Latest news with #LeeHealth
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DeSantis delivers on promise and vetoes ‘free kill' malpractice bill
Sabrina Davis holds a picture of her father, Navy Veteran Keith Davis, who died because of medical malpractice. (Photo courtesy Sabrina Davis) The 'free kill' repeal bill has been killed. Gov. Ron DeSantis stuck to his promise and on Thursday vetoed legislation that would have eliminated a bar against parents of adult children and the adult children of single parents suing hospitals and physicians for non-economic damages for the deaths of loved ones. 'Whether the physician was perfect or whether the physicians was not, if somebody doesn't make it through that, you know, that is a tragedy in one form or another, and the loss for a family member, even in someone that's an adult, an independent, at that point, is real. And I think everyone appreciates that,' the governor said during a news conference outside Lee Health in Fort Myers. 'I think the question, though, is what would this legislation do for costs of health care in Florida, access to care in Florida, and our ability to recruit and keep physicians,' DeSantis said. Joining him were Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, Lee Health President Dr. Lawrence Antonucci, and a spate of others who supported the veto. Non-economic damages include pain-and-suffering. Plaintiffs can still recover economic damages, such as lost wages, medical bills, and funeral costs. DeSantis said it was their collective opinion that 'if this legislation would be enacted, it would lead to higher costs for Floridians, it would lead to less care for Floridians, and it would make it harder for us to keep, recruit, and maintain physicians in the state of Florida.' While the veto drew support from a line of Tallahassee special-interest groups, it drew criticism from those who've been unable to fully win compensation for potential acts of medical malpractice. The bill itself (HB 6017) passed overwhelmingly on bipartisans vote in the Republican-controlled Legislature — more than enough of a margin to sustain a veto override, which takes two-thirds majority, should it come to that. DeSantis said the Legislature could win his support by including limits on non-economic damages in all medical malpractice lawsuits, plus caps on plaintiff attorney fees. The Florida Senate previously voted by a razor thin, one-vote margin to reject limits on non-economic damages. 'I am aware that he's probably spoken to the lobbyists, but I haven't found a single family yet that he spoke to who this is actually affected. That really hurts, because those are the people that he should be speaking to,' Sabrina Davis told the Florida Phoenix. Davis has dedicated considerable time and attention to trying to remove Florida's non-economic damages ban after her father, Navy veteran Keith Davis, died from a blood clot after being admitted to a hospital for knee pain. Davis successfully filed a complaint against the doctor with the Department of Health. The board found the doctor violated the standards of care and committed medical malpractice, hit him with a $7,500 fine, and made him take a continuing education course on blood clots. Even if he had not vetoed the legislation, Davis would not be able to recover non-economic damages because the law wouldn't have applied retroactively. But she went to every legislative committee meeting, every local delegation meeting, and scheduled as many one-on-one meetings with legislators as she could since her dad died in 2020. When asked why, Davis reflected: 'Well, it gives me peace, because I know my dad took an oath to fight for our country's freedom, no matter what it meant. And although he didn't die on the battlefield, he did die by the very people that were supposed to protect him. 'And so, when I think about it, I'm reminded that my freedom was taken away after my dad died, and there's a small part of me that thinks, when this law ends, I can say that I helped and I contributed it to it ending. Then that freedom my dad fought for in the Navy would not be in vain, and that I, through him, or him through I, helped restore the freedom that he once fought for. ' The governor said earlier this month that he planned to veto the bill. So while Davis is upset, she isn't surprised. Or alone. Bill sponsor Rep. Dana Trabulsy wrote the governor Wednesday asking him not to veto the legislation. 'This entire conversation ultimately comes down to one word: justice. When a loved one dies due to admitted malpractice, and the law says their life has no legal value because they were an adult with no dependents —that's not just a legal loophole, that's a moral failing. 'It's shameful. It should break the heart of every Floridian, including yours. Florida remains the only state in the nation where some lives are legally worthless. We are the only state that shields bad actors from accountability in such a sweeping way. Governor, this bill is about doing what's right, not what's easy,' Trabulsy, a Republican from Fort Pierce, wrote. The issue of justice, legal justice, you know, economic damages, noneconomic damages, there simply isn't enough justice to go around and have the system be able to stand up on its two feet. – State Surgeon General Joseh Ladapo Ladapo acknowledged not being versed in legal matters but said he had been researching different states' policies when it comes to medical malpractice. 