Politics
SNAP scares — trick or trade — vet benefits — pitchforks — farm fear
Spooked about SNAP
As October ends with no end to a federal shutdown, anxiety is growing about whether some families will have to stretch their Halloween candy for a while.
That’s because President Donald Trump’s administration says it will suspend all funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That could mean 3 million recipients in Florida alone could lose assistance to put food on the table in November.
Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Miami-Dade Democrat, noted that her county has the most significant number of SNAP recipients in the state, just as it has the highest number of Affordable Care Act beneficiaries in the country.
“We must do all that we can to address that need!” Wilson posted on X.
Republicans, though, say Democrats in the Senate continue to stand in the way of reopening the government amid the second-longest shutdown in history. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Panhandle Republican, suggested Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, is prolonging the shutdown to turn out the Democratic base in off-year elections Tuesday.
“Americans don’t have the time or money for Sen. Schumer’s political theater,” Patronis posted. “End the shutdown and do your job.”
Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, says the least Congress can do is to ensure SNAP is funded even if other services stay closed. She has co-sponsored the Keep SNAP Funded Act (HR 5822), which would allow funding for the food program regardless of how long it takes Congress to reach a deal.
“SNAP keeps families stable during difficult times by ensuring they can buy groceries and put food on the dinner table. It’s not a distant policy; it’s our neighbors’ lifeline,” Salazar said. “That’s why I co-sponsored the Keep SNAP Funded Act. This bill ensures that benefits continue and Miami families don’t lose vital support during the shutdown. Food should never be used as a political weapon.”
But Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, said Florida officials should not sit quietly as federal funding disappears. She led a letter, co-signed by all Democrats in the congressional delegation, to Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, urging them to join a lawsuit challenging the freezing of SNAP funds.
“The impact of a suspension of benefits would be immediate and severe, forcing Florida’s children, seniors, veterans, and working families to turn to already-strained food banks and local charities for help,” the letter reads. “Florida’s most vulnerable residents should not pay the price for the Trump administration’s refusal to use funds Congress has already made available.”
DeSantis, for his part, suggested the letter instead should have gone to Schumer, “asking him to stop filibustering the spending.”
Regardless, a lawsuit filed by 26 other states may well be successful without Florida’s help. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of the Massachusetts District Court suggested Thursday that she may delay a complete shut-off of SNAP benefits. “Congress has put money in an emergency fund, and it is hard for me to understand how this is not an emergency,” she said in court, as reported by The Washington Post.
Even without the courts stepping in, Trump himself suggested to reporters on Air Force One that a deal to fund SNAP would be reached before November. That, of course, sets an optimistic deadline of midnight tonight for a breakthrough.
Shipping nightmares
The Consumer Product Safety Commission should be paying particular attention to goods from China, according to Sen. Rick Scott.
The Naples Republican filed the Protecting Americans from Harmful CCP Products Act, his latest attempt to limit trade with entities tied to the Communist Chinese Party (CCP). He would like to expand the Commission’s authority to issue mandatory recalls of any hazardous goods sold in the U.S. that originated in China. That includes items from growing online platforms.
“The Chinese Communist Party has shown time and time again that it has no regard for the safety or well-being of American consumers. Every day, families unknowingly purchase products made in Communist China that can be toxic, defective or outright dangerous, while Communist China finds new loopholes to exploit to keep them coming into our nation,” Scott said.
“My bill puts Americans first by giving the United States government immediate authority to stop Chinese companies from selling products with known product safety issues to American families, whether on our shelves or online. We cannot allow Communist China to deceive our families and put them at risk.”
The Commission does track products that don’t meet U.S. standards and sends notices to manufacturers overseas. A January report noted that dozens of products, including baby rattles and bike helmets, were sold on U.S. platforms while produced in China. International trade groups and the Chinese government can force recalls of goods, but the American Product Commission has no authority over foreign makers of faulty products.
