Politics

Anti-obesity medication can improve health, save taxpayer dollars

Published

3 hours ago

February 25, 2025

Obesity is a growing crisis in America, affecting 93 million citizens and costing the health care system nearly $1.4 trillion annually. If left unaddressed, this burden will only increase, straining and draining taxpayer dollars.

Already, President Donald Trump, with his executive order establishing the Department of Government Efficiency, along with other actions, has demonstrated his dedication to rein in spending on behalf of the American people. By finalizing a CMS rule that allows Medicare to cover anti-obesity medications (AOMs), Trump can also realize savings within the Medicare budget.

Right now, Medicare spends $50 billion annually treating obesity-related diseases, and studies show that covering AOMs could generate $175 billion in savings over the next decade and up to $700 billion over 30 years. Investing in prevention will save taxpayers billions in future health care costs.

While Medicare already covers treatments for other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure – many of which are caused by obesity – obesity itself still is not covered as a chronic disease when it should be.

Further, while many private insurers cover AOMs, Medicare does not, forcing seniors to forgo effective treatment. This also means that when seniors age into Medicare, in many instances, they lose access to these critical treatments they once had through their private insurance.

Moreover, according to the Florida Department of Health, 5 million Floridians are on Medicare. This makes it even more crucial to our state, with its large number of seniors, who could radically improve their health and quality of life if they had access to these medications.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for Trump to lead on health care reform. Finalizing the CMS rule will reduce wasteful spending, empower individuals to take control of their own health, reduce reliance on social safety net programs, and support market-based health care solutions.

It’s time to treat obesity as a chronic disease and have Medicare cover these life-changing AOMs. By taking action now, we can create a healthier, stronger, and more self-reliant population that thrives and saves taxpayers billions.

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Thomas Barnette is the president and CEO of EA Tours.

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Politics

From Space Coast to west coast, 7 businesses busted for illegal gaming operations

Published

31 minutes ago

February 25, 2025

May Greene

Florida Gaming Control Commission agents nailed illegal gaming activity at seven convenience stores across the state in the past week.

The investigations ended with charges of possession of slot machines and keeping a gambling house filed against the store’s owners and managers. The busts stretched from Florida’s Space Coast to the west coast.

Two of the crackdowns took place in Brevard County. A Sunoco gas and convenience store on Eau Gallie Boulevard in Indian Harbour Beach was raided by investigators who seized three illegal gambling machines and $5,665 in cash. The store manager was issued a notice to appear in court for charges of possession of slot machines and keeping a gambling house.

The Mobil gas and convenience on Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, also in Indian Harbour Beach, was targeted by investigators who found five illegal gambling machines, with similar charges awaiting the manager in a notice to appear.

There was another illegal gambling raid in Holly Hill, just north of the Space Coast in Volusia County. Four illegal gambling machines were seized at the Speedy Mart on Center Avenue, and the owner of that business was issued a notice to appear.

Two stores in Tampa were also busted for illegal gambling activity. A BP gas station on North Nebraska Avenue had six illegal gambling machines seized, while the Los Amigos Grocery and Meats store on Stuart Street had 13 illegal gambling machines confiscated. Notices to appear were served to managers of both of those stores.

Perry, in Florida’s Big Bend area, was the site of two more busts by illegal gambling investigators. The Perry Fast Mart on South Jefferson Street saw three illegal gambling machines confiscated. Katie’s Kountry Korner on Beach Road in Perry was the scene of another crackdown, where one illegal gambling machine was seized. Notices to appear in court were filed against the manager or owner of both of those stores.

“Standalone illegal casinos aren’t the only ones offering illegal slot machine gaming in this state,” said Florida Gaming Control Commission Acting Executive Director Ross Marshman. “Business franchisees, owners, and managers need to be aware of the law. If someone approaches your legitimate business with an opportunity to make more money that seems too good to be true, it probably is. These illegal schemes will result in criminal charges and hurt the business you worked hard to build.”

That sweep of illegal gambling establishments comes on top of another operation by state investigators recently. Similar busts were executed in Tavares in Central Florida as well.

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Gov. DeSantis appoints Shevaun Harris and Taylor Hatch to new roles

Published

1 hour ago

February 25, 2025

May Greene

Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced new appointments in two key state agencies, the latest update in what’s been a series of promotions and job changes among Florida officials.

Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Shevaun Harris is moving to become the Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), DeSantis said. Harris previously served 15 years at AHCA, including as Acting Secretary.

To fill Harris’ position leading DCF, Taylor Hatch, the Secretary of Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities, will take over.

“Both Secretaries Harris and Hatch have been doing a phenomenal job serving the people of Florida in their respective roles, and I know each of them will contribute significantly to their new positions,” DeSantis wrote on Facebook. “Thank you, Shevaun and Taylor, and congratulations!”

The chain of events began when DeSantis named Jason Weida, the previous head of AHCA, to be his new Chief of Staff earlier this month.

James Uthmeier, a longtime DeSantis ally who was previously the Chief of Staff, was sworn in as the next Attorney General to replace Ashley Moody who headed to Washington as a U.S. Senator.

“Harris began her career as a social worker, which led to her true passion — policy and administration in the field of health and human services,” according to her agency bio. “She spent nearly two decades at the Agency for Health Care Administration where she excelled and served in key roles, including Acting Secretary. The majority of her tenure at AHCA was focused on the administration of the multi-billion dollar Florida Medicaid program, impacting millions of Floridians through implementation of sound policy and quality improvement efforts.”

Hatch’s background included working as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Management Services, the state’s real estate manager, and director of workforce services at the Department of Economic Opportunity.

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Politics

Judge gives Donald Trump administration two days to unfreeze funds for U.S. foreign aid

Published

2 hours ago

February 25, 2025

May Greene

It’s the second time a judge has found the Trump administration did not follow a court order.

A federal judge on Tuesday gave the Trump administration less than two days to release billions of dollars in U.S. foreign aid, saying the administration had given no sign of complying with his nearly two-week-old court to ease its funding freeze.

U.S. District Judge Amir H. Ali ruled in a lawsuit filed by nonprofit organizations over the cutoff of foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development and State Department.

The cutoff followed a Jan. 20 executive order by President Donald Trump targeting what he portrayed as wasteful programs that do not correspond to his foreign policy goals.

Nonprofit groups who receive federal grant money for work abroad said the freeze breaks federal law and has shut down funding for even the most urgent life-saving programs abroad. USAID and State partners say the administration has stiffed them on billions of dollars in money already owed.

It’s the second time a judge has found the Trump administration did not follow a court order. U.S. District Court Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island also found this month that the administration had not fully unfrozen federal grants and loans within the U.S., even after he blocked sweeping plans for a pause on trillions of dollars in government spending.

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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

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