'The issue of justice, legal justice — you know, economic damages, noneconomic damages — there simply isn't enough justice to go around and have the system be able to stand up on its two feet. It's just not possible. And the correct, I mean the right thing, to do, just the wise thing to do in that situation, is to have caps,' he said. 'Frankly it's insane to have a system with no caps on non-economic damages and expect for that system to continue to sustain itself and function as it was intended to function, which is to provide care for patients. That's just not possible.' The free-kill law has been in place for decades, having been signed by then-Gov. Lawton Chiles. The measure prevents parents of single, childless, adult children (25 and older) and adult children of single parents from suing hospitals and physicians fr non-economic damages if alleged malpractice resulted in death. Florida has had no caps on pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits since 2017, when the Florida Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional. But the makeup of the court has changed since then, with the majority of the justices having been appointed by DeSantis. The medical community is eager to put the rejuggled court to the test and, to that end, supported HB 6017 with the caveat that it include caps on non-economic damages in all medical malpractice lawsuits. 'Florida is in a medical negligence insurance crisis. Significantly expanding medical malpractice liability for the state's physicians and hospitals without any guardrails, as HB 6017 would do if enacted into law, would be catastrophic for Florida's healthcare system and the families that depend on it,' Florida Justice Reform Institute President William Large said in a written statement to the Florida Phoenix. Large, who joined the governor at the press conference, said the legislation 'proposed only to expand liability for our healthcare community without any safeguards to ensure that Florida's healthcare system and residents do not suffer as a result. Gov. DeSantis courageously stood with our health care delivery heroes in vetoing this legislation.' Large says a recent benchmark study conducted by Aon and the American Society for Health Care Risk Management determined that, although the frequency of hospital and physician professional liability or medical professional liability claims has remained relatively stable in recent years, the severity of claims — including indemnity and defense costs per claim — has been steadily increasing. For instance, 10% of claims closed in Florida in 2023 were in excess of $1 million, compared to 7.5% nationwide. The increasing costs mean increasing medical malpractice premiums, he said. Citing the Medical Liability Monitor October 2024 survey, Large added that Florida has experienced a notable 4.7% increase in med-mal premiums, whereas the regional average increase was 2.1%. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
EHC Opens Rehabilitation Unit in Fort Myers, Boosts Florida Footprint
Encompass Health Corporation EHC recently inaugurated the Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers, a healthcare facility built as a result of its joint venture partnership with Florida-based Lee Health. The partners joined forces back in 2022 to jointly operate two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Southwest Florida, one in Cape Coral and the other one in Fort Myers. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral commenced operations almost within the targeted timeline in 2022. Initially, the Fort Myers facility was expected to be functional in 2024 but during the groundbreaking ceremony of the joint venture hospital in March 2024, the inauguration timeline was revealed to be summer 2025. The Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers is equipped with 60 beds and features private patient rooms, a modern therapy gym with cutting-edge technology, a therapy courtyard, a daily living suite, an in-house dialysis unit and several other lucrative amenities. A multidisciplinary team of specialized nurses, therapists and physicians will deliver tailored physical, occupational and speech therapies to patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Patients will benefit from at least three hours of intensive therapy five days a week, regular physician visits and 24-hour nursing support. Such enhanced rehabilitation services will enable patients to resume daily life activities and bring about improved health outcomes across the Fort Myers area. The recent partnership is reflective of EHC's efforts to boost its presence in Florida. The company already boasts a well-established presence in the state and the Fort Myers hospital marks its 22nd facility across Florida. Lee Health, which has more than 10 decades of experience in catering to the health needs of Florida residents, seems to be the apt partner for complementing Encompass Health's endeavor. This month itself, EHC unveiled early-stage plans to build a new 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Apollo Beach, FL. EHC has been able to substantiate the credibility of its affordable and high-quality inpatient rehabilitative services across 38 states and Puerto Rico, as a result of which it remains the trusted partner for several healthcare providers. Joint ventures with regional healthcare providers are beneficial for Encompass Health since they serve as a means to gain an in-depth knowledge of the diversified healthcare needs of a particular region. The latest hospital opening takes the overall count of Encompass Health's inpatient rehabilitation hospitals to 168. The company follows a remarkable expansion endeavor of opening such facilities throughout the year. An increase in the facility count is likely to provide an opportunity for EHC to treat more patients and bring higher revenues. Revenues improved 10.