clay Medical Campus and Wolfson Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital. All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status for excellence in patient care. Baptist Health is part of Coastal Community Health, a highly integrated regional hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. Baptist Health has the area’s only dedicated heart hospital; orthopeadic institute; women’s services; neurological institute, including comprehensive neurosurgical services, a comprehensive stroke center and two primary stroke centers; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; urgent care services; and primary and specialty care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida. The Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is a regional destination for multidisciplinary cancer care which is clinically integrated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. For more details, visit baptistjax.com.

The News Service of Florida
By NSF Staff

Linda R. Edwards will serve as dean of the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville for a one-year term, and the university will launch a national search to replace Leon L. Haley, Jr., according to a UF Health news release. Haley, who was dean of the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville and chief executive officer of UF Health Jacksonville, died in a watercraft accident July 24 in Palm Beach County.

Edwards is the first woman to head UF College Medicine-Jacksonville since the college expanded into Northeast Florida in 1985. Edwards has been at UF Health Jacksonville since 1981.

“This has been an extremely difficult and challenging time,” said David R. Nelson, senior vice president for health affairs at the University of Florida and president of UF Health. “The loss of Dr. Haley has deeply impacted all of us. But in knowing Dr. Haley and his commitment to the future of UF Health, we are taking steps to ensure his vision of excellence continues in the work we do moving forward.”

DCMS members serving on the Florida Medical Association Delegation to the AMA and participating in the AMA Special Meeting included Drs. Lisa Cosgrove, Mark Dobbertien, Tra'Chella Johnson-Foy, John Montgomery, Ashley Norse, and James St. George. Of note, Dr. Dobbertien was elected to serve as Delegation Secretary and Dr. Johnson-Foy was appointed to the Delegation Executive Committee.

Here are some highlights from the event:

1. AMA details way forward on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, credentials

• There has been a lot of discussion around vaccine credentialing and mandatory vaccination as ways to return to “normal” while states work to reach President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of American adults by Independence Day. Delegates adopted new policies aimed at ensuring the country approaches these issues in a well thought out, equitable way.
• “Given the high rate of asymptomatic transmission in COVID-19, vaccinating the greatest number of individuals possible is critical. While vaccines are highly effective public health tools, vaccine mandates are a blunt instrument and may carry the risk of eroding trust and undermining public health goals,” said Dr. Harmon.
• “We can reach herd immunity with a robust public campaign which would have the benefit of respecting patients’ autonomy and minimize disproportional burdens on marginalized communities,” he added. “Failure to achieve herd immunity is more likely to result in mandates.”

2. U.S. physicians seek aid for other countries battling COVID-19

• With fewer than 3 billion SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses administered worldwide and COVID-19 ravaging countries such as India and Brazil, the HOD took action to promote equitable distribution of resources in response to the pandemic.
• “COVID-19 is a public health and humanitarian crisis,” said AMA Board Chair-elect Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “Even as we in the United States have easy access to vaccines, physicians and numerous organizations across the globe—particularly in low- and middle-income countries—are still risking their lives fighting COVID-19 in conditions where hospital capacity is strained, medical supplies are diminished and community spread is rampant.
• Among other measures, delegates called for a temporary waiver of the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property agreement and other relevant intellectual property protections to boost COVID-19 vaccination worldwide.

3. Call for action to help telehealth flourish post-pandemic

• The use of telehealth exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, but critical issues related to health inequity, state medical licensure requirements, regulation and payment must be addressed for this mode of care to continue to flourish beyond the public health emergency. Delegates took several actions with the aim of doing just that.
• “It is essential for physicians to serve as leading partners in efforts to improve access to telehealth services in historically marginalized and minoritized communities,” said David H. Aizuss, MD, a member of the AMA Board of Trustees. “More of our patients used telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we should take advantage of this opportunity to ensure all our patients are able to benefit from being able to access and use telehealth services—regardless of their background or geographic location.”

4. AMA guidelines offer path to prevent discrimination in medicine

• In response to the urgent and abiding need for strategies to stamp out discrimination in medical settings, the HOD adopted guidelines to help health care organizations establish the policy and organizational culture needed to prevent and address systemic racism, explicit and implicit bias, and microaggressions.
• “Systemic racism in medicine is the most serious barrier to the advancement of health equity and appropriate medical care,” said AMA Trustee Willarda V. Edwards, MD, MBA. The House of Delegates’ actions “will inform the AMA’s active work to proactively identify, prevent and eliminate racism and will help the AMA guide health care organizations in efforts to adopt workplace policies that promote positive cultural transformation and address the root cause of racial health inequities.”

