Lawmakers Looks For Agreenment In Opiod Battle
March 8, 2018
Lawmakers continued to negotiate the terms of opioid legislation Wednesday, with the Senate standing firm in its position that insurance companies should not put obstacles in the way of medication-assisted therapy.
The Senate took up a House opioids bill (HB 21) but tagged on an amendment that includes appropriating $54.5 million for such things as outpatient and residential treatment. It also would ban insurers and HMOs from using prior authorization or “step therapy” or making other requirements as a prerequisite to the use of medication-assisted therapy in treating substance abuse.
Senators are expected to vote on the bill Thursday and send it back to the House.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Wednesday night that the bill tackles the state’s growing opioid problem like the public health crisis that it is.
“For men and women who come forward and have an addiction who want help, they want to turn their lives around, they want to go back to work and be with their families … that should be treated as a public health issue, and I think this bill goes a long way toward that,” Negron said..
The original House bill did not have the medication-assisted treatment language, and it remains an issue the two chambers must hammer out before the 2018 legislative session ends in the coming days.
The centerpiece of the bill, however, may be a three-day limit on prescriptions for treatment of acute pain. Physicians could prescribe up to seven-day supplies of controlled substances if deemed medically necessary.
The Senate agreed with the House to exempt from the prescription limits cancer patients, people who are terminally ill, palliative care patients and those who suffer from major trauma. The bill also would require physicians or their staff members to check with a statewide database before prescribing or dispensing drugs.
As amended, the bill would earmark $991,000 for improvements to the database, known as the prescription drug monitoring program, so that it can interface with physicians’ offices and electronic health records used by doctors.
The bill, proponents of opioid limits say, will go a long way toward helping the state curb the use of opioids, which are narcotic painkillers that have caused widespread overdoses.
In 2016, heroin caused 952 deaths in Florida, fentanyl caused 1,390 deaths, oxycodone caused 723 deaths, and hydrocodone caused 245 deaths. Those statistics led Gov. Rick Scott in May 2017 to declare a state of emergency.
The $54.5 million in funding is a slight increase from an original Senate proposal of $53 million. Negron said the chambers haven’t finalized the opioid funding and that the amount of money could still increase. That would be good, said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“My thoughts are $53 million is a great start for this year, but we need much more to combat that crisis overall,” she said.
by Christine Sexton, The News Service of Florida
Marjorie Marsa Leah Wellman Belanger
March 8, 2018
Marjorie Marsa Leah Wellman Belanger, age 84, of Brewton, Alabama went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 4, 2018. She was born on March 10, 1933 in Houston, Texas, the baby of nine children born to Benjamin Harrison and Myrtle Valentine Wellman. Shortly after her birth they returned to Florida where she grew up in Lake Worth and West Palm Beach.
She married Bryan J. Belanger in 1950 and they were married 66 years until Bryan’s death in 2016 at the age of 84. They had two children, Vickie and Bryan, Jr. whom they loved dearly. Her favorite pastimes were being a mother and homemaker, caring for her family, reading her Bible, teaching Sunday School, raising her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren and great-great grandchild to love the Lord, and sharing Jesus with others. As her love for the Lord grew she carried a small red New Testament Bible (King James Version) in her purse for many years so that she could accurately tell and share with others The Word of God. Marjorie was a kind person who truly followed God’s Commandment to Love Others.
Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bryan; her son, Bryan, Jr.; and seven brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her sister, Ada Wellman Baker of West Palm Beach, Florida; her daughter, Vickie Lynn Belanger (David) West of Berrydale, Florida; two grandsons, David (Cecilla) West, ll of Remlap, Alabama and William Joseph West of Brewton, Alabama; four great-grandchildren, Dawson (Brandii) West, Jessica West, Danay West; two great-great grandchildren; a beloved sister-in- law, Jean Belanger (Davis) Woody; brother-in- law, John Belanger and many dear nieces and nephews and a special friend, Ashley Dykes, her faithful and loving Care Giver. We appreciate more than words can express the sacrifices made by her precious family the many times Ashley would stay overtime with us to help with Margie’s unexpected needs. And last, but not least, our family would like to thank Emerald Coast Hospice. Each nurse and staff member exhibited love and compassion daily for our Mother and Grandmother during her last months. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice, 5536 Stewart Street, Milton, Florida, 32570.
