Rick Mayer
Health News FloridaI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on Twitter @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
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Health Canada said “bulk importation will not provide an effective solution to the problem of high drug prices in the U.S." while noting it would ensure Canadians have access to the medications they need.” -
As enrollment numbers continue to drop, Health and Human Services wrote to Florida and eight other states asking them to work with federal authorities to find solutions and get people insured again. -
The facility will support clinical trials and “transformative” research, and offer hands-on training for doctors, nurses and med students with the goal of drawing "top-tier" health workers. -
The 565,000-square-foot tower, slated for the northern end of the Davis Islands campus, which will have room for 144 beds, 32 operating suites and increased intensive care capacity. -
The new division extends TGH’s footprint into Citrus and Hernando counties. It includes three hospitals, an ER, two surgery centers and 10 clinics. -
Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, submitted a $25 million budget proposal for a 160-unit housing development that would help the hospital "attract and retain health care workers." -
Three people in Florida reported becoming ill because of the fruit, distributed nationwide and recalled by HMC Farms. Listeria is most likely to sicken those who are pregnant, over 65 or immunocompromised. -
LeadingAge Florida said it submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services warning the proposal would have “unintended consequences” because of the shortage of nurses. -
Surgical oncologist Dr. Monica Bertagnolli was nominated for the post by President Biden on May 15. She takes over for acting director Dr. Lawrence Tabak, who has been leading NIH since December 2021. -
The young scientists from Viera wanted to learn whether a component in horseshoe blood can detect bacteria in space. Judges selected the project to ride up in a SpaceX rocket to the ISS.