5. Make peer-to-peer prior authorization talks more effective

• Health plans employ prior authorization (PA) and other forms of utilization management (UM) to control access to certain treatments in a bid to cut health care spending. Peer-to-peer (P2P) discussions between physicians and insurance company doctors are too often just another barrier to care, according to an AMA Council on Medical Service report adopted at the AMA Special Meeting. The report details how to reduce the impediments to care associated with the P2P prior authorization process.
• “The rationale behind P2P is to provide a more transparent PA process that is collaborative and appropriately follows relevant clinical guidelines,” says the report. “However, for many treating physicians, P2P review simply represents another time-consuming and potentially detrimental use of UM by insurance companies.”

6. Pragmatic measures address rural health care’s complex challenges

• Long-term solutions are needed to effectively address the health needs of rural Americans and the sustainability of the rural health care system. This includes ensuring adequate payment for services and adjusting value-based payment methodologies that make it more likely that rural hospitals will receive penalties rather than bonuses, according to an AMA Council on Medical Service report adopted at the Special Meeting.
• “On average, rural residents are older, sicker and less likely to have health insurance—a particularly dangerous combination at a time when more than 40% of rural hospitals are at risk of closing,” Dr. Bailey said. “Most of the hospitals at risk of closing are small rural hospitals, serving isolated communities. Without long-term solutions, the health needs of rural populations will not be met. The AMA has long advocated for telehealth as a critical part of effective, efficient and equitable health care delivery, and ensuring telehealth and telephone access in rural communities is particularly important.”

7. Resident physicians should get help to shoulder financial burdens

• One in four medical students graduates with training-related debt that exceeds $200,000, and half report burdens greater than $150,000.
• “Between financial restraints and 80-hour workweeks, trainees often struggle with having the time and budget for necessities. When residency and fellowship programs provide benefits to assist with these needs, it can significantly improve trainee well-being,” said AMA Trustee Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH.
• The AMA will work with stakeholders to advocate for additional ways to defray costs related to residency and fellowship training, including essential amenities or high-cost, specialty-specific equipment required to perform clinical duties.

8. More resources needed to help millions living with “long COVID”

• Up to 10 million Americans are likely to experience post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, often called long COVID. And of those who had COVID-19, 10–30% experienced at least one persistent symptom up to six months after their infection was cleared. The AMA will push for more research, funding and education to help Americans with long COVID.
• “There is much we still don’t know about COVID-19 and while many people with COVID-19 recover in the weeks following illness, we’re seeing patients experiencing symptoms that either last, or appear, many weeks or months after becoming infected,” said AMA Trustee Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD. “Yet, our country currently lacks the necessary resources to adequately support and provide expert care to patients with long-haul COVID. That’s why we must continue following the science and conducting research so we can better understand the short and long-term health impacts of this novel illness.”

9. Require access to Rx for opioid-use disorder in prisons, jails

• More than 90,000 people died from a drug overdose during a 12-month period ending in September—the highest number ever recorded in the U.S. Nearly 5% of those deaths were among people who had been released from prison or jail in the past month.
• “Access to medication treatment in correctional facilities is not only protected by the law, but it is essential for providing evidence-based care for our patients with a substance use disorder,” said AMA Trustee Willie Underwood III, MD, MS, MPH. “We call on all jails, prisons, drug diversion and community re-entry programs to save lives by ensuring access to mental health and substance-use disorder treatment.”

10. Social media networks must crack down on medical misinformation

• The COVID-19 pandemic is the first public health emergency in which social media has been used widely. While more than two-thirds of Americans get their news from at least one social media outlet, that information does not go through the same vetting process that is done by professional news organizations. This allows medical misinformation to be conveyed as real news.
• “With more and more patients relying on social media for information—including medical information—dangerous misinformation about vaccines and public health issues poses a serious risk to patient health,” said Dr. Fryhofer. “We strongly urge social media companies to further bolster their content moderation of medical and public health information, including enhanced content monitoring, augmentation of recommendation engines focused on false information, and stronger integration of verified health information.”