Specter of persecution
As Trump met with Chinese leaders, Sen. Ashley Moody called for sanctions for the country over religious persecution.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s brutal persecution of people of faith cannot be ignored,” the Plant City Republican said.
She also announced that she would co-sponsor the Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Budd, a North Carolina Republican.
“I’m proud to co-sponsor this bill to send a clear message that the United States will continue to promote religious freedom around the globe and fight to hold the CCP accountable for its human rights abuses,” she said.
Human Rights Watch reports that China has a poor record when it comes to persecuting believers, including followers of Buddhism and Christianity. That is despite China’s constitution having protections for religious freedom, even though the CCP bars the practice of religion by members of the government.
Tricky trade
A controversial plan to import Argentine beef drew rare criticism of Trump’s foreign policy from three Florida Republicans in the House: Reps. Aaron Bean of Fernandina Beach, Scott Franklin of Lakeland and Greg Steube of Sarasota.
Both signed onto a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer saying the plan “undermines American carrel producers.”
“We believe strongly that the path to lower prices and stronger competition lies in continued investment at home — expanding U.S. processing capacity by supporting small and medium processors, lowering costs for ranchers and processors, and increasing access to grazing lands — rather than in policies that advantage foreign competitors,” the letter states.
“Maintaining a level playing field for America’s producers will reinforce the Trump administration’s broader efforts to rebuild rural prosperity and strengthen U.S. food security.”
A total of 14 House Republicans signed the letter, led by House Ways & Means Chair Jason Smith.
The message was sent days after the Florida Cattlemen’s Association blasted the Argentina effort, saying it “threatens American cattle producers.”
Demasking the disloyal?
Anyone who holds dual citizenship shouldn’t be allowed to hold federal office, according to Rep. Randy Fine. The Atlantic Coast Republican just introduced the Disqualifying Dual Loyalty Act, which would require anyone with foreign citizenship to renounce it to serve in Congress.
“I think it’s a fair argument to say you can only swear allegiance to one country, and if you’re in Congress, that allegiance should be to America,” Fine said. “This bill ensures that the people making laws for our citizens are themselves fully committed to our country, not divided between two.”
The Pew Research Center reported in February that 19 members of Congress, including two Senators and 17 Representatives, were born abroad. That’s a number that includes Rep. Carlos Giménez, who was born in Cuba. Other Republicans, like Canadian-born Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, have already renounced their foreign citizenship.
But the majority of immigrant members of Congress, including Ukraine-born Rep. Eugene Vindman of Virginia and Somalian-born Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, are Democrats.
“The Constitution sets basic requirements for office,” Fine said. “In a globalized world, dual citizenship is more common than ever, and while that’s fine for private citizens, it’s not acceptable for lawmakers entrusted with America’s national interests.”
Treating veterans
Rep. Gus Bilirakis will hold a Veterans Resource Fair, an annual event that connects veterans with benefit providers and assistance for health care and other programs.
“Throughout my tenure in Congress, I’ve made advocating for veterans and their families a top priority,” the Palm Harbor Republican said.
“Each year, through the Veterans Resource Fair, we help link veterans in need with available services provided through government agencies and nonprofit organizations. My casework team will also be on hand to help veterans who are experiencing difficulty with a federal agency.”
The event will be held on Saturday at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Mathematics from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ghosts of history
While the German intelligence community now classifies the Alternative für Deutschland party as an extremist far-right movement, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna calls them allies.
The Pinellas Republican met with German Bundestag member Anna Rathert, a former deputy spokesperson for the party, who afterward touted the “great meeting.” Luna said it was just the first meeting between her and party leaders.
“I look forward to hosting you all in D.C. in December!” she posted.
The pro-AfD account Heimatgefühl, in a post about the meeting with a photo of the two politicians, called Luna “sympathisch” — which translates to friendly or sympathetic — to the German nationalist cause.
