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Affordable Care Act

Bilirakis talks health care reform

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Health care reform was the main topic during U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’s visit to Zephyrhills last week.

Bilirakis, who represents Florida’s 12th congressional district, was the featured speaker during The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting on Aug. 3.

He said he was “very disappointed” when the Republican party’s reform and repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) stalled in the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis gives members of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce his take on what’s happening in Washington D.C., regarding health care reform. (Kevin Weiss)

The so-called skinny repeal bill, which the GOP titled the Health Care Freedom Act, would have eliminated the ACA’s individual mandate; delayed the employer mandate until 2025; allowed states greater flexibility in implementing market reforms, such as essential health benefits and out-of-pocket spending limits; and increased Health Savings Account limits for three years, among other changes.

However, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the skinny repeal bill would have increased the number of uninsured by 16 million over the next nine years and increased health care exchange premiums by more than 20 percent.

The measure sank on July 27, in a 49-51 Senate vote, with three Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and John McCain of Arizona — joining the entire Democratic caucus against the bill.

The action, Bilirakis said, displayed his party’s inability to stick together.

“To be honest with you, you can’t keep voting ‘no.’ Maybe you’re a hero at home, but you’ve got to work with the leadership to get things done,” he said.

Bilirakis acknowledged he “didn’t agree with everything” in the bill, but noted it was a good starting point to replace Obamacare.

“Obamacare is failing,” Bilirakis said to a roomful of constituents. “Seventy-three percent of the counties in our state only have one provider…so we have to fix it, we have to do something different, we have to bring the (deductibles) down.

“Now, don’t get me wrong, we want to take care of the pre-existing conditions. I want to make sure that everyone has access to mental health treatment, if their family member needs it or if they need it. These are very important issues to me, they’re close to my heart,” he added.

Bilirakis said he wanted to see the skinny bill pass, mainly so it could be improved in a House-Senate conference committee.

“We don’t do that very often anymore,” he said, “where we go to conference, appoint Republicans and Democrats in a room, and make it work.”

Meanwhile, Bilirakis assigned blame to both parties for not crafting a viable bipartisan solution on health care.

“We’ve got to think of the country first, and work together. That’s what voters mostly want,” Bilirakis said.

“With health care, it shouldn’t be a political issue. It’s a personal issue, and both parties should be involved in getting this done, because both parties have good ideas,” he later added.

He also criticized President Donald Trump for his shifting stance on health care. Regarding Obamacare, the president has waffled on the following actions:

  • Repeal and replace
  • Repeal only, then replace
  • Let it “fail.”

“Listen, I am a Trump supporter, but he’s got to be consistent in what his plan is,” Bilirakis said. “These members (of the Senate) are not going to buy it, just saying we’ve got to pass a bill. It’s got to be a good bill.”

Bilirakis, though, did credit the president for reducing regulations on U.S. businesses, as well as the soaring stock market— the Dow Jones industrial average passed the 22,000 mark for the first time on Aug. 3.

“The economy’s much better. We are making a difference, but we can do better,” Bilirakis said.

Elsewhere, the congressman discussed some of his recently introduced bills, such as The Lower Costs Through Competition Act and The Open Act, both related to health care.

The Lower Costs Through Competition Act, co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon, seeks to reduce prescription drug prices by speeding up Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of high-cost generic products, which lack competition.

Bilirakis pointed to last year’s EpiPen controversy, where Mylan, the makers of the life saving, anti-allergic reaction device, increased its product price by nearly 400 percent, to $700 for a twin-pack.

“The EpiPen situation — that was horrible,” he said. “There’s a couple of other drugs like that, and you have these monopolies out there that are taking advantage, and so we want to make we speed up the FDA process, the approval process and incentivize these companies to reduce the prices.”

The bill, introduced in January, has since been referred to the House Subcommittee on Health.

“It’s a no-brainer, but in (Washington) D.C., sometimes the no-brainers won’t pass, so you’ve got to keep pushing,” said Bilirakis.

Meanwhile, Bilirakis’ Orphan Products Extension Now (OPEN) Act — which also has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Health — would provide incentives for drug makers to repurpose mainstream treatments, at mainstream prices.

According to Bilirakis, there are 7,000 rare diseases affecting 30 million Americans, and yet 95 percent of those conditions have no approved treatment or cure.

The bill, as it stands, amends the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to extend by six months the exclusivity period for a drug or biological product approved by the FDA when the product is additionally approved to prevent, diagnose, or treat a new indication that is a rare disease or condition (also known as an orphan disease).

A common issue, Bilirakis explained, is those afflicted with rare diseases resort to off-label drugs for treatment. “We’ve got to find cures and treatments. We want to make sure it’s safe, we want to make sure we have a proper dosage,” he said.