The State of Florida has led the national effort to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and now maintains a sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible Floridian who desires to be vaccinated. The data demonstrates that Florida is positioned to transition to pre-pandemic activities.

In May and June 2020, Florida Medicaid provided guidance on several flexibilities offered to behavioral health providers and Florida Medicaid recipients.

This policy guidance notifies providers that the following flexibilities will end effective July 1, 2021, or when stated otherwise.

Frequency and Duration of Service Limits for Behavioral Health Services: In May and June 2020, Florida Medicaid announced the waiver of Medicaid prior authorization requirements and service limits (frequency and duration) for behavioral health services (this includes targeted case management services) covered under the Medicaid program, and the extension of these waivers.

Effective for dates of service beginning July 1, 2021, service limits will be reinstated for behavioral health services. Effective July 15, 2021, Medicaid prior authorization requirements will be reinstated for behavioral health services.

For services provided to managed care plan enrollees, providers must work with each managed care plan to ensure continuity of care for medically necessary courses of treatment as prior authorizations and service limits are reinstated. In the event a plan member is receiving an ongoing course of treatment with any provider, participating or non-participating, that was begun during the authorized flexibilities for COVID 19 where prior authorization was not required, the managed care plan shall be responsible for the continuation of such course of treatment, without any form of authorization and without regard to whether such services are being provided by participating or non-participating providers for up to sixty (60) days after the effective date.

For questions or further information, providers can call the Florida Medicaid Helpline at 1-877-254-1055.

Jacksonville, Florida, May 21, 2021 – To address the growing children’s mental health crisis by promoting wellness and early intervention, Wolfson Children’s is bringing On Our Sleeves, a national movement for children’s mental health, to the Northeast Florida/Southeast Georgia area.

On Our Sleeves is based upon a simple concept: children don’t wear their thoughts on their sleeves. It can be hard to tell when they are struggling with mental health. On Our Sleeves provides free, easy-to-use educational tools and resources to help parents and caregivers start conversations, boost mental well-being and break stigmas associated with children’s mental health. Each of the icons featured in On Our Sleeves’ materials represents a thought or feeling that can spark a conversation.

“We have seen a significant increase in children admitted to Wolfson Children’s Hospital for mental health crises since the pandemic began, but unfortunately this problem existed long before COVID-19,” said clinical psychologist Terrie Andrews, PhD, administrator for Baptist and Wolfson Children’s Behavioral Health. “The key is to intervene before it becomes an emergency, but adults often don’t know how to check in on a child’s mental health. On Our Sleeves helps facilitate those vitally important conversations.”

Nationally, one in five children is living with a significant mental illness, and half of all lifetime mental health concerns start by age 14. To address the need for accessible resources, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, launched On Our Sleeves in 2018. Since then, their free educational resources have reached more than 2 million people.

“This program has already had a tremendous impact throughout the country, and we are grateful to be able to provide these important materials to parents, educators, health care providers, and other concerned adults in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia,” said Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “We hope our community members and local businesses join us in the movement, as it truly takes a village to ensure children have the chance to grow up to be healthy and productive adults.”

There are several ways to get involved. Visit WolfsonChildrens.com/OnOurSleeves to:

• Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter, featuring actionable, timely mental health information
• Download tips and tools to help facilitate conversations with kids and teens
• Learn how to recognize and respond to children in or at risk of crisis
• Access mental health support services provided by Wolfson Children’s Hospital
• Make a financial gift or raise funds to support the movement for children’s mental health

Wolfson Children’s On Our Sleeves has been generously supported by the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund and Robert and Margaret Hill.

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Wolfson Children’s Hospital relies on the generosity of members of our community. To support Wolfson Children’s Hospital, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.

About Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, is a part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system serving every stage of life. Wolfson Children’s is the only children’s hospital in Northeast Florida and serves as the pediatric referral center for North Florida, South Georgia and beyond. Staffed 24/7 by pediatric nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to work with children, the 216-bed, patient- and family-centered hospital features the latest pediatric medical technology in a welcoming, child-friendly environment. At Wolfson Children’s, nationally recognized pediatric specialists representing nearly every medical and surgical specialty work with pediatricians to provide care for children of all ages with congenital heart conditions, cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and endocrinology disorders, orthopaedic conditions, behavioral health conditions, traumatic injuries, and more. Wolfson Children’s pediatric institutional partners include Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonville and  Mayo Clinic Florida. A Magnet™-designated hospital since 2010, Wolfson Children’s Hospital has been named among the U.S. News & World Report 50 Best Children’s Hospitals year after year, and in 2019, was selected as one of only 10 children’s hospitals in the country as a Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, a recognition of patient quality and safety. For additional information, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.