Visitation will be held from 11:00 am til 12:00 pm with services following at 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Crossroads Community Church, 110 Grice Street, East Brewton, Alabama. Jay Chapel is in charge of the arrangements
Donald Martin Anderson
March 8, 2018
Donald Martin Anderson was born on July 9, 1945 in Milwaukee, WI to Gudmund Martin and Mary Estelle (Graves) Anderson. Don grew up in Sioux Falls, SD where he graduated from Washington High School in 1963. He attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD where he met his wife. Don and Sandi were married on June 5, 1968. In 1969, Don was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the United States Air Force Officer’s Training School at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. He was stationed in Biloxi, MS when his daughter Angie was born. He was trained as an Air Traffic Controller. During his tenure he was also stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, Rapid City, SD, Thule Air Base, Greenland and also Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane, WA when his son Brian was born. By the end of his 6 year military service, Don was a Captain. Don loved playing golf, racket ball and tennis. He had his aviation pilot’s license. But his favorite pastime was boating and fishing for walleye on the Missouri River. He loved playing cards, games and putting puzzles together with his family and friends. Don retired from Wells Fargo after 23 years as a Compliance Officer. Don and Sandi moved to Pensacola, FL in 2001. Don’s faith in the Lord was strengthened during his battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at home March 4, 2018 with his loving family surrounding him.
Don was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Sandi of 49 years, his daughter Angie (Phil) Grantland, son Brian (Lara) Anderson, sister Debbie (Dave) Keleher, and his eight grandchildren; Brittany Prince, Jordan Prince, Taylor (Chris) Howton, and Allie, Kahlert, Bethany, BriLea andEli Anderson.
A special thank you to Emerald Coast Hospice for such great care they gave to Don. Visitation will be Friday, March 9, 2018 at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the memorial service at 11:30 a.m. with Pastors Ronald Rice and Ben Watts officiating.
SWAT Standoff Suspect In Custody; Deputy Receives Minor Injuries
March 7, 2018
A standoff has ended, a deputy is recovering and suspect in is custody after an incident in Escambia County Wednesday afternoon.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said the deputy received a minor injury after the a man fired “something” out of the house and shrapnel hit the deputy. The man then ran to a home near Avery Street and Hollywood Avenue and barricaded himself inside. The deputy’s injury was minor enough that he did not receive medial attention.
The suspect, 59-year old Dale Allen Brown, will face multiple charges including aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, armed burglary and trespassing in the incident that began with a trespassing complaint.
A SWAT team surrounding the house in a standoff that last nearly two hours before Brown was taken into custody.
Pictured: Dale Allen Brown
Mayor: Company Moving Gas Pipeline Route Into Century Residential Neighborhoods
March 7, 2018
The company constructing a new underground natural gas pipeline wants to change their route and route the pipeline through several residential neighborhoods in Century, according to Mayor Henry Hawkins.
Florida Public Utilities is constructing the pipeline through North Escambia from Century to Nine Mile Road. Plans originally presented to the Century Town Council in April 2017 showed the pipeline along Fannie and Old Flomaton roads to Highway 4, then south on Highway 29 to Pensacola.
However, Hawkins said the company is abandoning plants to bore and place the pipeline under Highway 29 from Highway 4 south through the town. Instead, the mayor said the company plans to bury the 12-inch natural gas pipeline on the right of way on Jefferson Street to Salter’s Lake Road.
The Century Town Council will hold a special meeting at 2:15 p.m. Thursday to discuss the alternative pipeline route. Escambia County Commissioner Steven Barry said Tuesday that he expects a county representative to attend the meeting; Salters Lake Road is a county road outside the town limits.
The pipeline continues south from Century along Highway 29 right of way from Century to Old Chemstrand Road. From there, an eight-inch line will follow Old Chemstrand Road to Ascend, while another eight-inch line will continue south on Highway 29 to Highway 95A in Cantonment to West Roberts Road to Pine Forest Road to West Nine Mile Road where the project will connect to an existing gas system.
Pictured below: Plan originally submitted to the Town of Century shows natural gas pipeline along Highway 4 then south on Highway 29.