Published August 9, 2017

Strong opinions continue to surface on health care reform

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It wasn’t an overflow crowd for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ third listening session, but there were plenty of people with strong opinions on the issue of health care reform.

There were also more people in this crowd who spoke in favor of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, than did at the previous session that Bilirakis had in New Port Richey.

Hundreds of people have been showing up to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ listening sessions on healthcare reform. The sign shown here claims that in Bilirakis’ district alone, there are 43,000 people insured under the Affordable Care Act.
(File)

Opinions at the session, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High School, varied widely.

“I beg you to keep something, either the ACA or something like that for pre-existing conditions,” a woman from Land O’ Lakes said. “I will lose my husband, if you don’t keep something.”

But, another woman said Obamacare has not worked.

“I know several friends — they need insurance, and they can’t afford Obamacare. It’s not the Affordable Care Act, period,” she said.

A woman priest told Bilirakis that the current uncertainty about health care is frightening people.

“I have many parishioners, friends and family members, and I just want to tell you that I’ve never seen people so afraid,” she said. “This is real fear, this is not fake fear,” she added.

A Wesley Chapel man asked Bilirakis: “Are you going to keep your campaign promise, to repeal Obamacare?”

Bilirakis responded: “I will vote to repeal Obamacare,” which was greeted by both boos and applause from the crowd.

“I want a replacement,” Bilirakis said.

He also assured the audience that people will not be cut off from their insurance without another option.

“By the way, we will have a transition period … I’m arguing for three years. Some people are saying two years,” Bilirakis said.

A Pinellas County man said he’s with Bilirakis: “This was a change election. We stand behind you, to repeal and replace.”

Another man urged Bilirakis to find a way to make health care more affordable.

After being laid off, the man said he purchased Obamacare, but the premiums were expensive, and the deductible was $6,200.

He told Bilirakis that he stopped paying his premiums so he could afford to see his doctor, then he was billed by the federal government for his “shared responsibility” because he doesn’t have insurance.

Another speaker said the cost of Obamacare has caused a family member’s business to lay off employees and to close a location, reducing the company’s profits and costing employees their jobs.

“I’m in favor of repealing and replacing Obamacare,” the woman said.

One man asked Bilirakis point-blank: “Are you going to make it less expensive?”

Bilirakis responded with one word: “Yes.”

Still others want to see universal health care, so that no one is left out in the cold.

As one Vietnam war veteran put it: “If you can look into yourself and say, ‘Why not universal health care for all people?

“If we can spend $20 trillion to try to kill people, how about a few trillion dollars for wellness of the American people?” he said.

A woman from Quail Hollow assured Bilirakis that she wasn’t a paid activist, and like the vast majority of Americans, she wants to see members of Congress reach across the aisle to solve problems.

Many speakers praised Bilirakis for meeting with his constituents rather than ducking them, as other members of Congress have done.

“You are my constituents,” Bilirakis told the crowd. “I have an obligation to listen to you. The best ideas come from the people.”

One Wesley Chapel woman urged Bilirakis, when he goes back to Washington, to turn to a higher power for guidance on the health care issue.

“Get on your knees and ask God’s help to make the right decision,” she said.

Bilirakis issued a statement following his third listening session, noting that he will continue to seek common ground and constructive exchanges with people from his district.

“But, the Affordable Care Act in its current state is unsustainable, and it’s only going to get worse — costs are going up, while choices and flexibility are dwindling. We need a health care system that is truly patient-focused, and I will use the input from my recent meetings to shape my work on replacement legislation.”

Published March 1, 2017

Crowd gives Bilirakis an earful

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A crowd — that sometimes became raucous — turned out to a listening session held by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis on the issue of health care reform.

Bilirakis billed the session as an opportunity to receive feedback and ideas from constituents on the future direction of the nation’s health care system, including the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Many people brought signs to help communicate their views on the health care issue.
(B.C. Manion)

People filled every seat of the Pasco County Commission’s chambers at the West Pasco Government Center in New Port Richey during the Feb. 11 session.

They stood in the back of the chamber, and along both walls, and the overflow spilled into government center’s lobby and down a hallway corridor.

The crowd was made up of men and women, of all ages and ethnicities. Some came in wheelchairs. Some used walkers or canes.

Some carried signs proclaiming such messages such as: “Repair, not repeal.” “The ACA is pro life” and “Health Care is a Human Right.”

Television reports on the event aired on local and national networks, and excerpts of speakers streamed on social media.

The vast majority of speakers protested repealing and replacing the ACA.

Speakers told Bilirakis that repealing the ACA will cause chaos.

