Hospital opens renovated Cath Lab
DAVENPORT – AdventHealth Heart of Florida in Davenport has opened its newly renovated cardiac catheterization lab, adding advanced imaging technology to expand lifesaving heart care close to home.
The renovated Cath Lab plays a critical role in interventional radiology and cardiac catheterization procedures, which provide insights into heart function, including the condition of heart muscles, valves and blood vessels. These procedures are essential for diagnosing heart disease and can also be used to open blocked arteries or valves, restoring healthy blood flow.
“With this completed renovation, AdventHealth Heart of Florida has now invested more than $5 million in the last year into our community to provide the best heart care we possibly can,” AdventHealth Polk Market President and CEO Tim Clark said.
Bilirakis seeks to provide certainty for Medicare patients
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and others have introduced the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act to protect seniors’ access to care by ensuring Medicare keeps pace with rising health care costs.
The bill helps prevent doctor shortages in Medicare by making sure payments better reflect the real cost of delivering care, especially in rural, underserved and low-income communities.
“I’m deeply concerned that our outdated physician payment system is contributing to reduced access and delays for seniors seeking the care they deserve,” Bilirakis said. “This important legislation will help create greater stability for older Americans by strengthening access to services and supporting improved health outcomes.”
Castor seeks to improve access to lung cancer screening
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and others reintroduced the bipartisan Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act on Nov. 20.
The bill will help lower health care costs for families while expanding access to lifesaving cancer screenings and reducing barriers to preventive care in communities that have been overlooked.
“By making lung cancer screenings easier to access and eliminating surprise bills and insurance red tape, this bipartisan bill will help neighbors catch cancer earlier, stay healthier and live longer,” Castor said. “Together, with my bipartisan colleagues and with the help of premier cancer research institutions like Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, we can save tens of thousands of lives every year by expanding access to lung cancer screenings.”
VA connects homeless veterans to housing
BAY PINES – The Department of Veterans Affairs permanently housed 51,936 homeless veterans nationwide in fiscal year 2025, an increase of 4,011 over last year and the highest total since VA began tracking individual veterans housed.
The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System accounted for 953 of those placements. The system serves veterans in 10 counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas.
In May 2025, VA launched the Getting Veterans Off the Street initiative, which moved 25,065 unsheltered veterans into interim or permanent housing through coordinated outreach at every VA health system.
Get answers on Medicare
- PETERSBURG – SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas.
Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information.
They’ll answer questions at the following Medicare Basics programs:
- Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 4th St., Dade City. 352-567-3576
- Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel. 813-788-6375
- Dec. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Pkwy., Land O’ Lakes. 813-929-1214
SHINE services are free, unbiased and confidential. Counselors do not sell anything. They can be reached by calling 1-800-963-5337 or 727-217-8111.