Luna seemed to demonstrate that herself after a meeting with Naomi Seibt, a 25-year-old conservative activist who has applied for asylum in the U.S., claiming she received death threats and fears imprisonment in Germany for speaking her views. Luna said she will help Seibt with that process.
“I will be personally assisting with her case and writing to the Secretary of State regarding what she is facing, as well as the German government’s prosecution of its own citizens for fighting Western ideology and their culture. What is even more alarming is that she was targeted by German intelligence and government officials for advocating on behalf of the German people and supporting the AfD,” Luna posted.
“The very same German government that claims to fight Nazism is acting like the secret police. If you share a meme, you may go to jail. If you criticize a politician, you could face retribution or imprisonment.”
Seibt became internationally notorious after posting a YouTube video following a synagogue attack where she complained Jews were considered “at the top” of German society while “ordinary Germans” were “at the bottom.” German media have since branded her as an “anti-Greta Thunberg,” a reference to the famous German progressive activist.
Pitchfork mobs
Violent protests erupted in Cameroon following a presidential election after a Constitutional Council announced President Paul Biya had won re-election. The decision came five days after the vote and immediately prompted supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchirola Bakary to protest the results, as reported by Jurist News.
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Miramar Democrat, said the violence was unacceptable.
“I commend the people of Cameroon for their continued commitment to democracy, as shown by their participation in the recent presidential election. The U.S. partnership with Cameroon is rooted in shared values of democratic governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights,” she said.
“However, I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation and reports of human rights violations across Cameroon. There is no place for violence in a democracy. I strongly condemn acts of violence, killings, destruction and arbitrary arrests. The right to peaceful protest and free expression are fundamental and must be protected.”
She suggested that the conflict over results could create instability and urged the country’s political leadership to maintain calm.
“Cameroon’s unity and stability depend on an inclusive, peaceful post-election environment that reflects the will of its people,” she said. “I urge the government and all political actors to exercise restraint, respect human rights, and engage in dialogue to preserve peace.”
Horror in Darfur
Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Mast, a Stuart Republican chairing the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had his eye on violence in Sudan.
The United Nations this week condemned paramilitary forces killing more than 460 people in a hospital as Rapid Support Forces leader Mohammad Hamdan Daglo seized el-Fasher, as reported by Daily Sabah. Mast issued a similar bipartisan call against the violence, along with House Foreign Affairs Ranking Democrat Gregory Meeks.
“We condemn what amounts to the horrific conclusion of an 18-month siege in el-Fasher, Sudan, where the genocidal campaign waged by the Rapid Support Forces has reached a terrifying peak,” the statement from Mast and Meeks reads.
“Credible video and reports show summary extrajudicial mass executions, targeted ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities — including the Fur and Zaghawa people — and the wholesale slaughter of civilians. This is not war; it is calculated, systematic genocide, perpetrated by the same Janjaweed forces responsible for genocide in Darfur 20 years ago. Those responsible must face real accountability. The RSF must grant safe passage to civilians and allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”
Death of diplomacy
Amid continued U.S. attacks on alleged drug trafficking boats from Venezuela, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz convened a roundtable with Venezuelan American leaders. She slammed the Trump administration for failure to pursue a peaceful transfer of power in the nation.
The Weston Democrat focused on the poor treatment of U.S. refugees fleeing Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Many of those individuals voted from the U.S. in the Venezuelan presidential election last year, a contest international observers say Maduro lost before judicial allies declared him the winner anyway.
“Trump’s presidency has been an unending nightmare for Venezuelan Americans here and around the country. He has ripped away temporary protected status from law-abiding Venezuelans and thrown countless families into terror through raids conducted by agents in masks. He has characterized all Venezuelans as criminal dirtbags and alien enemies,” she said.
She held a news conference, making statements in Spanish and English, as she stood alongside Venezuelan American Caucus co-founders Adelys Ferro and Luis Fernando Atencio.