Some told Bilirakis that keeping the ACA, for them, or their loved ones, is truly a matter of life or death.

The crowd jeered in reaction to comments by Bill Akins, secretary of the executive committee of the Republican Party of Pasco County, who said: “There is a provision in there (the ACA) that anyone over the age of 74 has to go before what is effectively a death panel.”

As the crowd booed and shouted “no,” Akins insisted he was right. “The provision is in there.”

As speakers took their turn at the microphone, some folks in the lobby occasionally chanted, “Medicare for all. Medicare for all.”

In response, one man counter-chanted: “Make someone else pay. Make someone else pay.”

One speaker told Bilirakis that the ACA had not really worked because it was too expensive, and another said he preferred keeping the government out of his back pocket.

But, most of the speakers, including Ivana Sheppard, a member of Action Together Tampa Bay, want to see Obamacare improved — not repealed and replaced.

“Your job as a congressman is to fix it,” Sheppard told Bilirakis.

Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies should not be involved in reform efforts, she added. “Take their seat from the table. The insurance companies, the pharmaceutical companies should not be at the table,” she said.

“We are actively searching for (U.S. Sen.) Marco Rubio,” Sheppard added.

Beverly Ledbetter, active in Pasco County Democratic politics, reminded Bilirakis: “Affordable health care is more than being able to go to the doctor. It’s peace of mind. It’s the ability to know that you can be treated when you have an illness.

“I taught at Pasco High School, and I would have students who would come in that would be very upset. When I talked to them, I found out that mom had Stage IV breast cancer, or dad had lung cancer … They had to balance between paying their mortgage or getting health care.

“In East Pasco County, we have a 33 percent poverty level. Having access to affordable health care is important. We need a commitment that these people are not going to be left behind. We need a commitment that you’re going to listen and you’re going to act on our behalf.

“We ask that you not make America sick again,” Ledbetter said.

Other speakers told Bilirakis that repealing the ACA will cause people with pre-existing conditions to lose their access to health care. They said medicines will be too expensive, and they said without subsidies, people won’t be able to afford insurance.

Two doctors told Bilirakis that the ACA has resulted in people getting medical treatment sooner, before their conditions worsened.

In response to comments about Medicare, Bilirakis assured the crowd that Medicare will stay the same.

“Medicare will not be affected. Medicare is the greatest program in the history of the United States, and we’re going to keep it,” Bilirakis said.

He also said he knows that health care reforms are needed.

“Premiums are very, very high. We have to fix that,” said.

He said that increased competition between pharmaceutical companies will reduce prescription drug prices.

As speakers continued to share their opinions and experiences, Bilirakis told them: “We are taking notes, and I know this is being recorded. So, I’m going to take all of these stories with me to Washington.”

Published February 15, 2017

Conference focus: global careers

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Marshall Larsen, keynote speaker at a global business conference, offered an unusual bit of advice to Saint Leo University students.

Don’t automatically search for the biggest corporate paycheck, the retired Goodrich executive told students.

Marshall Larsen, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Goodrich Corporation, was keynote speaker at the seventh annual International Business Conference at Saint Leo University on March 10. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Marshall Larsen, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Goodrich Corporation, was keynote speaker at the seventh annual International Business Conference at Saint Leo University on March 10.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“If you want to do anything out of the corporate norm, do it right now. So, what if you fail? Do it now. You’ve got time,” Larsen said. “Your youth, at some point, will be gone. There’s my lesson for the day.”

About 500 students participated in the seventh annual International Business Conference on March 10 at the main campus of Saint Leo University, in St. Leo.

The event included guest speakers, panels, mock interviews, and a cybersecurity competition, dubbed “Capture the Flag.” The conference theme was “Achieving Success in the Global Economy.”

Larsen said he was undecided after graduating from business school. He ended up at Goodrich as a financial analyst, and spent 35 years with the company.

He is the retired chairman, president and chief executive officer of Goodrich Corporation. The company was founded in 1870 as a producer of rubber hoses. It later became a tire manufacturer. Over a 40-year period, Goodrich got out of the tire business and acquired aerospace companies that compete globally for contracts.

A major factor in the company’s success, as it transformed over the years, came down to creating a unifying culture that was open to ideas from every employee at Goodrich, Larsen said.

“I prided myself on having people there who could say ‘Marshall, you’re wrong,’” he said.

After his talk, Larsen took questions.

Saint Leo sophomore Mindy Vitale asked for advice on setting up a small international business. She is majoring in hospitality and international tourism.

A good plan, not just a good idea, is a requirement for any business to succeed, Larsen said. “There are these pesky things like cash flow.”

