logo
Florida bill would exempt veterans from medical marijuana fees

Florida bill would exempt veterans from medical marijuana fees

Yahoo05-04-2025

(NewsNation) — Military veterans may soon pay less for medical marijuana if a Florida bill becomes law.
HB 555 in the state legislature would exempt honorably discharged veterans from having to pay the $75 registration fee for medical marijuana cards.
In Florida, the medical marijuana program requires a patient, who must be a resident, to receive a diagnosis from a physician, apply for an identification card and pay the registration fee.
Wealthy Americans have similar death rate to poor Europeans: Study
The bill would also require cardholders to renew their registration every two years, an extension from the previous annual requirement.
Renewals also cost $75, so the bill would alleviate veterans of this fee.
Because marijuana is illegal on a federal level, medical marijuana is not covered by Medicare, and any doctor's visits to obtain a qualifying diagnosis would be out of pocket.
Medical marijuana was legalized in Florida in 2016.
The Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee has advanced the bill but has yet to reach the House floor. If passed, it would take effect July 1.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

HR leaders: How Cigna Healthcare's solutions prioritize employee mental health
HR leaders: How Cigna Healthcare's solutions prioritize employee mental health

Business Journals

timean hour ago

  • Business Journals

HR leaders: How Cigna Healthcare's solutions prioritize employee mental health

Today's health care system is fragmented and complex, causing waste, frustration, delayed care, and increased costs. What's more, data paints the picture of the mental health crisis in our country. For one, the sheer size of the population in need stands at 25% of adults. [1] It's no wonder there's a long wait time to see a therapist. [2] Then consider that over half (55%) of those suffering do not get care, and the problems can really mount. [3 Cigna Healthcare® leverages our extensive data and predictive models to identify and engage at-risk customers. Unlike many competitors, this approach helps us reach many of the 55% of people with mental health conditions who don't seek care. Mental and physical health are connected Cigna Healthcare's value of integration study proves the impact of integrating medical, pharmacy, and behavioral health on individuals care and total medical costs. [4] Real savings $193 per member per year (PMPY) total medical cost savings across the Cigna Healthcare book of business $9,207 PMPY total medical cost savings when engaged in a health improvement opportunity Real engagement 37% more health risk assessments 14% more personalized outreaches 60% more sessions Real opportunity Savings are even greater for those with diagnosed conditions and engaged in a health improvement opportunity [5] Diabetes - $851 PMPY Obesity - $10,414 PMPY Bone and joint problems - $10,418 PMPY Depression - $7,366 PMPY Health care that's better by design Mental health solutions are imperative for overall health and well-being. Cigna Healthcare is here to help with solutions that make it easier for you and your employees to get better care, faster. Find a match: Customers can search online or talk to one of our personal care navigators who will help find a therapist or counselor that meets their preferences. Get an appointment fast: We help customers get an appointment — often in as little as two days. Personal support: We follow up on 100% of customer interactions. Available 24/7: Customers have unlimited real-time access to licensed clinicians for in-the-moment sessions. Discover how Cigna Healthcare supports you and your employees in life's ordinary and extraordinary health moments through predictive, personalized, and connected experiences. Sources: [1] John Hopkins Medicine. 'Mental Health Disorder Statistics.' January 24, 2022. [2] Average wait time to see a therapist is 6 weeks. Nietzel, Michael T. Almost Half of Americans Don't Seek Professional Help For Mental Disorders, Forbes. May 24, 2021. [3] Reinert, M, Fritze, D. & Nguyen, T. 'The State of Mental Health in America 2023' Mental Health America, Alexandria VA. Oct. 2022. [4] Cigna Healthcare 2024 National Book of Business study of 2023 claims of medical customers who have Cigna Healthcare integrated medical, pharmacy and Cigna Total Behavioral Health® benefits. Average annual per member per year (PMPY) – Individual client/customer results will vary and are not guaranteed. Cigna Healthcare used a match case-control methodology developed at Harvard University to produce supplementary statistics on different subsets of customers (those with certain comorbidities, who engaged in health improvement activities, etc.) A control group isolates the difference in medical cost. The sample size and methodology are consistent with previous years' analyses, and do not reflect any selection biases or partialities. [5] Engagement in a health improvement opportunity includes coaching or case management while also taking action, such as closing a gap in care or receiving additional support.