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2025. Management estimates operating revenues to lie between $5.85 billion and $5.925 billion for 2025, the midpoint of which indicates a 9.6% rise from the 2024 reported figure. Shares of Encompass Health have gained 42.6% in the past year compared with the industry's growth of 5.7%. EHC currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Some other top-ranked stocks in the Medical space are CorMedix Inc. CRMD, BioLife Solutions, Inc. BLFS and Integer Holdings Corporation ITGR, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. CorMedix's earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 25.82%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRMD's 2025 earnings is pegged at 93 cents per share. A loss of 30 cents per share was incurred in the prior year. The consensus mark for revenues indicates a nearly four-fold increase from the year-ago actual. The consensus mark for CRMD's earnings has moved 40.9% north in the past 30 bottom line of BioLife Solutions outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 112.90%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLFS' 2025 earnings is pegged at 2 cents per share. A loss of 7 cents per share was incurred in the prior year. BLFS witnessed one upward estimate revision for 2025 earnings against none downward over the past 30 days. Integer's earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark once, the average surprise being 2.77%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITGR's 2025 earnings indicates a rise of 19.4% from the prior-year tally. The consensus mark for revenues indicates a 7.7% increase from the year-ago actual. The consensus mark for ITGR's earnings has moved up 1.1% in the past seven days. Shares of CorMedix and BioLife Solutions have gained 143% and 3.1%, respectively, in the past year. However, Integer stock has declined 1.5% in the same time frame. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BioLife Solutions, Inc. (BLFS) : Free Stock Analysis Report CorMedix Inc (CRMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers now open in Florida
The 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital is a joint venture between Encompass Health and Lee Health. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and FORT MYERS, Fla., May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Encompass Health, the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, along with Lee Health, a century-long health care provider in the Southwest Florida community, announced the opening of Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers. The 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital is located at 6150 Medical Park Loop in Fort Myers, Florida. The hospital provides essential rehabilitative services that help patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions regain function and independence. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of intensive therapy five days each week, frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care. "Our talented team is excited to serve the Fort Myers community," said José Rosado, CEO of Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers. "The compassionate, high-quality care we provide will help patients reach their unique rehabilitation goals and return to what matters most." Hospital amenities include all private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activities of daily living suite, in-house dialysis suite, therapy courtyard, dining room, in-house pharmacy and dayroom areas. An interdisciplinary team of highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians will provide physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life. "The opening of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers marks a significant milestone in expanding access to high-quality rehabilitative care in our region," said Ben Spence, Chief Operating and Financial Officer of Lee Health. "Through our partnership with Encompass Health, we're proud to bring advanced, patient-centered rehabilitation services to the community, helping individuals recover and thrive close to home." "We are pleased to partner with Lee Health, a health system that shares our commitment to building trust in the communities we serve," said Lori Bedard, President of Encompass Health's Southeast region. "We look forward to positively impacting the lives of many in the Fort Myers community." Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers is Encompass Health's 168th inpatient rehabilitation hospital nationwide and its 22nd location in Florida. For more information about the hospital's services, visit About Encompass HealthEncompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 168 hospitals in 38 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies™, Becker's Hospital Review's 150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare and Forbes' Most Trusted Companies in America. For more information, visit or follow us on our newsroom, X, Instagram and Facebook. From Fortune. © 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune® is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™ is trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of, Encompass Health. From Forbes © 2024 Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license. About Lee HealthSince the opening of the first hospital in 1916, Lee Health has been a health care leader in Southwest Florida, constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community. A non-profit, integrated health care services organization, Lee Health is committed to the well-being of every individual served, focused on healthy living and maintaining good health. Health care services are conveniently located throughout the community in four acute care hospitals, two specialty hospitals, outpatient centers, walk-in medical centers, primary care and specialty physician practices and other services across the continuum of care. Learn more at Encompass Health media contact:Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912media@ Lee Health media contactJaclyn Bevis | 317-809-1705media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Encompass Health Corp. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former Lee Health employee arrested for stealing $150,000 worth of equipment to sell online
A former Lee Health employee faces charges after authorities say he stole $150,000 worth of equipment and sold it online. Ricardo Rodrigues, 56, of Lehigh Acres, faces two counts of grand theft and one count of trafficking stolen property. He was arrested Feb. 4 and released the following day on $55,000 bond. According to an arrest affidavit from Fort Myers Police, officers responded to Lee Memorial Hospital, 2776 Cleveland Ave., on Nov. 19 to reports of stolen items. The director of nursing told officers that 10 heart monitors and five monitor batteries were unaccounted for. The monitors had been in storage at Lee Memorial Hospital's intensive care unit. Hospital management told officers they already started an internal investigation after they discovered the monitors went missing in early November. The monitors were valued at $8,500. The batteries were valued at about $4,500, the report states. School staffer arrested: Island Coast High School paraprofessional accused of lewd contact with student While Phillips — the manufacturing company — tracked the serial numbers for the missing items, they noticed that one had been reassigned to a company in Laguna Miguel, California. Authorities discovered the purchasing company, SakoMed Biomedical Services, listed 10 such monitors in its inventory. A representative for SakoMed Biomedical Services told authorities they purchased the heart monitors "from an unknown person on eBay." Authorities tracked the payment to a PayPal account associated with Rodrigues. When police contacted management at Lee Memorial Hospital, they confirmed his employment as the lead plant operations technician at the hospital and added he had access "to all locations within the hospital." When authorities met with Rodrigues, he denied knowledge of the thefts and said he does not work with the medical equipment at the hospital. Rodrigues also said he does not have an online account that sells medical equipment, but confirmed he has an eBay account under the username "Clinicas," which he has had since 2022. According to the report, Rodrigues also mentioned he found three "batteries" on a broken hospital bed the week prior. Rodrigues also confessed to misplacing three monitors on a shelf. Hospital officials found the three monitors prior to his confession. According to the report, Rodrigues offered to let officers review the eBay account on his cellphone. The review yielded the discovery of a wearable patient monitor Rodrigues reportedly sold. When confronted, Rodrigues told officers he obtained it from his prior employer, Broward Health, and added that the device does not work. Rodrigues told officers he sold it for parts to SakoMed Biomedical Services, but said they returned it because it did not work. Among the items Rodrigues listed for sale or recently sold, the report says, were waterflow control modules, numerous pipe fittings, absorbent bed pads, water filters, and a feeding pump. When confronted about the pipe fittings, the report states, Rodrigues said he buys the pipe fittings at Home Depot to complete projects at his house and then sells the extra pieces. A search warrant issued to eBay revealed Rodrigues sold 49 items on an account under the pseudonym of "Clinicas," earning him a profit of $1,857.39. Authorities said Rodrigues still had 106 items listed for sale with potential earnings of nearly $4,600. A separate warrant submitted to PayPal revealed Rodrigues, under the username "RICHMEDEQUIP," sold four monitors and earned $8,160. In addition to the $8,160 sale to SakoMed Biomedical Services, PayPal records show an additional $29,175 worth of transactions between SakoMed Biomedical Services and Rodrigues between Sept. 30 and Dec. 4, 2024, Authorities said Rodrigues removed approximately $151,390 worth of equipment from Lee Memorial Hospital. Hospital management told authorities they have not had any other lost items since Rodrigues was placed on leave Dec. 10 before his Feb. 4 arrest. Jaclyn Bevis, spokesperson for Lee Health, the parent company of Lee Memorial Hospital, said Rodrigues "was placed on crisis leave at the onset of the investigation and is no longer employed at Lee Health." Rodrigues' arraignment is set March 10. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers Police: Lee Memorial staffer accused of grand theft