Vitale, 20, said she found Larsen’s views on life after graduation helpful as well. “I do want to travel,” she said. “I totally agree with him. Experience is important. What you learn through the process is really critical.”

One student asked Larsen for his view on how the business world would fair under either a Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton presidency.

“Who knows what’s going to happen?” he said. “Business is resilient, and they’ll figure out a way to grow.”

Congress also will have a say in the country’s future, he added.

“I’m just being very measured and watching this,” Larsen said. “I just hope for the sake of the country that we make the right decision.”

Panel discussions featured topics, such as women in leadership, the best degree for international business opportunities, and the changes in health care since the Affordable Care Act.

The leadership panel included Pamela Hobbs, vice president of human resources for the American Red Cross; Shirah Levine, managing director for institutional equity sales at Robert W. Baird & Co.; and Camille Renshaw, senior director and lead broker in New York City for Stan Johnson Company.

All of them found that hard work, a willingness to take risks, building relationships and being open to unexpected opportunities propelled them into successful careers.

Hobbs left her family dairy farm in upstate New York to relocate to Atlanta without having a job. She worked for 18 years in the solid waste industry, before taking her current position in human resources with the American Red Cross.

Renshaw got a liberal arts degree in college and later a fellowship in France “mostly because I didn’t know what else to do.”

Upon her return, she worked as an analyst for Turner Broadcasting System. She now is in commercial real estate and is founder of the New York office for Stan Johnson Company. Her clients include UBS and Checkers Drive-In restaurants.

Levine walked away from a full basketball scholarship in college, and worked a series of hourly-wage jobs including her favorite – a bartender.

She also went back to school and got a degree in communications and media studies.

At age 34, she now is a managing director and equity sales trader for Robert W. Baird & Co., a financial investment firm. She met her boss while working as bartender and bar manager and was invited for a job interview. At the time, Levine said she didn’t know a stock from a bond.

But she had drive, and better tests scores than her job competitors.

“I hope you guys see there are a lot of ways to skin a cat in this world,” Levine said.

Published March 16, 2016

Looking for a reason to get health insurance?

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The new year is coming, and with it a chance for many people to figure out whether they want to have health insurance for the coming year.

Bayfront Health Dade City, however, feels the decision to pick up health insurance is an easy yes — even for people who are generally quite healthy, because no one knows when they might be faced with an accident and need medical care.

And without that insurance, that person or his or her family may not be able to afford medical care when they need it most.

Also, those with health insurance are more likely to see their doctor before their condition worsens and becomes more expensive to treat. Those with diabetes and do not have health insurance have a higher mortality rate those than with diabetes and health insurance at the same time.

If someone doesn’t have health insurance and experiences a serious illness or medical emergency, he will be responsible for all his medical costs, the hospital said. Health insurance protects people and their families from financial hardships that may result from health care expenses.

Also, some colleges, universities and international programs require proof of health insurance to enroll.

One of the biggest changes to health insurance in recent years thanks to the Affordable Care Act is where someone cannot be denied because of pre-existing conditions, such as having diabetes or a previous cancer diagnosis. At the same time, all insurance plans on the marketplace must cover essential health benefits, including emergency services, hospitalization, outpatient care, pregnancy and maternity, mental health and substance abuse, and prescription drugs, among others.

Marketplace health plans also must cover a set of preventive services, like screenings, tests and vaccinations to keep adults and children healthy. Those preventive services are provided free of charge, meaning no copays or deductibles.

Many people may qualify for lower costs on a health plan, the hospital said. Depending on household income and family size, people could qualify for financial assistance from the government, or subsidies, toward the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like copays and deductibles.

Also, some people may qualify for lost-cost coverage through Medicaid. In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, as well as pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Although Florida has chosen not to expand Medicaid, there are still many people who qualify for Medicaid coverage in the state, the Dade City hospital said.

If nothing else, those without health coverage in 2015 who can afford it may have to pay a penalty of $325 per adult, $162.50 per child, and up to $975 per family — or 2 percent of family income, whichever is higher.

For example, a family of four with a household income of $40,500, would have a penalty of $975, since 2 percent of income would be $810. However, a family of four with a household income of $65,000 would have to pay the 2 percent, which in this case would be $1,300.

Bayfront Health Dade City is offering help through the 2015 enrollment deadline of Feb. 15, at (352) 518-1055.

Ready to vote? Here’s an election primer to help

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The mute button for many television viewers has never been used more through the barrage of political ads for everything from the governor’s race, to even Pasco County Commission.