UPDATED: Male Bitten By Dog Near McDavid; Deputies Forced To Put Down Dog
March 7, 2018
[UPDATED 9:30 a.m.] A young adult male was bitten by a dog at home near McDavid Tuesday afternoon. The 19-year suffered injuries that were not considered serious.
The incident happened inside a residence in the 700 block of North Pine Barren Road, near Lambert Bridge Road. The owners of the dog reported that their child was eating popcorn when their 2.5-year old dog began charging toward their younger child. The victim grabbed the dog’s collar, and the dog turned and bit his arm, according to an Escambia County Animal Control report.
“The residents were laying on top of the dog that was reported as being highly aggressive when a responding deputy shot the dog in the head inside the home,” the report states.
The owners told animal control that the dog was properly vaccinated. Rabies testing was not possible due to the gunshot.
The victim refused transport by Escambia County EMS. The county report states that the parents were going to transport their son directly to the hospital.
The breed of the dog was not specified in the report.
The McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue also responded to the scene.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wreck Of USS Lexington Found After 76 Years; Ship Was Predecessor Of Pensacola’s Lady Lex
March 7, 2018
Wreckage from the USS Lexington has been discovered by the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel, which is owned by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen. The Lexington was found 3,000 meters (approximately two miles) below the surface, resting on the floor of the Coral Sea more than 500 miles off the eastern coast of Australia.
“To pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her is an honor,” Mr. Allen said. “As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence and sacrifice.”
As one of the first U.S. aircraft carriers ever built, the Lexington became known as “Lady Lex” and went down with 35 aircraft on board.
“Lexington was on our priority list because she was one of the capital ships that was lost during WWII,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Mr. Allen. “Based on geography, time of year and other factors, I work together with Paul Allen to determine what missions to pursue. We’ve been planning to locate the Lexington for about six months and it came together nicely.”
The USS Lexington was originally commissioned as a battlecruiser but was launched as an aircraft carrier in 1925. She took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) along with the USS Yorktown against three Japanese carriers. This was the first carrier versus carrier battle in history and was the first time Japanese forces suffered a permanent setback in its advances on New Guinea and Australia. However, the U.S. lost the Lexington and 216 of its distinguished crew.
The Lexington had been hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs on May 8 but it was a secondary explosion causing uncontrolled fires that finally warranted the call to abandon ship. The USS Phelps delivered the final torpedoes that sank the crippled Lady Lex, the first aircraft carrier casualty in history. With other U.S. ships standing by, 2,770 crewmen and officers were rescued, including the captain and his dog Wags, the ships ever-present mascot.
During the Battle of the Coral Sea the Japanese navy sank USS Lexington (CV-2), USS Sims (DD-409), and USS Neosho (AO-23), and damaged the USS Yorktown. The Japanese lost one light carrier (Shōhō) and suffered significant damage to a fleet carrier (Shōkaku).
“As we look back on our Navy throughout its history, we see evidence of an incredible amount of heroism and sacrifice. The actions of Sailors from our past inspire us today,” said Sam Cox, Director of the Naval History and Heritage Command and retired U.S. Navy Rear Adm. “So many ships, so many battles, so many acts of valor help inform what we do now.”
The Battle of the Coral Sea was notable not only for stopping a Japanese advance but because it was the first naval engagement in history where opposing ships never came within sight of each other. This battle ushered in a new form of naval warfare via carrier-based airplanes. One month later, the U.S. Navy surprised Japanese forces at the Battle of Midway, and turned the tide of the war in the Pacific for good.
Based on some initial success with his M/Y Octopus, Mr. Allen acquired and retrofitted the 250-foot R/V Petrel with state-of-the-art subsea equipment capable of diving to 6,000 meters (or three and a half miles). Since its deployment in early 2017, the ship was active in several missions in the Philippine Sea before its transition to the Coral Sea off the Australian Coast.
Allen-led expeditions have also resulted in the discovery of the USS Indianapolis (August 2017), USS Ward (November 2017), USS Astoria (February 2015), Japanese battleship Musashi (March 2015) and the Italian WWII destroyer Artigliere (March 2017). His team was also responsible for retrieving the ship’s bell from the HMS Hood for presentation to the British Navy in honor of its heroic service. Mr. Allen’s expedition team was permanently transferred to the newly acquired and retrofitted R/V Petrel in 2016 with a specific mission around research, exploration and survey of historic warships and other important artifacts.