About On Our Sleeves®
Children don’t wear their thoughts on their sleeves. With 1 in 5 children living with a significant mental health concern and half of all lifetime mental health concerns starting by age 14, we need to give them a voice. On Our Sleeves®, powered by behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, aims to provide every community in America with free resources necessary for breaking child mental health stigmas and educating families and advocates, because no child or family should struggle alone.

Since the inception of On Our Sleeves in 2018, more than 2 million people have interacted with our free pediatric mental health educational resources and our educator curriculums have reached more than 1.1 million students across the United States

Jacksonville, Florida, April 21, 2021 – Leaders from Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist Health and Subaru of Jacksonville gathered Wednesday to celebrate the success of the 13^th annual Share the Love campaign and usher in a new stage of the philanthropic commitment between the local dealership and the region’s only full-service children’s hospital. This year’s compaign resulted in a $125,000 gift to Wolfson Children’s, Subaru’s largest to-date. 

This donation will help fund care and advanced technology to treat critically ill and injured children at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, along with child passenger safety education through THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health at Wolfson Children’s.

During this year’s campaign, Subaru donated $250 for every new vehicle purchased or leased from Subaru of Jacksonville between November 19, 2020, and January 4, 2021. Customers could choose from four national charities for the $250 donation – including ASPCA, Make a Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels and the National Park Foundation – or Subaru of Jacksonville’s hometown charity, Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Subaru of Jacksonville matched every $250 donation, regardless of the charity chosen by the customer, with all matching funds benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Subaru of America and Subaru of Jacksonville donated $2 and $3, respectively, to Wolfson Children’s for every Subaru oil change at the dealership during the campaign.

Subaru of Jacksonville was the first corporate partner to support trauma services at Wolfson Children’s and established the “Subaru of Jacksonville Porter Family Trauma Services Endowment,” creating a legacy of support for generations to come. Since pledging a five-year commitment to Wolfson Children’s in 2016, Subaru of Jacksonville has donated $601,488. This year, Phil Porter, owner of Subaru of Jacksonville, extended the commitment for an additional three years, pledging a total impact of $1.25 million. 

“Over the past five years, it has been an honor and privilege to focus our support during the Subaru Share the Love Event, held annually during November and December,” Porter said. “We're fortunate to have been responsible for donating a total of $601,488 in the name of Subaru of America and Subaru of Jacksonville. Wolfson Children's Hospital touches many in our community and we're proud to support such a worthy cause."

To honor this generous gift, the Wolfson Children’s Pediatric Trauma Center – the only state-designated Pediatric Trauma Center in the region – is now named the Porter Family Children’s Trauma Center. Additionally, Subaru of Jacksonville will be the presenting sponsor of Wolfson Children’s annual summer toy drive, Christmas in July, and will generously support two of Wolfson Children’s signature fundraisers, the Wolfson Children’s Challenge and Smoking Clays for Kids, which raise critical funding for life-saving equipment and technology.

Subaru of Jacksonville, in partnership with Wolfson Children’s Hospital and THE PLAYERS Center for Child Health, will also continue to host free Child Passenger Car Seat Safety Checks the first Friday of each month to ensure children are safe on the roads.

“The services we are able to provide thanks to the continued support of Phil Porter, Subaru of Jacksonville and Subaru of America are truly life-saving,” said Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and interim chief philanthropy officer for the Baptist Health Foundation. “Thanks to their generosity, we are able to advance the care and treatment of the most critically ill and injured children in our hospital, and also provide the community with resources to prevent children from getting injured to begin with.”

In addition to supporting trauma services and child passenger safety, Subaru of Jacksonville has also sponsored the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Auxiliary’s “Wolfie Wagon,” providing children and families in the hospital an opportunity to choose treats, T-shirts, balloons and other goodies at no cost. 