Who will win? Voters will have a chance to express their opinions next Tuesday when Florida elects a governor, while local residents will choose a new state representative and a new county commissioner. (File Photo)
Who will win? Voters will have a chance to express their opinions next Tuesday when Florida elects a governor, while local residents will choose a new state representative and a new county commissioner. (File Photo)

But as early voting continues through this weekend, and on Election Day itself Nov. 4, all of that is about to come to an end.

The governor’s race remains too close to call, while more local races like the county commission have a history of fueling upsets.

It’s impossible to condense the entire political season into a single story, so here are some of the highlights of major candidates on the ballot.

Be sure to get the latest election news Nov. 4 on our website at LakerLutzNews.com, and aftermath coverage in our Nov. 12 print edition of The Laker/Lutz News.

GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Rick Scott, Republican
Has he done enough to win a second term as governor? Or is Florida ready to look to its recent past and bring in a familiar replacement?

Those are the questions Gov. Scott has to answer as he touts the number of jobs created during his first term, and where the state is heading economically into the future.

It’s been a virtual dead heat for Scott and his main opponent, and both have engaged in a lot of mudslinging that some political analysts say may discourage more voters from going to the polls than welcome them.

Scott struggled in his first couple years to connect with people, including media, and suffered a low approval rating until this past year when he worked to fix it. But issues like high-speed rail (which he killed) and his time as the head of a major hospital chain continue to provide fodder for Democrats.

Charlie Crist, Democrat
He tried being governor once, and ended up presiding over one of the worst economic downturns in history, where hundreds of thousands of jobs were lost.

But if that wasn’t difficult enough to overcome, Crist also has to convince voters he’s now a Democrat after a lifetime of being a Republican, which also means he’s changed his stance on a number of hot-button political issues.

Crist entered a race where the incumbent was certainly vulnerable, but it’s tough to tell if the $9 million he’s raised through last week is enough to top the deep pockets of the current governor.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Pam Bondi, Republican
She’s not afraid to take a stand and express her opinion, and it seems that’s what voters liked about Bondi when they first elected her to office in 2010.

Yet, her firm stance on controversial issues could pose some problems, especially as the state fought against the federal Affordable Care Act, and continues to defend its ban of gay marriage, which is now legal in most other states.

Bondi has raised $2.2 million in her re-election bid through last week.

George Sheldon, Democrat
He’s raised far less money than his opponent, but Sheldon — an attorney and government administrator on both the state and federal level — jumped into this race because he says the current attorney general has mishandled her responsibilities.

He feels there’s a disconnect between Bondi’s fight for the ban on gay marriage and her battle over the Affordable Care Act, saying that while marriage might be defending a law, the program informally called Obamacare also is the law of the land.

Sheldon has raised $760,000 through last week.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 38

Danny Burgess, Republican
He became the youngest Zephyrhills councilman at 18, and was the youngest mayor at 27. And he’s raised nearly $142,000 to try to replace Will Weatherford in Tallahassee.

Many Republicans look at Burgess as the future of the party, but opponents fear he lacks specific plans to help Pasco County overcome some serious growing pains.

Read more about Burgess at tinyurl.com/DannyBurgess.

Beverly Ledbetter, Democrat
After spending more than three decades as an educator in Pasco County’s school system, Ledbetter says she’s ready to use her experience in the state House.

While she has worked with the teachers union quite extensively, Ledbetter has not held any public office before. However, she is getting advice from her husband, Michael Ledbetter, who was a Pasco County commissioner in the 1970s.

But it could be a tough battle, as she’s raised just $34,000 through last week.

Read more about Ledbetter at tinyurl.com/BeverlyLedbetter.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 2

Mike Moore, Republican
He easily moved past a busy primary against two opponents — one who was a former state legislator — and has raised some serious cash: $171,000.

But if history is a guide, county commission races don’t always go to the best-funded campaigns.

Moore has run primarily on job creation, using his experience as an entrepreneur to help get face time with large corporations who might consider moving to Pasco County. Yet, he brings a personality far different from the woman who’s held the office the past two decades, Pat Mulieri, and that might turn off some voters.

Read more about Moore at tinyurl.com/MikeMoorePasco.

Erika Jean Remsberg, Democrat
She’s raised less than $11,000 in her race to become the first Democrat on the county commission since 2010, but Remsberg has certainly made her mark.

In fact, she won the endorsement of Mulieri, the retiring county commissioner who isn’t even a member of the same political party.

Remsberg is hoping for a major grassroots boost to propel her to victory, but the social worker knows it will be tough. Plus, it’s hard to tell how much she can accomplish as a political minority on a board with its own agenda.

Read more about Remsberg at tinyurl.com/ErikaRemsberg.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT No. 1

Water and Land Conservation – Dedicates funds to acquire and restore Florida conservation and recreation lands.
This amendment to the state constitution would move money already collected through an existing excise tax into a fund that would help purchase more conservation lands in the state.