Photos courtesy Paul G. Allen for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge
County Receives 77 Applications For Escambia Fire Rescue Chief Job
March 7, 2018
There were 77 people that applied for the Escambia Fire Rescue chief job to replace former Chief Patrick Grace who was relieved of duties in late January.
Local applicants include Molino District Fire Chief Anthony Manning, Ferry Pass District Fire Chief Michael Aaron, current Pensacola Fire Chief David Allen, former Pensacola Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and former Pensacola Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Glover (a current part time ECFR employee), and current ECFR lieutenants Daniel Akerman and Richard Bode.
Applicants are, in alphabetical order:
- Aaron, Michael A.
- Adams, John D.
- Akerman, Daniel Augustus
- Allen, David E.
- Anderson Jr, Paul
- Banta, Oral W.
- Baskett, Burney K
- Beaty Jr, William D.
- Blackwell, Marion F.
- Bode, Richard C.
- Boudreaux, Richard Paul
- Brewer, Wesley R.
- Brinson, Derrick P.
- Brown, Melvin
- Buckley, Craig Nelson
- Bumgarner, Hal K.
- Collins, Larry L.
- Costo, Henry J.
- Cox, Stephen F.
- Davis, Michael Paul
- Demeter, Stephen L.
- Dickson, Patrick N.
- Dixon, Joseph W.
- Dyer Jr, Al G.
- Ferris, Robert C
- Fields, Thomas H.
- Fullenlove, Bruce. 0
- Gilcrease, Gavin C.
- Glover, Joseph A.
- Green, Bradley Terrance
- Guidry, Dennis Michael
- Harshburger, Daniel B.
- Horton, Don J.
- Hudson, Steven C.
- Hume, Robert K.
- Hussey, Jeff A.
- Johnson, Jeffrey S
- Kane, Michael P
- Keith, Craig L.
- Knowles, David L.
- Kolommt, Richard
- Lewis, Allen G.
- Long, Alan James
- Manning, Anthony P.
- Manuel, Kevin Blaine
- Marrison, Jerry L.
- McBride, Stephen W.
- Mitchell, Keith T.
- Mullen, Lonnie R.
- Nail, Russell Clark
- Naylo, Merrill
- Perry, Troy F.
- Priggemeie, Bryce Adam
- Reilly, Dennis P.
- Riley, Richard D.
- Risen, A Michael
- Rodriguez, Ronald A.
- Samarelll, James Sr.
- Sanchez, Richard L.
- Schmitt, Matthew J.
- Shutts, Ronnie L.
- Slayman, Donald R.
- Smith, Edward W.
- Smith, Paul Randall
- Smith, Stephen G.
- Soule, Timothy H.
- Stillwagon II, James A
- Swan Jr, Richard C.
- Swanson, Derrick E.
- Swartout, Brian R.
- Taylor, Vance A.
- Thomas Ill, Thomas A.
- Venegas, Edmundo
- Vinyard, William D.
- Voge, Michael “CJ”
- Woodworth, Steven P.
- Young, Christopher Kenneth
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Florida Lawmakers Will Need To Go Overtime On Budget
March 7, 2018
Florida lawmakers will need to go into overtime because of an impasse about hospital spending in final negotiations over a new state budget.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, told House members Tuesday night that lawmakers will have to extend the session, scheduled to end Friday, or hold a special session.
“Make preparations because that’s kind of where we are headed,” Corcoran said after a day of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Senate.
Corcoran (pictured) said a “best-case scenario” would be finishing the session Saturday. But he also said it was possible the session would be extended to Monday or that Gov. Rick Scott could call a special session that might start as soon as Monday.
It will mark the second year in a row that the Legislature was unable to complete its annual session in the allotted 60 days.
Last year, lawmakers extended the session for three days to vote on the budget and then had to return for a special session after Scott vetoed the public-school portion of the budget, which he deemed inadequate.
Corcoran did not detail the reasons for being unable to reach agreement.
