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Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Florida Newsletter for 2026-07-04 ( 29 items )  
Artificer Health Urges Stronger Medicare and Medicaid Prior Authorization Rules to Reduce Clinician Burden and Improve Patient Safety (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Artificer Health Inc., Lakeland, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the proposed rule CMS0062P. The rule aims to strengthen interoperability standards and streamline prior authorization processes for drugs under Medicare and Medicaid programs. Artificer Health endorses the agency's regulatory direction but recommends several key enhancements to amplify the rule's impact on clinician workload, patient access, a more ST

Avalon Healthcare Solutions Urges Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to Enhance Prior Authorization for Laboratory Tests (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Avalon Healthcare Solutions, Tampa, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services outlining recommendations to improve prior authorization processes for laboratory tests under Medicare and Medicaid programs. Avalon's extensive experience managing laboratory benefits for health plans covering over 90 million individuals nationwide informs their critique and suggestions regarding CMS's proposed rule on interoperability standards and prior authorization requirements, particularly p more ST

Borinquen Health Care Center Supports Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Proposals to Enhance Prior Authorization and Interoperability Standards (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Borinquen Health Care Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Miami, Florida, has expressed support for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' proposed rule aimed at improving interoperability standards and prior authorization processes for drugs across Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, Children's Health Insurance Program, and qualified health plans on the federally-facilitated exchange. The health center, serving a predominantly low-income and culturally diverse patient population in Miami-Dade Coun more ST

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division Challenges CSX Automated Track Inspection Waiver Implementation (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- The Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters has submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Railroad Administration expressing opposition to CSX Transportation's plan to implement operations under the Automated Track Inspection waiver. The federal agency is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is tasked with overseeing the safety and regulation of railroad operations nationwide. The Brotherhood represents skilled railroad workers charged with ins more ST

Cancer Policy has a New Voice in Atlanta (10)
WASHINGTON, July 2 [Category: Medical] -- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network posted the following news release: * * * Cancer Policy has a New Voice in Atlanta * ATLANTA - Michael Cortes has joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) as government relations director for the state of Georgia. In this role, Cortes will lead ACS CAN's efforts to advance legislation and public policies to reduce the cancer burden. "I am honored to advocate for cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and their families," Co more PR

CCS Medical Addresses Prior Authorization Challenges in Medicare Programs (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- CCS Medical Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the proposed rule on interoperability standards and prior authorization for drugs within Medicare Advantage organizations, Medicaid programs, and federally-facilitated exchanges. The comment focuses on prior authorization issues related to Laboratory Tests and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies items. As the largest distributor of insulin pumps and continuous more ST

ChenMed Calls for Enhanced Standards in Patient Event Notifications to Improve Care Coordination (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- ChenMed, a Miami, Florida-based value-based care organization specializing in primary care for high-risk Medicare beneficiaries, has outlined a series of recommendations aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of patient event notifications sent by hospitals. In a public comment letter submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ChenMed emphasized the role that timely, comprehensive hospital event alerts play in ensuring safe care transitions, preventing avoidable readmissions, and supporting effect more ST

CRISP Shared Services Urges Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Prioritize Data Quality and HIEs in Patient Event Notification Rulemaking (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- CRISP Shared Services Inc., a Baltimore, Maryland not-for-profit organization managing shared infrastructure for Health Information Exchanges and Health Data Utilities, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing the proposed rule on interoperability standards and prior authorization for drugs under Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care programs. The letter highlights considerations for CMS to improve patient event notification systems and strengthen data exchange more ST

EnergySolutions Submits Detailed Feedback on Environmental Protection Agency's PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- EnergySolutions, Salt Lake City, Utah, has provided comprehensive public comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concerning the Agency's 2026 Interim Guidance on the Destruction and Disposal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and materials containing PFAS. The comments emphasize technical, regulatory, and operational considerations based on EnergySolutions' experience managing PFAS-containing waste, including radiologically impacted mixed waste, and urge refinements to enhance clarity and applica more ST

EVRESA Proposes Decision-Governance Framework for AI in Early-Phase Clinical Trials (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- EVRESA LLC, an AI governance enforcement infrastructure company in Orlando, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency's AI-Enabled Optimization of Early-Phase Clinical Trials Pilot Program. The letter emphasized the importance of embedding a robust decision-governance layer in AI-enabled clinical trial workflows to ensure human authority, participant safety, data integrity, and auditability of AI-influenced decisions. EVRESA advocates for integrating a tamper-e more ST

Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered Highlights Impact of Prior Authorization on Genetic Testing Access for Hereditary Cancer Patients (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, a national nonprofit organization in Tampa, Florida, that represents individuals affected by hereditary cancers, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The letter addresses concerns regarding the effects of prior authorization requirements on laboratory testing, particularly genetic testing, for patients with or at risk of hereditary cancers. FORCE underlines how current prior authorization practices create barriers to timely and medically more ST

Federal Judicial Center: 2025 Wiretap Report - Intercepts and Convictions Fall (10)
WASHINGTON, June 30 (TNSrep) -- The Federal Judicial Center issued the following news: * * * 2025 Wiretap Report: Intercepts and Convictions Fall Federal and state courts reported a combined 24 percent decrease in authorized wiretaps in 2025, compared with 2024, according to the Judiciary's 2025 Wiretap Report. Convictions in cases involving electronic surveillance decreased, while arrests increased slightly. The report covers wire, oral, and electronic intercepts that were concluded between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2025. The report, whic more PR

FGA Action Urges Stricter Safeguards for Medicaid Work Requirement Implementation (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- FGA Action, Tallahassee, Florida, has expressed support for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' interim final rule establishing the Medicaid work requirement. The public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services applauds CMS for implementing integrity protections that uphold Congress's intent to hold able-bodied adults accountable. However, the organization raises concerns that states opposing the work requirement are poised to introduce loopholes and exemptions that could undermine the more ST

Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association Seeks Clarity on Food and Drug Administration Traceability Guidance (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Maitland, Florida, offered comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding draft guidance implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204 Traceability Rule. The association emphasized the necessity for the FDA's guidance to reflect the practicalities of specialty crop production and supply chain diversity to effectively protect consumers and prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. The association called for clear baseline expectations for traceability lot code more ST

Florida Sugar Industry Supports Environmental Protection Agency Rule Changes to Begin Construction Before New Source Review Permit Issuance (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- WSP USA Inc., representing the Florida Sugar Industry of Gainesville, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding the Proposed Rule on clarifying when actual construction can begin under the New Source Review preconstruction permitting program. The proposed revisions by the EPA aim to update the definition of "begin actual construction" and distinguish pollutant-emitting activities from non-emitting construction phases, allowing certain non-emitting activities to proceed more ST

Greenberg Traurig Advised Sanoma and Nowa Era on the Acquisition of Fluentbe (10)
MIAMI, Florida, July 3 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Greenberg Traurig, a law firm, issued the following news release: * * * Greenberg Traurig Advised Sanoma and Nowa Era on the Acquisition of Fluentbe * WARSAW - 3 June 2026 - Greenberg Traurig advised Sanoma and Nowa Era on the acquisition of Fluentbe, a Polish AI-powered online language-learning platform. Fluentbe will develop its business within VULCAN, a company that is part of the Nowa Era Group. The acquisition is part of Sanoma's broader strategy to grow its K12 learning business, in more PR

Greenberg Traurig Advises Burda Principal Investments on Entry into Gaming Industry (10)
MIAMI, Florida, July 3 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Greenberg Traurig, a law firm, issued the following news release: * * * Greenberg Traurig Advises Burda Principal Investments on Entry into Gaming Industry * BERLIN- July 3, 2026 - Global law firm Greenberg Traurig advised Burda Principal Investments (BPI), the investment arm of Hubert Burda Media, on the second closing of the US$8.5 million Series A financing for welevel GmbH. BPI is an international growth capital investor and division of Hubert Burda Media, one of Europe's largest medi more PR

Intertek Highlights Challenges and Solutions for Consumer Product Recall Fraud (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Intertek Testing Services NA Inc., Coral Springs, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission addressing the ongoing challenge of consumer product recall fraud. Intertek, a global testing, inspection, and certification organization with expertise in clothing, footwear, toys, juvenile products, and furniture, emphasized the difficulty in linking specific recalled units or shipments to consumers, which creates vulnerabilities in recall verification processes. Intertek outlined t more ST

LifeProtect Urges Clearer Regulatory Pathway for Reusable Respirators (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- LifeProtect LLC, Surfside, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding its draft guidance on compliance policies for certain NIOSH approved air-purifying respirators. As a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in producing FDA, NIOSH, and Health Canada approved masks and advanced antimicrobial PPE, LifeProtect supports FDA's efforts to improve regulatory efficiency but calls for clearer pathways for reusable antimicrobial respirators. LifeProtect emphasizes that the re more ST