The goal would be to help improve the environment and water quality, supporters say, and help provide a boost to the growing ecotourism movement as well.

Although there are no groups organized to oppose this amendment, some lawmakers and individuals feel this is an overreach of the constitutional amendment process, and could be more effective as a standard law through legislators.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT No. 2

Use of marijuana for certain medical conditions.
By far the most controversial measure on the ballot, which would have likely received far more attention if it weren’t for the tight gubernatorial race.

If passed, this amendment would open Florida up to allowing the use of marijuana for specific health conditions, under the guidance of a doctor.

The battle over medical marijuana has played out in several states already, with proponents saying this is a move of compassion for those who would suffer otherwise. Opponents, however, call this a loophole to try and legalize the drug for everyone, especially since other states like California have very loose restrictions on who qualifies for the program.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT No. 3

Prospective appointment of certain judicial vacancies.
This is probably the least known of the three amendments on the ballot, but one that could have significant impact on the state in future years.

Right now, Florida Supreme Court justices have terms that run the same time as the governor, meaning they are typically chosen by a new governor, rather than an outgoing governor.

If this amendment passes, the winner of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election will likely appoint three justices to the state supreme court before he leaves office in 2019. However, if the amendment fails, then the system will remain allowing the winner of the 2018 election to make that appointment.

Published October 29, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

Federal grant allows improved access to care

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A federal grant will expand opportunities for Pasco County residents to access health care services offered through Premier Community HealthCare Group Inc, which has offices across the county.

Premier was the only Pasco health care group in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area to receive one of the 48 federal grants awarded across Florida.

The health care provider received a $258,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be spent to hire a new pediatrician at Premier’s New Port Richey Family Heath Center in Trinity, and a full-time dental director at its Dade City Dental Center, 37944 Pasco Ave., Suite B, in Dade City.

Premier has more than 2,500 patients in the Central Pasco area, accessing care at its locations in Dade City, Zephyrhills and West Pasco, said Cheryl Pollack, business development director for the health care provider.

Premier is helping to implement the federal Affordable Care Act by providing care and linking individuals to coverage through outreach and enrollment in the health insurance marketplace.

The health care group provides primary care, behavioral health and dental care at locations throughout Pasco County. It offers services for children and adults.

Premier accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Kidcare and various insurance plans. It also serves people who are not insured, Pollack said. Their payment is determined on a sliding scale, based on income.

“We are designed to meet the needs of the population that may not have health care coverage,” Pollack said.

Published October 1, 2014

See this story in print: Click Here

From teacher to candidate, Ledbetter just can’t say no

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And when there’s a need, there’s Beverly Ledbetter.

The retired educator has made Dade City her home since the days of Richard Nixon, inspiring thousands of students at Pasco Junior High School and later Pasco High School for more than three decades. Along the way, Ledbetter found herself in the most unexpected jobs, whether it be coaching the school’s soccer team, or helping educators through her work with the teachers’ union.

Beverly Ledbetter says she’s always been motivated to find a voice for those who get pushed aside, and learned as a teacher the importance of understanding all sides of an issue. It’s her drive, she says, to get her to Tallahassee. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Beverly Ledbetter says she’s always been motivated to find a voice for those who get pushed aside, and learned as a teacher the importance of understanding all sides of an issue. It’s her drive, she says, to get her to Tallahassee.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

It was always impossible for Ledbetter to turn down a calling when she was needed, and that’s what attracted her to Will Weatherford’s state House seat — one that has her heading into a November contest against former Zephyrhills mayor Danny Burgess.

“There are a lot of things I see with our lawmakers that are very frustrating,” she said. “I’m particularly concerned with the lack of respect in Tallahassee.”

The polarizing political atmosphere that has practically crippled Washington has crept to the state level, making it impossible for someone to work with anyone they disagree with. That means Democrats — and a good chunk of the state’s population they represent — are being marginalized, with no one willing to break through and find ways to come together.

“One of the things that you learn as a teacher is to look at both sides of the issue,” Ledbetter said. “There are Republicans who have good ideas, just as there are Democrats who have good ideas, and they should be acknowledged.”

Ledbetter has always considered herself politically minded, and has made a number of trips to Tallahassee over the years lobbying for education. Her husband, Michael Ledbetter, was a Pasco County commissioner in the late 1970s, and the two actually met during a Young Democrats meeting at the University of South Florida several years before that.

Ledbetter actually considered running for school board, but realized quickly that she can make a greater impact overall by helping to set policy at the state level.

