In a budget meeting that wrapped up at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday, lawmakers struck deals on several items in a way that bypasses the regular committee process, the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reports. One of the measures is a new formula for billing counties for their share of Medicaid costs -- a decision that has severe financial repercussions for hospitals.
As the Florida Current reports, a bill that will make it harder to sue in medical malpractice cases is headed to the governor for his signature.
At the same time, it may not become more difficult to sue nursing homes, the Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reports. A bill that would have raised the standard for people seeking punitive damages is off the Senate calendar, and it would need a special order from the House to proceed.