Agency for Health Care Administration

Christopher Kimball steps into the post as the state’s medical marijuana industry could be poised to double in size and as challenges pile up over the decision to award a sought-after license to a Black farmer.

In its lawsuit, the Agency for Health Care Administration said Florida’s effort to move forward with an importation program “is stuck in the starting blocks” and accused the FDA of dragging its feet.

The disputes involve budget fine print that directed money to AHCA to adjust reimbursement rates so Medicaid providers would pay at least $15 an hour to "direct care" employees

Members of the Florida Board of Medicine and Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine joint committee voted on a draft rule that would restrict doctors from providing treatments to trans people under age 18.

The high court decided to let stand a decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of the U.S. Department of Justice in a nearly decade-long legal battle.

Under the rule, the Medicaid program would not cover puberty-blocking medication, hormones and hormone “antagonists,” gender affirmation surgeries and any “other procedures that alter primary or secondary sexual characteristics.” It goes into effect Aug. 21.

Seven out-of-state scientists and a Yale law professor say the proposal ignores “established science” and relies on "biased and discredited sources, stereotyping and purported ‘expert’ reports that carry no scientific weight.”

A meeting drew more than 150 people, with supporters of the proposal - many of sporting “Let Kids Be Kids” decals and making biblical references - vastly outnumbering opponents.

AHCA, which runs most of the Medicaid program, published a proposed rule and set a July 8 hearing on the issue. National and state legal and LGBTQ-advocacy groups have vowed to fight the proposal.

The 7-2 decision involved a teen who suffered catastrophic injuries after being hit by a truck in 2008 and how much money Medicaid should be able to recover. The case has drawn attention from officials across the country.

AHCA records show 16,623 abortions in 2022, which would be a 38% drop if the trend continued through the year.

The 10-year-old case surrounds a lawsuit filed by the Justice Department after the agency accused Florida of unnecessarily institutionalizing children with disabilities in nursing homes.