A bill was passed in the Senate this morning by a vote of 32 to 6 to allow more trauma centers to be built in rural areas, and permits The Villages retirement community to build a nursing home despite a state moratorium. As the Tampa Bay Times reports, the bill was amended yesterday to remove a provision for an obstetrics unit at Miami Children’s Hospital. It now goes back to the House for approval.
Meantime, counties are upset over a decision that changes the way they pay into the Medicaid system, but the decision is all but out of their hands, the Tampa Bay Timesreports. The Senate approved the conference committee report that contains that provision and others in SB 1520 just before noon today. It still needs to be approved by the House.
A ban on texting-while-driving is now on its way to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature, the Tampa Bay Timesreports.