But earlier, Senate Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R- Fleming Island, said the House and Senate were continuing to negotiate payments to Florida’s hospitals. At least part of the issue involves whether to scrap a long-standing payment system for a new system that would increase base Medicaid rates paid to every hospital, regardless of Medicaid patient load.
Late Tuesday morning, Bradley said it was “too early to tell” whether lawmakers would be able to reach agreement on an $87 billion-plus spending plan by midnight. Meeting the deadline would have given lawmakers enough time to adhere to a mandated 72-hour cooling-off period before a final budget vote on Friday, the last scheduled day of the 2018 session.
But when Corcoran spoke to House members about 8:15 p.m., he made clear the budget wouldn’t be done in time.
The House’s proposed spending plan for hospitals in the upcoming year is essentially a continuation of the current year’s budget. But the Senate has proposed redistributing $318 million in Medicaid “automatic rate enhancements” currently paid to 28 hospitals with large Medicaid caseloads and use it to increase the rates paid for all hospitals.
The Senate budget also includes $50 million to offset the recurring effect of the current year’s budget cuts on hospitals. The Senate plan has been endorsed by some rural hospitals that say the additional $50 million in the Senate plan is what they need.
But the Senate proposal would reduce Medicaid payments to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami by as much as $58 million and Orlando Health by nearly $9 million. House Appropriations Chairman Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, said the House would not let safety-net facilities such as those face steep reductions.
HCA Healthcare, a for-profit chain that owns 43 facilities in the state, could see nearly $40.5 million in Medicaid increases under the Senate plan. Tenet, which owns nine hospitals in Florida, would see a nearly $4 million increase in Medicaid payments under the Senate plan, and Community Health Systems, which owns 23 hospitals in Florida, would see as much as a $7.7 million bump in Medicaid payments.
The Senate budget also includes an additional $130 million increase in Medicaid payments for nursing homes that aren’t included in the House budget.
Bradley said Tuesday that once the chambers agree on the hospital spending they will discuss nursing homes.
Negotiations have been completed on a $21 billion public school budget and a $7.9 billion budget for state universities and colleges, including financial aid, Bradley said. But as of Tuesday evening, lawmakers had not released the details of the agreement.
Based on earlier public negotiations, lawmakers will not increase state performance funding for universities and state colleges. That funding would remain at $245 million for the universities and $30 million for the 28 state colleges.
Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said Monday night he expects the university system to receive an additional $20 million that would be shared by schools that have reached “pre-eminent” status, including the University of Florida and Florida State University. The University of South Florida is also expected to achieve that status in the coming year and would share those funds.
Negron also said he expects a $20 million increase in the “world class” program, which is money shared by all the universities to attract top-level professors and researchers. Another $10 million increase would go to rewarding high-performing medical, law and professional schools.
In the public-school system, lawmakers have agreed to roughly a $500 million increase in the funding formula for the 67 school districts, which should yield a per-student increase in the range of $100 in the new academic year.
School funding was impacted by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, with lawmakers agreeing to spend an additional $400 million on school-safety and mental-health initiatives.
School-safety legislation (SB 7026) debated Tuesday in the House includes a $97.5 million increase for the “safe schools” program in the funding formula. It would boost the program, which helps the 67 school districts hire school resources officers, to $162 million in the 2018-2019 academic year.
The legislation also would provide $67 million to the school districts in a new mental-health category in the funding formula.
But one of the impacts of shifting more state funding to school safety may be Gov. Rick Scott’s call for an $18 million increase in funding to help teachers buy classroom supplies. The increase sought by Scott would have boosted the annual support to $350 for each teacher, although it appears the program is likely to remain at its current level of $45.3 million, which provides $250 a year.
Winning Fantasy 5 Ticket Worth Over $100K Sold In Molino
March 7, 2018
Someone is over $100,000 richer this morning after purchasing a winning Florida Lottery Fantasy 5 ticket in Molino.
The ticket sold at the Molino First Stop on Highway 95A was one of two winning tickets sold for Tuesday night’s drawing and is worth $103,970.74. The other winning ticket was sold in Merritt Island.
The 277 tickets matching four numbers won $121 each. Another 9,006 tickets matching three numbers are worth $10 each, and 92,072 ticket holders won a Quick Pick ticket for picking two numbers.
Tuesday’s Fantasy 5 winning numbers were 2-4-13-19-33.