As a not-for-profit organization, Wolfson Children's Hospital relies on charitable donations to provide world-class, specialized pediatric care for all children in the region, regardless of ability to pay. The hospital opened in 1955, with the aid of an initial gift from the Wolfson Family Foundation, as a place for all children to be admitted and treated without regard to creed, religion, race or financial position. That original mission remains today.

Subaru of Jacksonville is a family-owned and run business that was opened in August 2000 by current owner, R. Phillip Porter, in order to serve the people of Jacksonville and surrounding communities including Orange Park, Middleburg and St. Augustine. The Subaru of Jacksonville team lives in the community, works in the community and supports the community through donations, sponsorships, volunteerism and community events. Subaru of Jacksonville was awarded the 2017 Subaru Love Promise Award, a national award given to only one of over 600 dealerships, for their commitment to the community. Subaru of Jacksonville is also the recipient of DealerRater's National Subaru Dealer of the Year Award for 2020 and DealerRater's Florida Subaru Dealer of the Year Award for the seventh year in a row - 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. “We Only Do Subaru - And We Are Passionate About It.”

Services provided at Wolfson Children’s Hospital are provided primarily by pediatric physician specialists with Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (for cardiac surgery services) andEmergency Resources Group.

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Wolfson Children’s Hospital relies on the generosity of members of our community. To support Wolfson Children’s Hospital, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com. 

About Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville
Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, is a part of Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most comprehensive health system serving every stage of life. Wolfson Children’s is the only children’s hospital in Northeast Florida and serves as the pediatric referral center for North Florida, South Georgia and beyond. Staffed 24/7 by pediatric nurses and other healthcare professionals specially trained to work with children, the 216-bed, patient- and family-centered hospital features the latest pediatric medical technology in a welcoming, child-friendly environment. At Wolfson Children’s, nationally recognized pediatric specialists representing nearly every medical and surgical specialty work with pediatricians to provide care for children of all ages with congenital heart conditions, cancer, neurological disorders, diabetes and endocrinology disorders, orthopaedic conditions, behavioral health conditions, traumatic injuries, and more. Wolfson Children’s pediatric institutional partners include Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, the University of Florida College of Medicine—Jacksonvilleand  Mayo Clinic Florida. A Magnet™-designated hospital since 2010, Wolfson Children’s Hospital has been named among the U.S. News & World Report 50 Best Children’s Hospitals year after year, and in 2019, was selected as one of only 10 children’s hospitals in the country as a Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, a recognition of patient quality and safety. For additional information, please visit wolfsonchildrens.com.

Jacksonville, Fla., April 19, 2021 -- Baptist Health and Brett McClung announced today his resignation as the health system’s president and CEO, effective May 1, 2021.

In his statement, Brett said, “This was a difficult decision that I reached after much reflection. It has been a privilege working with what I consider to be the best health care team in northeast Florida and I am proud of all we have accomplished together. Baptist Health has always been financially and reputationally strong, and I know they will continue to be this community’s health care leader.”

Since McClung became president and CEO of Baptist Health on July 1, 2019, the health system has achieved notable accomplishments including top rankings from U.S. News & World Report; straight A’s on The Leapfrog Group Hospital Safety Grades; highest honors for Stroke Gold Plus hospitals for comprehensive stroke care; and formalizing the health system’s strategic plan for achieving a transformational vision of A Lifetime of Health, Together.

Richard Sisisky, chairman of the Baptist Health board of directors, said, “On behalf of the Board, we thank Brett for his service and accomplishments during his tenure as CEO. We are grateful for his leadership and we wish Brett and his family the very best.”

Sisisky continued, “We are fortunate to have Michael Mayo, DHA, hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, assume the role of interim president and CEO of Baptist Health. Michael and the rest of our outstanding leadership team will ensure a continued focus on excellence as the Board conducts a thorough internal and external search in the coming months.”

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About Baptist Health   Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven, locally governed system in Northeast Florida comprised of more than 200 points of care including five Magnet-designated hospitals: Baptist Jacksonville; Baptist Beaches; Baptist Nassau; Baptist South; and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Ranked as the community’s most preferred health care provider, Baptist Health is rated AA Stable by Standard & Poors. Baptist Health is the area’s most comprehensive health system with numerous areas of distinction including the region’s only children’s hospital; a dedicated heart hospital; neurological institute; and Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, which is clinically integrated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. For more details, visit baptistjax.com

Jacksonville, Fla., April 1, 2021 – Continuing to offer a full spectrum of care for vascular diseases using the most state-of-the-art technology available, Baptist Health is the first health system in the southeastern United States to introduce the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved Gore EXCLUDER® Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis to treat aneurysms found inside the largest blood vessel of the body. The health system implanted its first such device on March 31.