Many observers believe the advantage in the House race belongs to Burgess, a Dade City lawyer who was Zephyrhills’ youngest mayor. It’s a heavily Republican district already, and Burgess has strong name recognition — especially in eastern Pasco County.

Ledbetter, however, is hardly a stranger to voters. As a teacher and a coach, she has directly touched the lives of many in the area, which could help her draw votes from beyond Democrats. In fact, many of the people who signed her petitions to get on the ballot were Republicans, she said.

Raising money is going to be tough, however.

“My friends are teachers, many of them who haven’t had raises in a long time,” Ledbetter said. “When I get that check from a fellow teacher, and it’s usually around $25, it gives me a warm feeling. But I also know it’s an investment that makes me feel determined to go out and work my butt off, and prove that their trust in me is well-placed.”

Education is one of Ledbetter’s top priorities, but it’s not the only one she wants to tackle in Tallahassee. She also is pushing to expand Medicare coverage in the state to help get more residents health care through the federal Affordable Care Act. Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who opposes the federal health care program unofficially known as Obamacare, has refused to expand Medicare, citing a concern that the cost to do that will fall back on Florida taxpayers.

“How can you look a parent in the eye and tell them their family can’t have medical attention?” Ledbetter said. “I taught kids who had teeth rotting out, and kids who needed glasses. Luckily, in Dade City, we have some very generous doctors and dentists who were willing to step up and help, but not everywhere is like Dade City.”

Ledbetter also wants to spur economic growth not by giving companies large amounts of money and tax breaks to locate here, but to help train the workforce so they can attract higher-wage jobs to the state.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy,” she said. “When you can give them a leg up, and give them the support they need, they will create the jobs.”

Ledbetter is a lifelong Democrat, but says she would prefer to label herself a “practical realist.” That means acknowledging her November election is a tough one to win, but also knows that when it comes to voters, they can sometimes do the unexpected.

“It’s going to be difficult, I know that,” she said. “But I believe in standing up for people who can’t necessarily do it for themselves, whether it’s the elderly, children, or simply people who need health insurance. That’s why I’m a Democrat.”

BEVERLY LEDBETTER
Democrat for House District 38

Occupation
Lead faculty, Saint Leo University
Retired teacher, Pasco County Schools

Family
Michael Ledbetter, husband
Nathan Ledbetter, son
Courtney Williams, daughter

Residence
Dade City, since 1973

Fundraising, through July 4
$15,162

Published July 30, 2014

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Seminar helps business owners understand Obamacare

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There are supporters and detractors of the Affordable Care Act — better known as Obamacare — but no matter where you stand on the issue, unless you qualify for a subsidy, you’ll pay higher insurance rates.

Insurance agent Jason Greif helps explain some of the ins and outs of health care reform, also known as Obamacare. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Insurance agent Jason Greif helps explain some of the ins and outs of health care reform, also known as Obamacare.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

That’s what Jason Greif, an insurance agent with U.S. Health Group, told members of a health insurance reform class at the SmartStart Dade City incubator April 8.

The insurance agent, who has been in the industry for eight years, explained changes in health care law, talking about the pros and cons of the new requirements, and the different kinds of insurance coverage that are available in the health care marketplace. Greif also explained the penalty for not purchasing health insurance, which is now mandatory, and he talked about the risks that people face when they don’t have insurance.

“A lot of people are misinformed,” Greif said.

Part of Obamacare took effect on March 23, 2010, he said, noting that’s when insurance companies had to begin covering what has been defined as essential health benefits.

“There are 10 of them,” Greif said. They include services ranging from child immunizations to maternity care, mammograms to colonoscopies.

“What do you guys think is going to happen to the rates if the insurance companies have to cover everybody’s colonoscopy? They go up,” he said. “I actually am for Obamacare for a lot of different reasons. But it has increased the rates.”

Another big change happened on Jan. 1. That’s when insurance companies could no longer deny coverage.

“No matter what, anybody can get health insurance,” Greif said.

That’s good news for people who were denied coverage before, but it drives up insurance rates as a result. In the past, people with certain conditions could only get coverage as part of a group.

“It’d really be disheartening for me to say, ‘There’s nothing I can do. You have diabetes, I can’t get you insurance,’” Greif said. “Nobody could do anything for them,” unless they were able to get covered through a group.

“It’s almost more of a socialistic approach to healthcare. But for people that are sick, for people that get a subsidy, it’s actually an amazing program because those people were not able to get insurance,” Greif said.

This year’s open enrollment is over. The only way to enroll through the marketplace outside of the enrollment period is to have a life-changing event such as moving, losing group insurance or having a child, Greif said.

The next enrollment period begins Nov. 15.

Those who want to get an idea of what their rates would be can go to a website, HealthSherpa.com, to get a fairly close estimate of what to expect, Greif said.

