Steering group targets Medicaid outreach

Citrus County Chronicle
By Chris Van Ormer

INVERNESS — Not all county residents who are eligible for Medicaid, a federal health care program, are getting its benefits, a group of care providers said Thursday.

“For Medicaid, the county has a lower rate than the state rate,” said Lindsey Redding, associate planner with the WellFlorida Council, a private, nonprofit organization that is state-designated to offer health consultancy for clients and projects.

“Overall, 15.6 percent of the county’s residents are eligible to receive Medicaid, which is lower than the state […]

WUFT News, January 16, 2013
With the county ranking in the bottom 25 percent based on factors such as chronic illness and death, according to a news release, a new awareness program is necessary, said Marion County’s Health Department spokesman Craig Ackerman.

Marion County partners are developing the Community Health Improvement Plan, also known as CHIP, which will raise health care awareness throughout the county.

This is not just another health care project, Ackerman insisted.

“The first thing we are planning to do is to bring together a group […]

WCJB TV-20, January 15, 2012
Its a New Year’s resolution for the entire county; to get in shape.

Officials with the Health Department, United Way, WellFlorida Council and other agencies gathered to talk about key health issues in Marion County.

A study showed that Marion County is ranked 17th in Clinic Care Delivery.
But in other categories such as death rates, Marion County came in at number 48.

These folks think that building partnerships and awareness can improve the overall health of Marion County.

“It’s not about more hours […]

The Independent Florida Alligator, January 15, 2013
North Central Florida has the highest cancer mortality rate in the state, according to a recent report from a Florida Department of Health cancer control initiative.

The death rate of all cancers in the region is 28 percent higher than the rest of the state, according to the 2013 North Central Florida Cancer Report.

The report compared cancer death rates, incidence rates, emergency room visits and hospital discharge data from 11 counties including Alachua, Bradford and Levy counties.

Although the number […]

Ocala Star Banner, January 14, 2013
Improving Marion County’s health profile will require a coordinated, community effort.

That was the conclusion of a team of more than 50 community organizations, health experts and businesses after a two-year study and meetings that addressed the county’s comparatively high mortality and morbidity rates — and the social factors that contribute to them.

Members of the group met on Monday at the United Way of Marion County to lay out plans to address those health problems, which have left Marion ranked […]

WellFlorida News Release
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (January 7, 2013)— North Central Florida has the highest cancer mortality rates in the state. The recently released North Central Florida Cancer Report 2013 points to the need for cancer control efforts in our region, especially in rural areas where the burden of cancer is greatest.

The report, produced by WellFlorida Council for the North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (NCFCCC), includes a wide range of cancer data such as cancer death rates, cancer incidence rates, cancer related emergency room visits […]

WellFlorida News Release
GAINESVILLE, Fla.(Nov. 14, 2012)— The rate of cancer in North Central Florida is nearly 28 percent higher than the rate for the state of Florida. To be a part of a community-based solution to this issue, join the North Central Florida Cancer Control Collaborative (NCFCCC) at its next meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012.

The meeting will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Senior Recreation Center located at 5701 NW 34th St. Gainesville.  Refreshments will be provided.

The overall purpose of […]

WellFlorida News Release
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Oct. 22, 2012)— WellFlorida received funding from the Florida Department of Health to launch a statewide HIV prevention study to better understand the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of men who have sex with men (MSM).

MSM who are Florida residents and above the age of 18 can contribute to the study by participating in the Florida MSM HIV Prevention Survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FLMSMNA.

The survey is confidential and can be completed in five to ten minutes. Survey questions address prevention issues pertaining […]

WellFlorida News Release
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2012)— Jeff Feller has been promoted to chief executive officer of WellFlorida Council Inc., a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) located in Gainesville. WellFlorida is the state designated local health planning council for North Central Florida and specializes in health consultancy for clients and projects throughout the state. Feller has over 16 years of service with the organization as he advanced from associate planner in 1996 to chief operations officer in 2008. In his current role, Feller will provide executive […]

Gainesville Sun, August 1, 2012
Florida has had its challenges with HIV/AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. Most recently there have been struggles to meet the needs of HIV-positive individuals on the Florida ADAP list, and a restructuring of the State Bureau of HIV. And, well, the rates of HIV infection speak for themselves. But today we can say that we are being heard! Let’s hear it for Florida leadership on HIV, thanks to Congressman Hastings!

On Thursday, July 26, Congressman Alcee Hastings of South […]