She also focused on the legal questions around the administration’s strikes on boats, many of them vessels in the Caribbean. She joined many in questioning publicly whether Trump has the legal authority to attack ships.
“He has killed at least 57 people, most of whom were Venezuelan, with airstrikes on boats, with no evidence, due process or congressional authorization,” Wasserman Schultz said.
“Anyone who believes that Trump will promote democracy in Venezuela should look at what he’s done to democracy here.”
Farm maze fears
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, a Hialeah Republican and dean of Florida’s congressional delegation, said a failure to reopen the government threatens not only the SNAP food assistance program, but the nation’s food security altogether.
At a roundtable with Florida farmers in South Florida, Díaz-Balart said the shutdown has slowed processing of H-2A visas and restricted access to seasonal workers.
“Florida growers are moving into peak season, and every day of processing delays of H-2A certifications risks unharvested crops, unrecoverable investments, and jeopardized food supply for millions of Americans,” he said. “Food security is national security. It is outrageous for Senate Democratic leadership to allow a government shutdown to trigger a preventable food crisis.”
Representatives from the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association participated in the roundtable and echoed the Congressman’s concern.
“We are grateful to Congressman Díaz-Balart for his willingness to engage and see firsthand the challenges Florida growers face,” said Jamie Fussell, the association’s Labor Relations director.
“As we have said before, shutdown-caused delays in H-2A certifications imminently threaten Florida agriculture and H-2A processing must resume. We urge the Office of Management and Budget to deem H-2A certifications essential and allow processing to resume during the ongoing shutdown. In the absence of a budget or continuing resolution, this step is vital to ensure Florida growers have the workforce needed to harvest the fruits and vegetables that feed Americans through the winter months.”
On this day
Oct. 31, 1776 — “King George gives address after Declaration of Independence” via History.com — In his first speech before British Parliament since the leaders of the American Revolution came together to sign the Declaration of Independence that Summer, King George III acknowledged that all was not going well for Britain in the war with the United States. In his address, the king spoke about the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the revolutionary leaders who signed it, saying, “for daring and desperate is the spirit of those leaders, whose object has always been dominion and power, that they have now openly renounced all allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with this country.”
Oct. 13, 1968 — “Lyndon Johnson halts bombing in Vietnam” via WNYC — President Johnson announced the bombing operation in North Vietnam, known as Operation Rolling Thunder, would halt in anticipation of peace talks in Paris between South and North Vietnam. He asserted the U.S. does not recognize the National Liberation Front, though they will be in attendance and that the U.S. has no intention of dictating the future of the people of South Vietnam. Johnson cautioned Americans to be wary of the promises made by North Vietnam and asked for support in what he expects will be a lengthy and deliberate process. He mentioned his refusal to seek another term as President.
Happy birthday
Best wishes to Rep. Salazar, who turns 64 on Saturday, Nov. 1.
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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.
Rep. Anna Eskamani says she has raised more than $1 million so far as she tries to become the next Orlando Mayor.
The Orlando Democrat says she hit the milestone last week as lawmakers returned to Tallahassee for the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Term-limited in the House, Eskamani is running in 2027 to replace Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who is not running for re-election.
“This campaign is powered by everyday Orlandoans who believe our city can be more affordable, more connected, and safer for everyone,” Eskamani said in a statement.
“Raising over one million dollars from thousands of grassroots donors sends a clear message: people are ready for leadership that listens, leads with integrity, solves problems, and puts community first. Together, we’re building a movement that reflects the heart of Orlando and delivers real results for working families.”
Her campaign has given out 900 yard signs and knocked on more than 33,000 doors in the city, according to a press release.
So far, no other established candidates have filed to run against Eskamani, although she has drawn her first competitor on the ballot: Abdelnasser Lutfi.
Lutfi, who filed to run for Mayor in late December, was not immediately available when reached for comment Monday afternoon.
Eskamani and Lutfi are running to replace Dyer, the longest-serving Mayor in Orlando’s history. Dyer was first elected in 2003.