This device permanently seals off aneurysms located in the abdominal section of the aorta and maintains the pathway for blood to circulate unobstructed. The device can be implanted while a patient is under local, regional or general anesthesia through a small puncture site in the groin, eliminating the need for invasive, open surgery to restore blood flow.

Implanted by a physician using real-time X-ray imaging called fluoroscopy, the device is made up of two pieces, a flexible body created from a long-lasting synthetic material and a sturdy outer metal stent structure. When inserted, it reduces blood loss compared to traditional, open surgery where the abdomen is cut open to access the aneurysm, speeding recovery and helping patients leave the hospital faster following their procedure.

Erin Moore, MD, FACS, RPVI, vascular surgeon at Baptist Health, is one of six physicians in the U.S. to be the first to offer this device to patients affected by abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).

“AAAs can cause the largest blood vessel in a patient’s body, the aorta, to swell to several times its normal size. If the aneurysm grows too large, it can rupture, resulting in significant injury or even death,” Dr. Moore said. “This device eliminates the risk of aortic aneurysm rupture through a low-risk, minimally invasive intervention and will significantly improve the peace of mind for AAA patients post-procedure.”

Before being approved by the FDA, an 80-patient study was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of the prosthesis.  Leading the way in innovative research that will transform the way health systems care for those affected by vascular disease, two Baptist Health patients are currently participating in a secondary arm of a clinical trial to further evaluate the device’s efficacy. Results from the trial will be available in early summer 2021. 

Implantations of the new device will be performed in the cardiovascular operating room located at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville.

About Baptist Health

Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system in Northeast Florida comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; Baptist Clay Medical Campus and Wolfson Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital.  All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status for excellence in patient care. Baptist Health is part of Coastal Community Health, a highly integrated regional hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. Baptist Health has the area’s only dedicated heart hospital; orthopedic institute; women’s services; neurological institute, including comprehensive neurosurgical services, a comprehensive stroke center and two primary stroke centers; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; urgent care services; and primary and specialty care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida. The Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is a regional destination for multidisciplinary cancer care which is clinically integrated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. For more details, visit baptistjax.com.

Jacksonville, Fla., March 29, 2021 – Brett McClung, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health, has been appointed as a state delegate of Regional Policy Board for Region 4 (Southeastern United States) with the American Hospital Association (AHA). The AHA is the national organization that represents hospitals and health care networks throughout the U.S. and serves their patients and communities through advocacy, representation, knowledge exchange, and thought leadership. The appointment is effective through 2024. 

A total of nine AHA Regional Policy Boards provide input on public policy issues considered by the Board of Trustees, serve on policy development committees when appropriate, and identify needs unique to a region to assist in developing programs that meet those needs.

“I look forward to working alongside other delegates in considering policies that further stabilize our vital and dynamic industry following the pandemic,” said Brett McClung, FACHE, president and CEO of Baptist Health. “I am energized about improving access to health care, and positively impacting the health of all who live in our region.”

Since becoming president and CEO of Baptist Health on July 1, 2019, McClung has led the health system through notable accomplishments, including top rankings from U.S. News & World Report; national recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for continued commitment to LGBT+-inclusive health care; straight As from the Leapfrog Group for the highest quality and safety rankings; inclusion on Becker’s Top 100 Great Hospitals list; the highest honor for Stroke Gold Plus hospitals for comprehensive stroke care; and the development of the health system’s innovative 5-point strategy.

