Daily Archives: March 23, 2017

Hospital District money would draw down state funds

The Marion County Hospital District trustees on Monday will consider making a $6 million commitment to the College of Central Florida a grant that would be the trustees' largest.

The money would help the college build a state-of-the-art health science center where students will be trained in nursing, emergency medical services, physical therapy, surgical support services and dental hygiene. The district commitment would put the college in a better position as it asks the Florida Legislature for another $23.7 million in matching funds.

The college request is sponsored by state Rep. Charlie Stone, R-Ocala. Even if CF can secure the $6 million commitment there is still no guarantee state lawmakers will fund their share.

CF President James Henningsen requested the Hospital District money earlier this week during the trustees' monthly grant committee meeting. The committee is made up of five trustees. The full board has seven members. The five trustees recommend approval of the request.

The colleges plan to create more room to train dental hygienists fits with one of the Hospital Districts goals: funding programs to provide more dental care to the adult poor.

Henningsens request for a district commitment comes at the 11th hour. He told the five trustees on the committee that the college originally had a donor lined up to provide the local match. But that donor instead gave $5 million to Florida State University.

We werent expecting to come to you at all, Henningsen told the committee. The lack of a $6 million commitment puts us at risk for securing the state money.

A district commitment would speak loudly to state lawmakers and show a local commitment to the project, said Robert Batsel, CF general counsel and director of government relations.

Henningsen said that expanding the colleges nursing, healthcare and dental programs fits with the districts goals of improving the health of Marion County.

While there is a local need for more nurses and other healthcare professionals, Trustee Sam McConnell told Henningsen and Batsel he wanted the training of dental assistants and hygienists to be a priority.

It would be right at the top of the list, Henningsen replied, adding that dental hygiene training would be second only to nursing education.

There are currently 225 associate degree nursing students enrolled at CF. The new building would allow that number to increase to 300, college spokeswoman Lois Brauckmuller told the Star-Banner on Wednesday.

The new facility would also allow the college to double its Bachelor of Science nursing program from the current 75 students to 150.

The college currently has 14 students in its dental assistant program. The new building would allow the college to start a dental hygiene program to include 30 students at any given time in the two-year program.

Henningsen said that if the Hospital District makes its financial commitment, and the state pays its share, the district could make its payments in conjunction with state payments or in a single lump sum.

If approved, the grant would far exceed any amount the Hospital District has awarded during its past two years of doling out money. Each year, for the past two years, it has awarded about $2 million per year to nonprofit organizations that work to improve local health.

The district has $212 million to work with money that Community Health Systems (CHS) paid as part of its agreement to lease Munroe Regional Medical Center. Trustees have pledged to annually dole out money earned from investing the CHS money. So far the money has generated about $18 million in returns.

Since the lease inception, and the districts funding of local healthcare initiatives, district trustees agreed they didnt want to dip into the principal lease payment. That principal, which now includes revenue from the sale of district property in addition to hospital revenues collected by CHS on behalf of the district, is now $232 million.

Trustee Rich Bianculli warned that in future years, the districts investments might not make any money, or may even lose money.

But the trustees agreed that as long as the investments were generating money long term, it was acceptable to see fluctuations in earnings.

The $6 million CF grant would not affect the district's other grants.

Though the five trustees on the grant committee have agreed to recommend that the full board approve CF's request, they also spelled out some conditions: The $6 million would be contingent on the Florida Legislature approving its share of $23.7 million; the dental hygiene program must be second only to the nursing program; each payment of that total $6 million would be made in conjunction with the states payment.

Henningsen also offered to let the district name the facility.

Mark Paugh, the colleges vice president of academic affairs, wrote in an email that if the district gives CF the money, the investment in the Health Science Technology Education Center will serve this community for generations through the education of future nurses, dental assistants and hygienists, radiographers and sonographers, respiratory therapists, and other health professionals, and as a hub for public health forums and speaker series.

The request for money is outside the districts regular grant request cycle. Grant applications are typically accepted beginning in the fall and the deadline is in December.

Earlier this year, The Centers sought $1 million to house people suspected of mental illness until they could be evaluated. The district declined the request and said, among other things, that such requests should be made with all the other requests for grant money.

Curt Bromund, Hospital District executive director, said CF's request was unique and reflected a longtime effort by the college and community to increase the number of healthcare workers, many of whom will remain in the area after graduating.

Trustee Chairman David Cope said that, considering how large the state contribution would be, the trustees must at least research CF's request.