Eskamani also said she is launching a podcast called “Twinning with Anna and Ida” with her twin sister.
“Every episode will unpack economic public policy issues that are critically important to everyone, but aren’t always well understood by the vast majority of people — often because they have been made intentionally opaque by politicians and the corporations who fund them to benefit from the complex system,” a press release said.
“But they will also have some fun along the way, from exposing a ‘grift of the month’ in Florida politics to exploring the punk rock scene in Orlando.”
Politics
In absence of Special Election, HD 113 hopeful calls for candidate meetings on future policy
While Gov. Ron DeSantis twiddles his thumbs rather than call a Special Election for House District 113, one candidate for the post is urging his opponents to join him in planning policy.
Republican businessman Tony Diaz, one of five candidates seeking HD 113 seat Vicki Lopez vacated two months ago for a spot on the Miami-Dade Commission, believes brainstorming future legislation now will ultimately benefit voters, who are without House representation this Session.
“I propose we meet twice a month to discuss the laws we would propose, the matters we believe need fixing,” he said, adding that any actionable ideas could be sent to sitting lawmakers “who lend an ear.”
“I believe our district will be grateful and the winner of the November election will be in a better position.”
Diaz, for now, faces two Republican Primary foes: former Miami-Dade Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and real estate broker Frank Lago, both of whom have significantly outraised him in the contest so far.
Two Democrats — consultant Gloria Romero Roses and Miami-Dade Young Democrats President Justin Mendoza Routt — are also running.
In a statement Monday, Diaz lamented how the DeSantis administration and leaders in the Legislature “have forsaken” him and the four other candidates by failing to fill the empty HD 113 seat in a timely fashion.
As a “modest bandage for this amputated limb,” Diaz said he will also be establishing a “District 113 Provisional Representation Office” at 2264 SW 22nd Ave. — a property in the county’s Silver Bluff neighborhood he owns, according to the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser’s Office — for constituents to “bring a concern about our district or Florida to the attention of the State Government.”
It’ll be open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday, Diaz said, but added that calling him ahead of time at 786-774-2125 “would be appreciated.”
“I will cover the expenses, field the office, and host a-political meetings here,” he said. “All information submitted by residents will be forwarded to the Dade Delegation, Speaker (Daniel) Perez, Governor DeSantis and appropriate committee chairs.”
Diaz carries endorsements from former Surfside Mayor Dan Gielchinsky, gubernatorial candidate James Fishback and Key Biscayne community activist H. Frances Reaves, according to his campaign.
Welcome back to Diagnosis, a vertical focused on the intersection of health care policy and politics.
— First-tier priority —
Florida lawmakers are entering the 2026 Legislative Session with renewed urgency around behavioral health, and Rep. Sam Garrison has made clear that the issue will remain one of his top priorities.
Speaking at the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In, the Fleming Island Republican framed mental health and substance use disorders as among the most pressing challenges facing Florida, asserting it is a “first-tier” priority.
“This is, to my mind, one of the biggest challenges facing not just Florida, but America, the world, you name it,” said Garrison, who is in line to become House Speaker after November’s elections.
Garrison said behavioral health in 2026 is not a siloed issue, but something that cuts across demographic lines. He pointed to technology and social media as accelerants, particularly for younger generations.
“Phones, technology, and all the things that come with it that you and I and everybody else in this room — unless you’re really successful and vicious young executive — never had to deal with growing up,” he said to an audience of business leaders. “This is the reality of the world that we’re in right now.”
Despite the Legislature’s reputation for partisan clashes, Garrison said mental health is a rare area of broad bipartisan agreement. He credited both House and Senate leaders for engaging on the issue and vowed that it will continue through the end of his speakership in 2028, if not beyond.
