Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Featured

Featured

UNF Professor Named American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow

Posted on

Dr. Shyam Paryani, University of North Florida health administration instructor and CEO of Medical & Dental Consultants, was recently named a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the leading professional society for health care leaders.

“I am delighted that Dr. Paryani has received this tremendous honor,” said Dr. Mei Zhao, UNF Department of Health Administration chair. “He has been an incredible asset to our department and students. His hard work and dedication to furthering the health administration field, as well as the local community, is inspiring.”

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development. To obtain this honor, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including meeting academic/experiential criteria, earning continuing education hours, demonstrating professional/community involvement, passing a comprehensive examination, committing to ongoing professional development and undergoing recertification every three years.

“I am extremely honored,” said Paryani, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident. “This is the culmination of my membership in this organization spanning my career as a health care professional.”

Paryani is an engineer, nuclear physicist, physician, scientist, teacher, innovator, entrepreneur as well as philanthropist. His current research is in quality management in health care. Paryani is leading efforts to develop policy for health care reform in Florida as chairman of the non-profit community organization, Floridians Advocating Insurance Reform.

Paryani served on UNF’s Foundation Board, College of Health Dean’s Council and the Health Administration Advisory Board. He was honored as UNF’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2007 and Distinguished Alumnus of the Department of Health Administration in 2017.

Additionally, he co-founded the Florida Radiation Oncology Group in 1983. Keeping alive his passion for education, he founded the Continuing Medical Education (CME) program at Memorial Hospital in 1991 and has served as chairman of the CME Committee for over 20 years. He has also served on the Florida Medical Association CME Committee for Accreditation since 1995 in various capacities, including chairman and surveyor.

Paryani earned his doctoral degree in internal medicine at the University of Texas and M.D. Anderson Hospital. He completed further training in radiation oncology at Stanford University. Paryani graduated from the University of Florida with a nuclear engineering/radiation physics master’s degree and graduated magna cum lade with an electrical engineering bachelor’s degree. He earned a second master’s in health administration from UNF in 2002, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Gov. Scott: Congress Should Act Against Nicaragua’s Daniel Ortega

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott today issued the following statement regarding Nicaragua.

Governor Scott said, “The violence by the government of President Daniel Ortega against his own citizens in Nicaragua cannot be tolerated. The U.S. Department of State did the right thing by removing Americans from the embassy in Managua who were in danger by this corrupt regime that continues to deny its citizens basic human rights. The United States must stand for justice and democracy and we must do our part to help those who are subject to injustice and government corruption.

“In 2016, Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen sponsored, with seven members of the Florida congressional delegation co-sponsoring, the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act, which passed the U.S. House unanimously. This Act seeks to implement economic restrictions on Nicaragua until they stop the unacceptable behavior of the Ortega regime. Similar to how we have put the tyrannical Maduro regime in Venezuela on notice in Florida, we must take a stand against this corrupt regime. I urge Congress to take action to pass this Act and send a clear message that the injustices the Nicaraguan people are enduring will not be tolerated by the United States.”

Cortes to Provide Leadership in National Hispanic Legislators Organization

Posted on

The District 30 State Representative has been appointed as South
Region Chair of the National Hispanic Council of State Legislators

State Representative Bob Cortes today announced that he has been appointed South Region Chair of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL). He will also serve as a member of the Executive Committee Leadership through 2019. The NHCSL includes Hispanic legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States, and it serves as a catalyst for action on issues of concern to the Hispanic community.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Florida, and I’m honored to be selected,” said Cortes. “I look forward to providing leadership in our region and working with legislators from around the country to meet the challenges we face regarding housing, immigration, education, and healthcare.”

The nonpartisan, nonprofit NHCSL was founded in 1989 to be the foremost organization representing the interests of Hispanic state legislators. Its Executive Committee, which Cortes will help lead, sets the agenda for the organization’s policy priorities and works with other stakeholders to advocate on behalf of the Hispanic community.

ON THE WEB:  bobcortes.com

Paid by Bob Cortes, Republican, for State Representative

AHCA Announces the Award of New Contracts for the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program

Posted on

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) today announced its intent to award contracts to nine health plans as a result of the re-procurement of the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program. Florida law mandates that SMMC health plans be re-procured every 5 years; this was the first re-procurement. Through a regular, established competitive procurement process, the Agency negotiated and selected health plans to provide Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) and Long-term Care (LTC) services to the more than 3 million Floridians enrolled in the SMMC program.

The Agency’s negotiation team, made up of experts in the field of Medicaid and managed care, have negotiated the broadest benefit package ever available to Florida Medicaid recipients. This includes a wide array of added benefits available to health plan enrollees at no additional cost to the State of Florida. The enhanced benefit package negotiated is the most abundant ever available to Florida Medicaid recipients and includes, for the first time, a variety of extra benefits focused on substance abuse treatment and mental health, including intensive outpatient treatment, group and individual therapy, enhanced pain management services to provide alternatives to the use of opioids, and additional medication assisted treatment options. Health plans have agreed to continue to offer adults preventative benefits such as adult dental preventative and treatment services. In all, more than 55 additional benefits will be offered.

