Hospitals owned by Community Health Systems have sued at least 19,000 patients during the Covid-19 pandemic, seeking to collect unpaid medical bills, according to a report from CNN. The CHS hospitals took court action even as other hospitals around the country moved to curtail similar lawsuits during the pandemic, CNN reported. CHS is the former owner of Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. Although CHS sold Bayfront to Orlando Health last year, CHS held onto the rights to claim all bills for medical services during its ownership of the hospital, CNN reported. After the sale, CHS sued more than 400 patients in October, CNN reported, adding that Bayfront was among the most litigious hospital companies in the CHS network, filing more than 800 debt-related lawsuits since mid-March 2020. Orlando Health has in a statement that it has not sued any Bayfront patients over unpaid bills. CHS told CNN that its hospitals only sue a "small fraction" of the patients they treat every year, and that they work to provide assistance for those who can't afford their bills. Read the full CNN report here.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital reported $23.3 million in net income from operations for the three months ended March 31, compared to a $14.2 million loss in the same period a year ago. The turnaround at the 259-bed St. Petersburg pediatric hospital was due in part to an increase in federal CARES Act funding and increased net patient revenues due to a higher collection rate, according to a report from parent organization Johns Hopkins Health System.. The report also cited lower personnel costs due to a reduction in full-time equivalent workers and lower medical supply costs due to decreased volumes. Operating revenue for the three months ended March 31, the third quarter of the fiscal year, was $141.9 million, compared to $122.6 million a year ago.
Publix will no longer require fully vaccinated customers or employees to wear masks. Kids also score a win in the move back to normalcy as the policy update includes reinstating free cookies.
Last rented by Tom Brady, the 21,796 square-feet mansion was originally listed for $29 million and sold after 8 months on the market.
Jeremy Anderson was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison for his role in an investment fraud scheme involving Tri-Med Corp., a now-defunct business in Palm Harbor. Anderson, who was the founder and principal owner of Tri-Med, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and mail and wire fraud. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, Anderson led a conspiracy that defrauded more than 200 victims, most of them elderly, and who had invested a good portion of their life savings, out of more than $10.3 million through investments offered in connection with Tri-Med. Anderson, who now lives in Minnesota, was the fourth person to be charged and sentenced as part of the scheme. Anthony Nicholas Jr. of Hudson, and Eric Ager and Irwin Ager, both of Orlando, were sentenced earlier.
Selene Willis, a teacher at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, is one of 18 educators from across the United States named 2021-2022 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. The program provides an opportunity for K-12 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teachers to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experiences to inform federal STEM education efforts. The fellows will spend 11 months serving in a federal agency or U.S. Congressional office in Washington, D.C., engaged in the national STEM education arena, a news release said. Willis, with a decade of teaching experience, joined Shorecrest in 2014 and teaches fifth grade science, the school's website said.
Skyway Capital Markets appointed Bart Zanelli as managing director with a focus on financial institutions, insurance and healthcare. Zanelli has more than 30 years of experience transacting mergers and acquisitions, public and private capital raising and private equity investing, a news release said. He has served on the boards of Direct General Corp., Benefit Technologies and ABRA Auto Body Collision Centers and helped raise more than $100 million for a sponsored financial services private equity investment fund from JP Morgan Chase, Dresdner Bank, ING, and Gerling Global. Skyway Capital Markets, headquartered in Tampa, works with middle market companies, public and private, through customized capital services that include corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and recapitalization.
Genstar Capital has agreed to buy a majority ownership stake in Vector Solutions, a Tampa company that provides online learning and performance solutions. Genstar is acquiring Vector from Golden Gate Capital, private equity investment firm that will remain a significant shareholder in the business. The deal is expected to close in the next 45 days, a news release said. Financial terms were not disclosed. Vector is one of the largest privately held companies in the Tampa-St. Pete area, and over the course of its 20-year history it has been led by well-known leaders in the technology industry, including Tom Wallace, now managing partner of Florida Funders. Golden Gate Capital bought Vector in 2018 and last year promoted Marc Scheipe from chief operating officer to CEO. Genstar is a private equity firm based in San Francisco.
Tampa resident Joamary Rosario pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges related to the November 2018 death of a person who overdosed on a mixture of heroin, acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl supplied by Rosario. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Rosario, 30, faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and could be incarcerated for life. The case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County has started scheduling appointments for Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccines for students who are 12-to-15 years old, per new CDC guidelines. Centers in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park and mid-County will offer the two-dose vaccine on a rotating schedule that starts on Monday, May 17. Vaccines are provided at no cost with an appointment and the parent or guardian must accompany the minor. To make an appointment call (727) 824-6931. DOH-Pinellas is already providing the two-dose Pfizer vaccine to those 16 years of age and older
Spirion, a St. Petersburg-based data privacy company, was recognized as a pioneer within the data discovery market in a new report from International Data Corp., a company that provides market intelligence and advice for the tech industry. The IDC MarketScape report said Spirion can not only scan and identify personally identifiable information such as social security numbers and credit cards, but also health-related information. The report also highlighted Spirion's ability to discover sensitive data with 98 percent accuracy. The IDC MarketScape report evaluated 11 vendors and called Spirion a "major player" in the field, a news release said.
Applications are being accepted for positions on the Pinellas County Historic Preservation Board and the Tourist Development Council. The Historic Preservation Board has one opening. Responsibilities include recommending the designation of historic districts and landmarks, nominating historic resources for listing on the National Register of Historic Plans, reviewing and approving applications for impacts to properties in a historic district or a landmark and landmark site, and producing educational materials, programs and publications. The Tourist Development Council also has one opening, for a member from either the tourism-related category or hotel/motel category. The council makes recommendations to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners as to the effective use and expenditure of tourist development tax revenues. Applications for both positions are at www.pinellascounty.org/boards. The deadline to apply for the TDC position is Friday, May 28 and the deadline to apply for the Historic Preservation Board is Friday, June 11.
