Forum planned Sept. 16 as hospital trustees look at how to spend millions

Ocala Star Banner
By Fred Hiers

The Hospital District trustees are making progress in their effort to address chronic illnesses and other health problems that plague Marion County.

The trustees recently hired a Massachusetts-based nonprofit and tasked it with three jobs: help organize the district’s efforts to determine the best way to address the county’s healthcare problems; help select local groups that need funding to help tackle these problems; and find ways to measure whether the district’s efforts are productive.

The district last week agreed to […]

Tampa Bay Times
By Kathleen McGrory

Families wishing to drop their Florida Healthy Kids insurance plans can purchase new plans through the Obamacare marketplace, Florida Healthy Kids officials said.

The special enrollment period ends Nov. 30.

Federal officials decided to open enrollment for some 36,000 Florida families who pay the full rate for Healthy Kids coverage because their monthly premiums are set to double come Oct. 1.

Some of those families had been told they would have to wait for Nov. 1, when the Affordable Care Act marketplace will […]

Ocala Post

Insurance rates for children enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids full pay insurance plan are going to almost double on October 1, 2015. In response, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or “Obamacare,” is extending its Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to allow families impacted by the rate increase to enroll in health insurance on Healthcare.gov.

The Florida Healthy Kids Health insurance program — a Florida KidCare partner — is a program that offers low-cost health insurance for children ages 5 to 18 who are not eligible for […]

The Ocala Star Banner

Millions of dollars will soon be available to invest in improving health care in Ocala/Marion County, and there is no shortage of areas in need of a financial shot in the arm.

The Marion County Hospital District trustees on Monday approved a long-term strategic plan, hired a nationally recognized consulting firm that specializes in improving health care delivery and outcomes and moved to create a community Health Alliance of stakeholders in a healthier community.

It is part of a strategy aimed at maximizing the […]

Ocala Star Banner
By Fred Hiers

Improving the health of Marion County’s residents will not happen easily or soon.

But with a U.S. Centers for Disease Control $1.3 million grant for Marion County to focus on addressing avoidable chronic diseases, Maclyn Walker, project director of Measure Up Marion, hopes to make a dent.

Measure Up Marion was a product of Marion’s 2012 Community Health Improvement Plan. The study took comprehensive stock of the county’s health problems, such as the area’s high diabetes, obesity and heart disease rates, as […]

Health News Florida
By Daylina Miller

The families of more than 35,000 children enrolled in the Florida Healthy Kids program will soon have to choose between two more expensive plans, or find new insurance.

The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation recently sent a letter to parents enrolled in the full-pay program earlier this month. It said new requirements in the Affordable Care Act forced them to either raise their rates or shut down the full-pay program, which is part of the Florida KidCare program that serves about 400,000 […]

Ocala Star Banner
By Fred Hiers

The Marion County Hospital District now has the beginnings of a framework by which it can decide how to financially support Marion County healthcare endeavors.

The district, which owns Munroe Regional Medical Center on behalf of the public, but leased it a year ago to a national healthcare conglomerate, commissioned a survey of Marion County’s healthcare needs. It now has the preliminary results, and on Aug. 24 consultants will present their findings. The public is invited to attend.

The district will […]