“We have a model, a structure, how we handle the government side of the shop that was created in the 1970s and 1980s, and it’s a little bit different than it was back then,” he said,
“ … You’re going to see — especially in the Florida House, but I think the Senate will be there, too — a real focus on, ‘Do we have the right structure set up so that we as a government can do our part to make sure that mental health services, behavioral health services, are being provided in a manner that’s effective and with a 2026 model, not a 1976 model.’”
Recalling his time as a prosecutor, Garrison said mental health or substance use issues were present in the vast majority of serious criminal cases he handled.
“If I had to give you a guess, it may not have been 100%, but it was pretty damn close,” he said, adding that he’s also seen firsthand through his wife’s work as a high school teacher that even students from well-off families are struggling.
“These kids, they lack for very little in life. But even among those kids whose folks love, whose parents are like everybody in this room — parents who have been successful — they’ve got resources. They have mom and dad, mom or dad, or some generation that cares,” he continued.
“Even with those kids, pretty darn close to 100% of them in some form or fashion — because of those phones, because of technology, because of the world we live in — have challenges related to mental health. And if those kids are struggling … extrapolate that out with the kids who are who may not have parental involvement at home, don’t have that oversight, don’t have the resources.”
Garrison said Florida spends billions annually on health care, directly or indirectly tied to behavioral health, yet the state still lacks a cohesive long-term strategy. And even in a year where leadership has signaled budget cuts are coming, he warned that relying on hospitals to provide behavioral health services as “loss leaders” or expecting providers to accept unsustainable reimbursement rates is not a viable path forward.
“We have a lot of tactics for how to attack this, but we don’t necessarily have it as a strategy. There’s a difference between tactics and strategy,” he said, adding that even though “Florida is light-years — I mean light-years — ahead of basically everyone else in the rest of the nation,” the Legislature needs to be “aggressive” and “forward thinking” on the issue.
“If you’re requiring providers to come in and do this job and lose money, that’s not a long-term strategy. The answer to all your questions isn’t always money, but in this case, a lot of it is,” he said.
— Savings for whom? —
A priority health care bill scheduled for its first Committee stop this week includes a prescription drug pricing proposal that is reviving a long-running policy debate over prescription affordability, access, and the role of international markets in setting prices.
HB 697, sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Johnsson and part of House Speaker Daniel Perez’s broader “Florida’s New Frontier” health care initiative, would establish an international reference pricing framework for certain outpatient prescription drugs.
Often described as a “most favored nation” model, the approach would cap reimbursement rates in Florida based on prices paid in a select group of foreign countries. Under the proposal, drug manufacturers would be required to report international pricing data to the state, and the Agency for Health Care Administration would set a benchmark price based on the lowest price paid in comparable, market-based countries, excluding single-payer systems.
Supporters argue that tying prices to international benchmarks could rein in costs in a system where U.S. consumers routinely pay more for prescription drugs than patients abroad. Critics, however, say that may not be the case because the legislation does not require insurers or pharmacy benefit managers to pass along any savings to patients.
Florida has explored similar concepts before. During the 2024 Session, House committees examined international reference pricing proposals. They heard testimony from national policy experts, prompting bipartisan concerns about relying on foreign health systems that often limit or delay access to new medicines.
Critics, including some lawmakers, also questioned whether such models would discourage investment in pharmaceutical research and development. This industry directly employs about 43,000 Floridians and indirectly supports another 250,000 jobs in the state.
Nationally, the debate remains unsettled. Countries that use centralized price-setting models typically achieve lower prices by restricting coverage or delaying approval of new treatments. At the same time, research consistently shows that U.S. patients gain access to new medicines earlier and at higher rates.
— The doctor is in —
Legislation clarifying when nurse practitioners may use the title “doctor” in clinical settings advanced during the first week of Session.
HB 237, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, cleared its first hurdle Wednesday with unanimous approval from the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee. The measure would allow NPs who have earned doctoral degrees to use the title “doctor” so long as they also clearly disclose that they are nurse practitioners.