And the credibility of CF is pretty well established, Cope said.

McDonnell said that in addition to generating more healthcare workers, those workers would also be out there disseminating the information (about improving ones health). Theyre disciples and apostles of improving health and dental hygiene.

Reach Fred Hiers at fred.hiers@starbanner.com and 352-397-5914.

See the article here:

CF seeks $6M grant for health building - Ocala

Download the CBS Sports App today and get the latest scores, news and alerts from Major League Baseball, plus get daily MLB picks from SportsLine!

On Wednesday night, the United States will play Puerto Rico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic championship game. Weve detailed how to watch , what the weather will be like , and how the United States can secure its first WBC crown . But what about the lineups?

Heres a look at the starting nine for the Americans:

Thats right -- because of Team USAs commitment to alternating players, both Paul Goldschmidt and Buster Posey, two of the best players in the world, will be on the bench to begin the championship game. Not ideal. The rest of the lineup is about what youd expect.

As for Puerto Rico:

The only change from last game? Hernandezs insertion in center field in place of Reymond Fuentes. Well see if it pays off.

More here:

2017 World Baseball Classic final lineups: Posey sits for USA, new CF for Puerto Rico - CBSSports.com

Anna Payne is a hard working 30-year-old who has a great job at a bank, a loving mother and father, and a dog she pampers. When she met her boyfriend six years ago at work over a sandwich, it was love at first sight (or bite as Anna likes say). The happiest day of her life was when he proposed, down on one knee at their favorite restaurant.

But after the excitement of the ring and plans of a beautiful wedding day wore off, they started to think the union might not be such a good idea. It wasnt cold feet or feuding families, a la Romeo and Juliet. This is a 21st century problem, not a 16th century one.

Annas concern: How might the American Health Care Act, the Republican repeal and replace program, affect her health insurance coverage?

Medically, Anna is not like most young women. From her bright blue eyes and mischievous smile, youd think all is well. But deep within her genetic material, there is something that makes her different.

A single defective code for a protein, one that helps all the cells in her body move chloride out appropriately, means she has cystic fibrosis, a disease with no cure but a lot of hope.

Annas parents found out she had CF right at birth when doctors noticed their little girl couldnt pass any stool. In her second day of life, she had emergency surgery to relieve a life-threatening stomach blockage. Since then she has dealt with typical complications of CF, from multiple hospitalizations as a child and adult for pneumonia, to coughing up bright red blood, to inflammation of her liver and pancreas.

Every day there is a war to be fought, one that requires multiple inhaled medications, vigorous coughing to expel built-up mucus, and a fistful of pills before every meal to aid digestion. She never gets a break from this disease.

Yet one of the greatest medical stories ever told is the steady improvement of life expectancy for people like Anna. In 1950, babies diagnosed with CF usually didnt make it past their second birthday. Now, that life span has grown nearly to age 40.

I believe we have a duty as Americans to provide Anna and the 30,000 others in this country with CF with the best care possible. That means stable and adequate health insurance to pay for life-extending medications.

Stability and adequacy are at risk if the American Health Care Act replaces the Affordable Care Act. One of the main issues for CF patients is how Medicaid is going to be changed, and effectively curtailed. As noted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Medicaid provides coverage for half of children and a third of adults with CF. By effectively ending its expansion in 2020, and cutting back on reimbursements, states are going to have to choose who gets coverage and who doesnt.

Anna receives Medicaid through Pennsylvanias program. In a show of sensible governing, Anna has benefited from the states unique Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program. For those with a clear disability, there is no risk of losing benefits at a much higher income cap than typical of Medicaid. In other words, you dont have to choose between your job and your health. For Anna, this program means she can cover a huge deductible she has every year for her very expensive medications.

But given that the Republican plan would cap federal Medicaid support per enrollee, it would endanger this plan. Anna would then be forced to seek some other type of Medicaid with more stringent income caps, possibly meaning shed have to quit her job. Or not get married.

With the budget cuts to Medicaid, its not even clear Anna could get on another type of Medicaid.

And Anna Medicaid benefit was not even created by Obamas Affordable Care Act, but are now up for cuts in its supposed fix. The new American Healthcare Act has indeed cast a wide net.

Standard & Poors estimated that between 4 and 6 million people currently enrolled in Medicaid plans would lose coverage if the proposed changes become law. This will include patients with chronic genetic illnesses like CF, sickle cell and muscular dystrophy.