With McClung’s appointment, Baptist Health joins nine health systems representing Florida on the policy board, including:

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About Baptist Health

Baptist Health is a faith-based, mission-driven system in Northeast Florida comprised of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville; Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Baptist Medical Center South; Baptist Clay Medical Campus and Wolfson Children’s Hospital– the region’s only children’s hospital.  All Baptist Health hospitals, along with Baptist Home Health Care, have achieved Magnet™ status for excellence in patient care. Baptist Health is part of Coastal Community Health, a highly integrated regional hospital network focused on significant initiatives designed to enhance the quality and value of care provided to our contiguous communities. Baptist Health has the area’s only dedicated heart hospital; orthopedic institute; women’s services; neurological institute, including comprehensive neurosurgical services, a comprehensive stroke center and two primary stroke centers; a Bariatric Center of Excellence; a full range of psychology and psychiatry services; urgent care services; and primary and specialty care physicians’ offices throughout Northeast Florida. The Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is a regional destination for multidisciplinary cancer care which is clinically integrated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center, the internationally renowned cancer treatment and research institution in Houston. For more details, visit baptistjax.com.

This afternoon, the Senate voted 90-2 to pass an agreement reached by Leaders Schumer and McConnell to extend the 2 percent Medicare sequester moratorium that expires on April 1. The bipartisan legislation, offered as an amendment by Senators Shaheen and Collins, would provide a nine-month extension of the moratorium, through December 31. It also contains some technical corrections related to rural health clinics and disproportionate share hospitals.

The House of Representatives passed different legislation earlier that would both extend the moratorium through the end of the pandemic and eliminate an additional 4 percent Medicare sequester scheduled to take effect on January 1, which was required by PayGo rules to offset part of the cost of passing the American Rescue Plan COVID-19/stimulus package. Consequently, the House will need to pass the Senate language when it returns from its Easter recess in mid-April. The House is expected to vote favorably, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to hold off on processing April claims until then to avoid making reduced payments.

Physician and other stakeholder groups affected by the upcoming 4% sequester scheduled for January 1 expect legislation to be considered later in the year to waive those cuts.

The Florida SHOTS system, the system that records and maintains Florida vaccination records including COVID-19 vaccinations, will be unavailable beginning on March 27, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. EST and will return to service on March 28, 2021 at 8:00 A.M. EST. The reason the Florida SHOTS system will be unavailable is because the system is migrating to a new server to improve and protect the system.

During the time when the Florida SHOTS system is unavailable, both users who enter data directly into the system and users who upload spreadsheets into the system will not have the ability to access the system for either data entry or spreadsheet upload.

The Florida SHOTS team is also working with electronic health record software companies to ensure that any data transmitted from providers and hospitals through their electronic health records during this time is effectively received by the Florida SHOTS system as soon as it is back online at 8:00 A.M. EST on March 28, 2021.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Florida SHOTS Help Desk by email at flshots@flhealth.gov or by phone at 877-888-7468. Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M-5:00 P.M. EST.

Jacksonville, Fla. (March 17, 2021) – Ascension St. Vincent’s is the first health system in Florida to participate in a clinical trial for an investigational treatment option for patients who have frequent Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations, also known as lung attacks.

The AIRFLOW-3 Clinical Trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of targeted lung denervation (TLD), a bronchoscopic intervention designed to disrupt pulmonary nerve reflexes, which may reduce COPD lung attacks. Ascension St. Vincent’s began enrolling patients in the trial in February.

Pulmonologist Dr. Jose Soto-Soto and team recently successfully treated a COPD patient with TLD therapy in an hour-long outpatient procedure at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside.

“Many of our COPD patients experience lung attacks that can’t be controlled with their inhaler medications,” said Dr. Soto-Soto. “As doctors, we should embrace the development of interventional therapies that can potentially stabilize COPD patients and help reduce their risk of exacerbation. We are excited about the potential of using this investigational treatment for some of our patients as part of this clinical trial.”

COPD is a group of diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis that can cause breathing-related problems and block airflow. Symptoms include frequent coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath, trouble taking a deep breath, and producing excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and more than 50 percent of adults with low lung function didn’t realize that they had COPD, so the actual number could be even higher.

“We always want to keep advancing the level of high-quality, personalized, and compassionate care that we provide,” said Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Estrellita Redmon. “When any of us have a healthcare need, we want to have options for treatment, so we’re grateful for the opportunity to offer this exciting new option to qualifying patients. Individuals who participate in this clinical trial are potentially helping improve COPD care for patients everywhere.”

The AIRFLOW-3 Clinical Trial is enrolling COPD patients in up to 25 centers across the U.S. and additional centers in Europe.

Patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, high symptom burden, and a history of COPD flare-ups may qualify for the clinical trial. Patients who think they may qualify can learn more by calling (904) 308-5761. To learn more about Ascension St. Vincent’s, visit www.jaxhealth.com.

About Ascension St. Vincent’s

Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast includes Ascension St. Vincent’s based in Jacksonville, Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart based in Pensacola, Florida, and Ascension Providence in Mobile, Alabama. Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast operates nine hospitals and more than 200 other sites of care, employing more than 13,000 associates. Across the region, Ascension Providence, Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension St. Vincent’s have served North Florida and South Alabama communities for more than 165 years. In fiscal year 2020, Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast provided more than $237 million in community benefit and care of persons living in poverty. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As the largest non-profit and Catholic health system in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. The national health system operates more than 2,600 sites of care – including 145 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia, while providing a variety of services including clinical and network services, venture capital investing, investment management, biomedical engineering, facilities management, risk management, and contracting through Ascension’s own group purchasing organization. Visit www.ascension.org.

On March 15, CMS increased the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. This new and higher payment rate will support important actions taken by providers that are designed to increase the number of vaccines they can furnish each day, including establishing new or growing existing vaccination sites, conducting patient outreach and education, and hiring additional staff. At a time when vaccine supply is growing, CMS is supporting provider efforts to expand capacity and ensure that all Americans can be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.

Effective for COVID-19 vaccines administered on or after March 15, 2021, the national average payment rate for physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, and many other immunizers will be $40 to administer each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This represents an increase from approximately $28 to $40 for the administration of single-dose vaccines and an increase from approximately $45 to $80 for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines requiring two doses. The exact payment rate for administration of each dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will depend on the type of entity that furnishes the service and will be geographically adjusted based on where the service is furnished.

These updates to the Medicare payment rate for COVID-19 vaccine administration reflect new information about the costs involved in administering the vaccine for different types of providers and suppliers, and the additional resources necessary to ensure the vaccine is administered safely and appropriately.

CMS is updating the set of toolkits for providers, states, and insurers to help the health care system swiftly administer the vaccine with these new Medicare payment rates. These resources are designed to increase the number of providers that can administer the vaccine, ensure adequate payment for administering the vaccine to Medicare beneficiaries, and make it clear that no beneficiary, whether covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, should pay cost-sharing for the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Coverage of COVID-19 Vaccines:

As a condition of receiving free COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government, vaccine providers are prohibited from charging patients any amount for administration of the vaccine. To ensure broad and consistent coverage across programs and payers, the toolkits have specific information for several programs, including:

Medicare: Beneficiaries with Medicare pay nothing for COVID-19 vaccines and there is no applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible.

Medicare Advantage (MA): For calendar years 2020 and 2021, Medicare will pay providers directly for the COVID-19 vaccine (if they do not receive it for free) and its administration for beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans. MA plans are not responsible for paying providers to administer the vaccine to MA enrollees during this time. Like beneficiaries in Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage enrollees also pay no cost-sharing for COVID-19 vaccines.

Medicaid: State Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program agencies must provide vaccine administration with no cost sharing for nearly all beneficiaries during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and at least one year after it ends. Through the American Rescue Plan Act signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, the COVID vaccine administration will be fully federally funded. The law also provides an expansion of individuals eligible for vaccine administration coverage. There will be more information provided in upcoming updates to the Medicaid toolkit.

Private Plans: CMS, along with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, is requiring that most private health plans and issuers cover the COVID-19 vaccine and its administration, both in-network and out-of-network, with no cost sharing during the PHE. Current regulations provide that out-of-network rates must be reasonable, as compared to prevailing market rates, and reference the Medicare reimbursement rates as a potential guideline for insurance companies. In light of CMS’s increased Medicare payment rates, CMS will expect commercial carriers to continue to ensure that their rates are reasonable in comparison to prevailing market rates.

Uninsured: For individuals who are uninsured, providers may submit claims for reimbursement for administering the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals without insurance through the Provider Relief Fund, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

More Information:

·   Medicare COVID-19 Vaccine Shot Payment webpage: Payment for COVID-19 vaccine administration, including a list of billing codes, payment allowances, and effective dates

·   CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Requirements and Support webpage: How the COVID-19 vaccine is provided at 100% no cost to recipients

·   HRSA COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured webpage