Van Hollen, other Dems push legislation to boost Medicaid and counter Trump cuts
Van Hollen, other Dems push legislation to boost Medicaid and counter Trump cuts

Yahoo

time2 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Van Hollen, other Dems push legislation to boost Medicaid and counter Trump cuts

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) in a file photo from February. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Senate Democrats unveiled a package of bills Thursday aimed at expanding access to health care coverage, including one bill modeled after a successful Maryland law that lets taxpayers use their tax returns to enroll in care. Sen. Chris Van Hollen's (D-Md.) 'Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act' is one of about a dozen bills — including one from Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) requiring Medicaid and Medicare to provide dental, vision and hearing coverage — put forward by Democratic senators as a response to the Trump administration's efforts to cut federal health care spending. 'We're all here for those two reasons,' Van Hollen said Thursday at a Capitol Hill news conference to unveil the bills. 'One is to shine a light on the great damage and harm the Trump Republican plan will do. But also to put forward some ideas about what we could be doing to actually make health care better for more Americans.' Van Hollen joined Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico to unveil the bills. The Democratic legislation comes at a time when the Senate is deliberating the Republican-backed 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' The budget reconciliation bill would implement a number of Trump agenda items, including drastic cuts to Medicaid and other supports that backers say are needed to rein in what they call 'waste, fraud and abuse' in those programs. With a Republican majority in both the Senate and the House, Wyden acknowledged that the Democratic bills have little chance of passage. But. he said, Democrats still hope Republicans will work with them on the legislation and 'do the right thing.' Report: Up to 100,000 Marylanders could lose coverage if Medicaid imposes work requirements Democrats and health care advocates say the budget reconciliation bill would create more administrative hurdles for Medicaid recipients and will result in millions of people losing coverage, even if they would be eligible for the joint state-federal health care program. 'It's 'beautiful' if you're a billionaire or a very wealthy person. For everybody else, it's an ugly mess,' Van Hollen said of the GOP bill. 'It comes at the expense of everybody else in America. And that's especially true when it comes to attacking health care … In fact, it will kick 16 million Americans off their health insurance plans.' He said his bill, modeled after Maryland's 'Easy Enrollment' program, would do the opposite. In Maryland, Easy Enrollment lets people check a box on their state tax forms to allow the state to use information on the return to see if their household qualifies for Medicaid. Those who qualify then get further information on what options they qualify for, reducing administrative hurdles to Medicaid and other programs in Maryland. 'What we should do is make it easier for eligible individuals to get the Medicaid that they are eligible for,' Van Hollen said. This is the second time he has introduced the bill in Congress. A version introduced in the last Congress never even got a committee hearing. The other Democrats at the press conference offered their own bills to strengthen Medicaid. Cortez Masto's bill would increase funding for health care fraud investigation units to help catch more waste, fraud, and abuse in the system. She says that is more productive than just cutting funds to Medicaid. Luján is sponsoring a bill to temporarily expand federal funding to Medicaid programs for home- and community-based services that help support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wyden also highlighted his own legislation to address hospital labor and delivery unit closures by supporting rural hospitals with additional Medicaid dollars. 'Fact of the matter is that Democrats want to make it easier for Americans to get health care, rather than put people who desperately need health care through bureaucratic water torture if they're going to get the health care they need,' Wyden said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Louisiana lawmakers push for transparency in drug pricing, bill advances
Louisiana lawmakers push for transparency in drug pricing, bill advances

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Louisiana lawmakers push for transparency in drug pricing, bill advances

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A bill aimed at regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) has passed and is awaiting the governor's signature. HB 264, authored by Michael Echols (R-La.), is geared towards ensuring fair reimbursement and transparency in drug pricing. The bill redefines the term rebate, which would include a wide range of discounts received by PBMs. These changes are meant to highlight how PBMs negotiate and profit from deals with drug manufacturers. It would also allow PBMs to label certain submitted information as confidential. The Commissioner of Insurance would have the authority to review PBM records and compensation structures and ensure reasonable reimbursements. Donald Trump Jr. took to social media, asking Louisiana to pass HB 358, which would allow a pharmacy technician to work remotely in certain circumstances. 'It's time to pass HB358 and end the charade that costs hard-working Americans so much money when buying prescription drugs. Enough is Enough!' Trump wrote. EBR Metro Council picks new advisor for Raising Canes River Center redevelopment project 'It's a big problem in Baton Rouge': Authorities suspect human trafficking in massage parlors College Drive flyover project complete, brings relief to Baton Rouge drivers Louisiana lawmakers push for transparency in drug pricing, bill advances Judge blocks Trump's National Guard deployment in Los Angeles Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store