Further benefits for participating providers were also achieved, including additional enhanced payments to pediatric providers under the Medicaid Physician Incentive Program (MPIP).

In the Invitations to Negotiate for this procurement, released in July of 2017, the Agency laid out three primarily quality related goals for the program, including reducing potentially preventable inpatient and outpatient hospital events (e.g., hospitalizations and trips to the emergency department); improving birth outcomes; and increasing the percentage of enrollees receiving long-term care services in the community instead of a nursing facility. The Agency has negotiated commitments from each of the awarded plans to aggressively pursue these goals, including plan specific reductions in the percentage of potentially preventable healthcare events and adverse birth outcomes and continued rate incentives for transition to community based services for LTC recipients even after statutory benchmarks for transition are met.

In addition, there are several enhancements which will aid in combatting the opioid epidemic, including alternative pain management, greater access to medication assisted treatment options, and additional tools to reduce the incidence of babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).  Access to providers will be enhanced through coverage parity via telemedicine for all covered services.

For the first time in the history of the Florida Medicaid program, those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or a serious mental illness will have the option to enroll in a specialty plan specifically designed to serve those diagnoses, in every region and every county of the state. A specialty plan focused on serving children in Florida’s child welfare system will also be available statewide.

In addition, the awards will bring two new provider-based health plans, known as Provider Service Networks, or PSNs, into the Florida Medicaid program to serve recipients receiving MMA and LTC services.

Upon posting the intended awards, the Agency will remain in a blackout period for the next 72 hours. Florida law provides an opportunity for respondents who did not receive an award the option to challenge the result.

All information regarding the Agency’s solicitations is posted via the Vendor Bid System can be found by clicking here.

The solicitation numbers for Statewide Medicaid Managed Care are AHCA ITN 001-17/18 – Region 1 through AHCA ITN 011-17/18 – Region 11.

Matt Caldwell Announces Endorsements from Key Leaders

Posted on

Announces Additional Support from Constitutional
Officers in Bid for Commissioner of Agriculture

Representative Matt Caldwell announced the endorsements of constitutional officers from Florida’s Panhandle, in the ninth wave of endorsements announced by the campaign, which follows the unanimous support of Republican House members from across Florida. Since launching his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Representative Caldwell hastraveled the Sunshine State talking to voters, sharing his conservative message and buildingsupport for his grassroots campaign, which has raised more than $1.71 million to date and has over $1 million cash-on-hand.

Representative Caldwell said, “I’m proud to receive the endorsements of these Constitutional Officers in the Panhandle.  Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture will work closely with these key leaders to support businesses and families across the Sunshine State and I am honored that they have placed their trust in me.”

The ninth wave of endorsements includes:

  • Scott Lunsford, Tax Collector (Escambia)
  • Robert Johnson, Sheriff (Santa Rosa)
  • Wendell Holmes, Sheriff (Retired, Santa Rosa)
  • Gregory Brown, Property Appraiser (Santa Rosa)
  • Larry Ashley, Sheriff (Okaloosa)
  • J.D. Peacock, Clerk of Courts (Okaloosa)
  • John Tate, Sheriff (Holmes)
  • Harry Bell, Tax Collector (Holmes)
  • Bryan Bell, Property Appraiser (Holmes)
  • A.J. Smith, Sheriff (Franklin)

These endorsements join the unanimous support of the Panhandle Florida House members, US Congressman Matt Gaetz, and Walton County Sheriff Mike Adkinson.

The Commissioner of Agriculture serves as a member of the Florida Cabinet and is critical to the foundation of Florida’s economy. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services helps the agricultural industry with its daily challenges, promotes Florida’s agricultural commodities, manages state forests, safeguards consumers, implements the school lunch program, and oversees the concealed-weapon license system.

The campaign previously announced the endorsements of Republican House members from the Panhandle, Northeast Florida, Central Florida, Southwest Florida, and South Florida delegations. This is in addition to endorsements from the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, former candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture Paul Paulson, and a number of county constitutional officers.

Additionally, the campaign has announced the launch of the #2LaneTravels webpage to highlight the campaign travels across the Sunshine State in his bid for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.

Traffic Pacing Operation on Southbound I-95

Posted on

Motorists traveling on southbound Interstate 95 (I-95) in Brevard and Indian River counties may encounter a traffic pacing operation this Wednesday and Thursday from about 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The operation is needed to safely transport and set bridge beams for the new St. Johns Heritage Parkway interchange near Micco Road.