“If you’ve earned a doctorate in the medical field, you deserve to say so, just like in any other profession,” said Salzman, a Pensacola Republican. “This bill ensures patients understand the training behind their care while offering fairness and recognition to our nurse practitioners.”
Salzman and the bill’s supporters said the proposal would align Florida with other states where doctoral-level health professionals, such as pharmacists, physical therapists, audiologists and psychologists, may use the title with a similar guardrail. They also say the change could help with recruitment and retention as Florida grapples with an ongoing shortage of health care professionals.
The bill now heads to the Health & Human Services Committee. If ultimately approved by the Legislature, the measure would take effect July 1.
— TGH-LRH partnership —
Tampa General Hospital and Lakeland Regional Hospital announced an agreement linking TGH’s nationally recognized academic health system with the Hollis Cancer Center at LRH.
The two Central Florida hospitals said the agreement will result in expanded subspecialized cancer care across the region, creating new pathways for patients to access advanced cancer research, clinical trials and clinical expertise.
“I am impressed by the innovation and the dedication to the community that I’ve witnessed at Lakeland Regional Health,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center and Tampa General. “When health care professionals work together to advance research and improve outcomes for cancer patients, everybody wins.”
Through the partnership, cancer patients at the Hollis Cancer Center will gain access to TGH’s subspecialized oncology experts, cutting-edge research and advanced clinical trials, while receiving care in their own community.
“We are very excited to collaborate with the TGH Cancer Institute, which is widely recognized as a national leader in cancer care and research,” said Danielle Drummond, president and CEO of Lakeland Regional Health. “Our goal is always to provide the highest level of care to our patients close to home, and we are confident that combining our resources and expertise will offer tremendous benefits for our patients.”
The TGH Cancer Institute is one of Florida’s few cancer centers backed by academic medicine. The Institute has been ranked among the Top 10% in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026. The Hollis Cancer Center has also earned national accolades for excellence in cancer care, including Gold Status Accreditation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.
The collaboration builds on existing initiatives between Tampa General and Lakeland Regional, including their joint neurosciences program and the innovative Hospital at Home model, which allows patients to receive hospital-level care from the comfort of their homes.
— ROSTER —
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Gary Kompothecras and reappointed Howard Baum to the Board of Chiropractic Medicine earlier this month.
Kompothecras is the Manager of Physicians Group, LLC and is a member of the Sarasota Military Academy Foundation Board of Directors. He previously served on the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority and the Space Florida Board of Directors.
Kompothecras earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Florida and his Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine from Life University.
Baum is a self-employed Licensed Mental Health Counselor and U.S. Army veteran, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He serves as a counseling clinician for the Tampa Bay Regional Critical Incident Team, is a counseling team member for Hope Justice Ministry, and a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers.
Baum earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Tech University, his master’s degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University.
— ICYMI —
“Thousands in Florida to lose coverage for HIV meds because of state cuts” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — For thousands in Florida who rely on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), the Florida Department of Health is about to change up their medication plans or even get rid of covering them altogether, citing federal cuts as the culprit. Public health advocates warned legislators at the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 14, that cutting funds would push people off their meds and separate them from their doctors, causing lower adherence rates. When lifesaving HIV medication isn’t taken daily, viral loads go up, making the virus transmissible again and putting people at risk for opportunistic infections.
“Medical malpractice, doulas, dental care: Health care nitty-gritty in the 2026 Session” via Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix — Florida leads the nation in Affordable Care Act enrollment, and, if the enhanced premium tax subsidies people rely on to help purchase the health insurance aren’t extended, the state could see the ranks of the uncovered rise exponentially. What, if anything, the Legislature does in the next two months to make health care more affordable and accessible to Florida residents remains to be seen. Florida legislators are expected to once again look at killing a medical malpractice law that bars adult children of single parents and parents of childless adult children from pursuing negligence lawsuits if a family member has died.