Luther College Board of Regents elects Shannon Duval to be next chairperson (10)
DECORAH, Iowa, July 2 -- Luther College posted the following news: * * * Luther College Board of Regents elects Shannon Duval to be next chairperson * Luther College President Brad Chamberlain recently announced that the Luther College Board of Regents unanimously elected Shannon Duval, a 1995 Luther graduate, to serve as the board's next chairperson. Chamberlain also announced that five Luther alumni, Ann Bentdahl, Michael Gerdin, Mark Jensen, Lee Valenta and Cassandra Warner, will join the Luther College Board of Regents in the fall. Fi more PR

NeoGenomics Laboratories Urges Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Reform Prior Authorization Processes for Laboratory Tests (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- NeoGenomics Laboratories Inc., Fort Myers, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding the agency's Request for Information on prior authorization requirements for clinical laboratory tests. NeoGenomics, a provider of diagnostics serving oncology and hematology providers among others, highlighted the challenges that existing prior authorization procedures pose to timely patient care and laboratory operations. NeoGenomics stressed that clinical laboratory service more ST

Osceola Community Health Services Urges Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Improve Prior Authorization and Interoperability Standards to Benefit Medically Underserved Patients (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Osceola Community Health Services, Kissimmee, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing proposed changes to Medicare and Medicaid programs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The letter provides detailed feedback on CMS' 2026 Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule, emphasizing the need to reduce administrative burdens and improve timely access to care and medications for underserved populations served by co more ST

Polsinelli Advises Purchaser in Acquisition of Key Miami Worldcenter Commercial Asset (10)
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 29 -- Polsinelli, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Polsinelli Advises Purchaser in Acquisition of Key Miami Worldcenter Commercial Asset Polsinelli represented MWC Block E Owner LLC, comprised of Daniel Cardenas and Michael Sullivan, and Gustavo Agostini as purchasers in the acquisition of Block E at Miami Worldcenter, a prominent retail and office development located at 711 NE 1st Avenue in Downtown Miami. The approximately 57,000-square-foot, three-story project is a highly visible component of Miam more PR

Polsinelli Represents Northwind Group in $401 Million Loan for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens (10)
KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 29 -- Polsinelli, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * Polsinelli Represents Northwind Group in $401 Million Loan for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens Polsinelli recently represented Northwind Group, a Manhattan-based real estate private equity firm and debt fund manager, in connection with a $401 million first-mortgage completion-to-inventory loan for The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Palm Beach Gardens, a luxury branded residential and private marina development located on the Intracoastal Wate more PR

Prader-Willi Syndrome Group Urges CMS to Address Prior Authorization Barriers (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- The Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA, in Brandon, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing concerns about prior authorization requirements that impact access to essential laboratory testing for individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome. This rare genetic disorder affects numerous bodily systems, necessitating frequent and timely lab testing for effective treatment and monitoring. The association highlights that  more ST

Readout of Congressional Black Caucus & Haitian Bridge Alliance National Town Hall on Temporary Protected Status (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following news release: * * * Readout of Congressional Black Caucus & Haitian Bridge Alliance National Town Hall on Temporary Protected Status * On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), in partnership with the Haitian Bridge Alliance, hosted a national virtual town hall with stakeholders and members of the Haitian community to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Mullin v. Doe, which allows the Department of Homeland Security (D more PR

Sintavia Urges Mandatory Flowdown of Controlled Unclassified Information Requirements to Subcontractors (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Sintavia, Hollywood, Florida, has submitted a public comment letter to the General Services Administration regarding the Federal Acquisition Regulation proposed rule on Controlled Unclassified Information requirements, specifically addressing concerns about the optional nature of Standard Form XXX flowdown to subcontractors. Sintavia, a defense-focused advanced manufacturing company serving as a Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier for U.S. Navy, Air Force, and other federal programs, highlights operational challenges arising from t more ST

Smith Institute Urges Structural Reform of Prior Authorization in Federal Programs (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- The Smith Institute, Tallahassee, Florida, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing the agency's proposed rule on Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for drugs under Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and Qualified Health Plans. The letter outlines concerns that the current prior authorization (PA) system has drifted from its original clinical purpose into a largely financial tool that has become a barrier to pa more ST

Witness to Innocence and Death Penalty Policy Project Oppose Florida's Habeas Corpus Certification Request (10)
WASHINGTON, July 3 -- Witness to Innocence, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, together with the Death Penalty Policy Project, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Justice opposing the State of Florida's application for certification under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2265, known as Chapter 154 certification, which would accelerate and limit federal habeas corpus review in capital cases. These organizations argue that such certification would further restrict essential post-conviction appeals and jeopardize the rights of death row prisoners,  more ST