“This is a great website. The quotes are usually $5 higher or lower. It’s a way you can get an accurate quote and you don’t have to go on Healthcare.gov and create a profile and give all of your personal information out,” he said.

Now, health insurance rates are based on age, tobacco use and ZIP code, Greif said. Eligibility for subsidies is based on income.

Still, there are choices in the types of coverage and the rates that are attached to those, he said. Some coverage types allow people to choose doctors who are inside or outside of their network, while others allow people to use only doctors within their networks.

Some of the networks have more doctors than others, Greif said. It’s important to find out exactly what the plan includes.

Greif recommends a plan that allows individuals the most latitude when it comes to selecting which doctors and hospitals will treat them.

For those who disregard the law and do not get health insurance, the penalty is either $95 or 1 percent of the individual’s modified gross adjusted income, whichever is higher, Greif said.

Regardless of where people stand on Obamacare, Greif said having coverage is essential. Without it, he said, people who have serious medical emergencies or conditions can go bankrupt in a matter of days.

Published April 16, 2014

Wesley Chapel hospital exceeding expectations in first year

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When Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel was preparing to open its doors last October, it expected to have 400 employees.

Less than a year later, it has 600.

“For the 600 jobs that we have, we had over 25,000 applicants,” hospital chief executive Brian Adams said last week. “Not all of those applicants, of course, were qualified for roles in health care. But even in nursing, for every one job, we had more than 10 applicants.”

A look at the interior of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (File photo)
A look at the interior of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. (File photo)

Adams was sharing the news with the economic development committee of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Having so many applicants means the hospital can really be selective, and focus purely on talent. The Wesley Chapel hospital, for example, has an average of 10 years experience.

And the hospital has outpaced projections in other areas as well. Its 26,000 emergency room visits and 380 baby deliveries are roughly double original expectations, Adams said. Other first-year figures include 3,800 admissions and 1,800 surgeries.

Business owners may wonder if people will travel into Wesley Chapel to get health care, and the answer to that is that they do, Adams said.

“The economic development piece of having a business that not only employs 600 people in the community, but also attracts people into Wesley Chapel, is a real benefit,” he said. “Many of the individuals who now come to Wesley Chapel for care were traveling out of the county for care, so they were going down into Hillsborough County, which means they see physicians in Hillsborough County, which means they stop for lunch on their way to see those physicians in Hillsborough.”

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel sits on 52 acres on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, west of SR 56. It has 83 beds, with the capability expanding to 299.

The hospital itself is three stories now, but can rise to six when the hospital needs more room to handle increasing health care needs, Adams said. And it might be sooner rather than later. Figures by the hospital show population growth in the area between 2.9 percent and 4 percent by 2017.

There are other factors to consider as well beyond just population growth, and that’s something the Wesley Chapel hospital stays cognizant of, Adams said. One is how much health care people are using.

“In this community, it’s going down, mainly because of the shift of cost from employer-based health plans to individual-based health plans,” Adams said.

The age of the population also figures in. In a community like Wesley Chapel, where the population is growing younger, the amount of healthcare used is lower than in a community like Zephyrhills, where the population is older.

The hospital is working to be a good neighbor, and may even reach out to Pasco-Hernando Community College after it opens its Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in January. The college is taking shape on a site near the intersection of SR 56 and Mansfield Boulevard, not far from the hospital.

“Having PHCC in the community will only benefit all of us,” Adams said. “I’ve had a number of conversations with the leadership at PHCC, and we believe part of our role is to create opportunities for students to learn and grow in a real-life setting.”

That’s common in the medical field, especially in the nursing field, he said. Having PHCC offer a transition to bachelor’s-level nursing can only help surrounding hospitals like Wesley Chapel’s.

Finally, with the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act on the horizon, Adams was optimistic that many pieces of the federal plan will benefit the community.

“People having access to the health care, at the primary care level, is probably the best way to best reduce our overall healthcare spend,” he said. “The most expensive time to care for a patient is when they have reached a point in their health where the intervention takes heavy resources.”

It also means taking steps now to prevent more serious health problems in the future.

“If you can help someone who didn’t have insurance to go to a physician and get their diabetes under control before that diabetes wreaked havoc on their heart, it’s a totally different approach,” Adams said.

But there will also be changes in the way employers handle insurance, by some employers no longer covering spouses that can get insurance elsewhere, and the proliferation of high-deductible health plans as companies try to offer affordable insurance to low-wage employees.

Ultimately, Adams thinks that consumers will drive the need for quality care, especially if they are paying the first $10,000 of their health care costs out-of-pocket due to high deductibles in their insurance plans.