The 7-mile pacing operation will be conducted by Florida Highway Patrol troopers. Southbound traffic will be slowed to 15 mph beginning at the State Road (S.R.) 514/Malabar Road entrance ramp. Troopers will then pace traffic through the construction area.

Please note construction schedules may change due to weather or other circumstances. Electronic message boards will be used to alert motorists to lane closures and detours. Updates will be available on the FDOT’s Central Florida website CFLRoads.com.

Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT Communications Office at 386-943-5479 or [email protected].

FDOT advises drivers to slow down and use extra caution in construction zones.

Sen. Bean & Rep. Byrd Present $450,000 in State Funding to City of Fernandina Beach

Posted on

On behalf of the State of Florida, State Senator Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) and State Representative Cord Byrd (R-Neptune Beach) last week presented a $450,000 check on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, to Fernandina Beach Mayor Johnny Miller and the Fernandina Beach City Commission. During the 2018 Legislative Session, Senator Bean and Representative Byrd worked hand-in-hand advocating for $450,000 in state funding for the City of Fernandina Beach for crucial shoreline stabilization to the city’s waterfront marina seawall.

“The seawall of Fernandina Beach’s marina sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Irma and has resulted in severe flooding in the downtown area,” said Senator Bean. “This state funding will help the City of Fernandina Beach replace the deteriorating marina seawall, which will ensure the preservation of our historic downtown for future generations.”

“Working alongside Senator Bean this past session toward securing vital funding for critical projects in our area, like this one, I am happy to be able to present the funding for this crucial project,” said Representative Byrd. “The Stormwater Shoreline Stabilization project will improve the city’s marina seawall and better serve residents by protecting the historical downtown area from future flooding.”

The City of Fernandina Beach’s Stormwater Shoreline Stabilization project intends to reduce flooding in the city’s downtown by replacing 270 linear feet of the existing marina seawall. Once installed, the new seawall will be four feet taller than its failed predecessor and will better defend downtown Fernandina Beach from future storm surges and subsequent damage.

“The City of Fernandina Beach thanks Senator Bean and Representative Byrd for helping secure this critical funding during the 2018 Legislative Session,” said Mayor Miller. “It will allow us to make drastic improvements to the marina’s seawall, which will better protect downtown Fernandina Beach if and when the next storm hits.”

Senator Bean represents Senate District 4, which includes parts of Nassau and Duval Counties. He can be contacted in Tallahassee at (850) 487-5004 or in his District Office at (904) 757-5039.

Qualifying Period Approaching

Posted on

Qualifying Period for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Judicial, State Attorney (20th
Circuit Only) and Public Defender (20th Circuit Only) is Noon, April 30 – Noon, May 4

Secretary of State Ken Detzner released the following statement regarding the upcoming qualifying period approaching for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Judicial, State Attorney (20th Circuit only) and Public Defender (20th Circuit only) candidates from noon, April 30 to noon, May 4. Qualifying papers are currently being accepted, pursuant to Section 99.061(8) F.S., which permits qualifying papers to be submitted 14 days prior to the beginning of the qualifying period.

“2018 will be a busy election year in Florida, and I encourage all candidates who plan to run for office to file qualifying papers within the permissible window,” said Secretary Detzner. “Information about qualifying is available on the Division of Elections’ website and the Division’s staff is here to help.”

The Division of Elections website will be updated as qualifying paperwork is received for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Judicial, State Attorney (20th Circuit only) and Public Defender (20th Circuit only) candidates.

Three UT Students Make Top Finishes at Hedge Fund Competition

Posted on

A University of Tampa MBA student received top place, and another UT team scored in the top five, at the second annual Southeastern Hedge Fund Competition in Atlanta last week.

Nick Koen won first place and a $10,000 prize. The team of UT seniors Edward Morris and Victor Philaire also finished as a top five finalist.

The objective of the competition is for university students to propose an investment strategy that is attractive to a hedge fund.

Don Flagg and Jeff Donaldson, both UT associate professors of finance, served as UT’s faculty coordinators.

A total of 21 universities participated in the competition. The other finalists included teams from University of York (UK), University of Delaware and University of South Carolina. Other university teams represented Duke University, MIT, Georgia Tech, University of Central Florida and University of Chicago.

Last year, a UT team that included Koen received second place.

This year’s competition was held at Georgia State University’s Buckhead Center and hosted by The Southeastern Hedge Fund Association and Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

Last year, UT students from the Sykes College of Business won first place in the inaugural CFA Tampa Bay Society Ethics Competition. In the past UT students won first place at a Global Student Investment Forum, and the Tampa Bay ACG (Association for Corporate Growth) Cup competition.

2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence Honor Four Teachers

Posted on

Four Jacksonville teachers were recently surprised in their classrooms with the 2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence, which were established by Gilchrist Berg, founder and president of Water Street Capital, to honor teachers who have had lifelong careers in teaching and inspiring students. [Read more…] about 2018 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence Honor Four Teachers