The American Healthcare Act does keep some important protections, like being able to stay on your parents insurance until age 26, and making it illegal to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The Affordable Care Act has flaws that need to be addressed. But curtailing services to the most ill and needy among us is not what is needed.

All of which is giving Anna Payne pause before making the leap into marriage.

Michael J. Stephen, M.D. is associate professor of medicine and program director of the pulmonary and critical care fellowship atDrexel University School of Medicine.

Read more from the Check Up blog

Published: March 23, 2017 1:55 PM EDT

Over the past year, the Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com have uncovered corruption in local and state public offices, shed light on hidden and dangerous environmental risks, and deeply examined the regions growing heroin epidemic. This is indispensable journalism, brought to you by the largest, most experienced newsroom in the region. Fact-based journalism of this caliber isnt cheap. We need your support to keep our talented reporters, editors and photographers holding government accountable, looking out for the public interest, and separating fact from fiction. If you already subscribe, thank you. If not, please consider doing so by clicking on the button below. Subscriptions can be home delivered in print, or digitally read on nearly any mobile device or computer, and start as low as 25 per day. We're thankful for your support in every way.

See the rest here:

As Congress mulls AHCA, woman with CF wonders if it's safe to get married - Philly.com

Cleveland Frank C.F. Vititow, 84, of Emory went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 in Sulphur Springs. Funeral services celebrating C.F.s life will be held at 1100 A.M. on Friday, March 24, 2017 at Emory Baptist Church with Bro. Joe Perkins and Bro. Richard Piles officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Dougherty Cemetery in Emory. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service.

Serving as Pallbearers: Justin Christian, Korey Young, Josh Knight, Shelby Bruhn, Will Miller, Lupe Diosdado, Paul Ray Budge Vititow and Chuck Vititow. Honorary Pallbearers: Bodie Watkins, Joe Rorie, Harold Thompson, Clyde Dennis, and The Kings Men Sunday School Class.

C.F. was born June 24,1932 in Sulphur Springs to the late Virgil Vititow and Ruby Lee Glenn Vititow. He married Georgia Potts Vititow on April 8,1977, she preceded him in death on February 1, 2011. Raised and educated in Sulphur Springs, he worked for Bevis Feed Store for several years. Following in his fathers footsteps, he began a local trucking firm as an independent owner operator. After a career as an insurance salesman with Bankers Life and Casualty, he began selling feed for Pilgrim Industries; while working for Pilgrims he also went into the dairy business. During all of his working years his true passion was working with cattle and horses.

C.F. enjoyed traveling, hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Emory Baptist Church and The Kings Men Sunday School Class.

He is loved and will be missed by his children Charlotte Haygood (Raymond) of Sulphur Springs, Lisa Bruhn ( Dwight) of Lebanon, Missouri, Robert Vititow (Stacy) of Emory, Brenda Styron of Emory, Glenda Hinsley (John) of Tyler and Randy Knight of Emory; Grandchildren: Shannon Miller( Will), Shelby Bruhn (Katie), Brigette Colburn (Christina), Drew Vititow, Johnathan Vititow, Joey Coats (Annette), Jesse McElroy, Josh Knight (Robin), Danielle Young (Korey), Julie Kromer (Max), Jill Weddle, Jennifer Taylor (Mark), Kelsey Hardaway (Zach) 20 Great-Grandchildren, brothers Jerry Vititow (Jean) of Sulphur Springs, Larry Vititow (Wanda) of Sulphur Springs; brother-in-law Henry Potts (Maxanne) of Emory and sister-in-law Loretta Godwin (A.B.) of Emory.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Paul Ray Vititow, Charles Vititow, daughter Karen Vititow, grandsons Russ Haygood, Brannon Haygood, Heath Haygood, great granddaughters, Aubrey Diosdado and Olivia Hardaway.

Family requests memorial donations be made to The Kings Men Sunday School Class

Originally posted here:

Cleveland Frank CF Vititow - KSST (press release) (registration) (blog)

The USA Commerce

Average Brokerage Rating Of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Morgan Stanley (MS) The USA Commerce Shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) dropped -1.05% to $29.23. During the trading on 03/22/2017, Company's stock ranged from $29.58 to $28.72. The relative strength index or RSI highlights overbought (above 70) and oversold (below 30) ... and more »

View original post here:

Average Brokerage Rating Of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF), Morgan Stanley (MS) - The USA Commerce