“Trump releases health policy outline” via Cheyenne Haslett of POLITICO — Trump released a health care framework that calls on Congress to codify his efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, send money to Health Savings Accounts instead of insurers via Affordable Care Act subsidies, and force more price transparency from insurance companies, hospitals and physicians. “We’re calling it the Great Health Care Plan. Instead of putting the needs of big corporations and special interests first, our plan finally puts you first and puts more money in your pocket,” Trump said in a video published by the White House on Thursday with little advance notice.
“Trump administration reinstates drug, mental health programs it cut days earlier” via Ryan Gillespie of the Orlando Sentinel — The Trump administration reinstated about $2 billion in mental health and substance abuse funding — two days after it canceled those grants and left Central Florida agencies worried about how they would manage significant cuts to the region’s limited resources. Central Florida’s largest mental health and substance abuse provider had nearly $1.2 million in payments canceled overnight on Tuesday, but by Thursday morning, it learned it would receive its funds. Both notices arrived via email from the federal Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. A Kissimmee clinic, Pan-American Behavioral Health Services, also lost funding and had it reinstated within those two days, its CEO, Brendan Ramirez, said.
“Darryl Rouson, Debra Tendrich propose sweeping expansion of youth mental health screenings” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — St. Petersburg Sen. Rouson and Rep. Tendrich filed companion bills (SB 1302, HB 1133) to require mental and behavioral health screenings for minors and young adults enrolled in Medicaid. The goal is to confront what they describe as a statewide youth mental health emergency. Tendrich told Florida Politics her push for reform was galvanized by personal tragedy. In 2023, her friend, Brian Hiltebeitel, was brutally killed on a Palm Beach County golf course by a 26-year-old man later deemed incompetent for trial due to mental illness and substance abuse concerns.
— RULES —
The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists’ final rule regarding citations for disciplinary action goes into effect Jan. 26. More here.
The Board of Pharmacy’s final rule regarding the responsibilities of supervising pharmacists and supervision of more than one registered pharmacy technician went into effect on Sunday. More here.
— PENCIL IT IN —
Jan. 20
9:30 a.m. — The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee meets to consider legislation affecting child welfare and related health policy. Room 301, Senate Office Building.
10:30 a.m. — The House Health Care Budget Subcommittee meets, including a Department of Children and Families presentation on changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Room 314, House Office Building.
2 p.m. — The House Human Services Subcommittee meets to consider legislation affecting medical assistance eligibility and foster care records. Room 314, House Office Building.
3:30 p.m. — The Senate Health Policy Committee meets for an OPPAGA review of health care practitioner regulation in Florida and other states. Room 412, Knott Building.
Jan. 21
8 a.m. — The House Health and Human Services Committee meets to consider bills related to nursing practice, social work licensure, and swimming lesson vouchers. Room 17, House Office Building.
10 a.m. — The House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee meets to consider legislation affecting occupational therapy and nursing education. Room 102, House Office Building.
4 p.m. — The House Health Care Facilities and Systems Subcommittee meets to consider legislation related to drug prices and insurance coverage. Room 404, House Office Building.
Jan. 27
8 a.m. — Florida Dental Association Dentists’ Day on the Hill brings dental professionals to the Capitol to advocate oral health policy. Capitol Complex.
12:30 p.m. — Florida Hospital Association Hospital Days begin with a Board of Trustees meeting and legislative reception focused on hospital and health system priorities. Tallahassee.
1 p.m. — The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee meets to consider health and human services legislation. Room 301, Senate Office Building.
Jan. 28
7 a.m. — Florida Hospital Association Hospital Days continue with legislative briefings and member visits focused on hospital policy priorities. Capitol Complex.
8 a.m. — Moffitt Day at the Capitol highlights cancer research and treatment advocacy. Capitol Complex.
1 p.m. — The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services meets to consider health-related budget items. Room 412, Knott Building.
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