As our country responds to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, we are working rapidly to change the way we practice medicine to keep people safe.  One critical innovation is the use of telehealth, which allows patients to use smartphones, laptops, and other widely available technologies to connect with your healthcare team. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been toppling regulatory barriers to telehealth reimbursement during this emergency. Advertisement For the duration of the pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries may...…As our country responds to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, we are working rapidly to change the way we practice medicine to keep people safe.  One critical innovation is the use of telehealth, which allows patients to use smartphones, laptops, and other widely available technologies to connect with your healthcare team. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has been toppling regulatory barriers to telehealth reimbursement during this emergency. Advertisement For the duration of the pandemic, Medicare beneficiaries may...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 28, 2020 at 7:00 amIn a federal lawsuit filed in Orlando against the U.S. Small Business Administration, a group of Florida businesses alleges that the SBA, in charge of administering the federal government’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, is not running the program as lawmakers intended.The more than 50 businesses represented in the suit, all clients of the Melbourne Widerman Malek law firm and mostly based in Florida, are among the countless who have applied to the program that’s usually reserved to help small businesses weather hurricanes, floods and...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelApr 28, 2020 at 7:00 amIn a federal lawsuit filed in Orlando against the U.S. Small Business Administration, a group of Florida businesses alleges that the SBA, in charge of administering the federal government’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan, is not running the program as lawmakers intended.The more than 50 businesses represented in the suit, all clients of the Melbourne Widerman Malek law firm and mostly based in Florida, are among the countless who have applied to the program that’s usually reserved to help small businesses weather hurricanes, floods and...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelMay 04, 2020 at 7:55 pmAs most of Florida began the first step of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reopening plan, the state endured its third straight week of at least 300 reported deaths.Also on Monday, DeSantis inspector general to investigate the state’s beleaguered unemployment system.Advertisement“This thing wasn’t going to cut it,” he said of the system, which has been plagued by bottlenecks and technology problems and has processed less than half of the tens of thousands of claims since the outbreak began in March.At one point in mid-April, it was processing just...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelMay 04, 2020 at 7:55 pmAs most of Florida began the first step of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reopening plan, the state endured its third straight week of at least 300 reported deaths.Also on Monday, DeSantis inspector general to investigate the state’s beleaguered unemployment system.Advertisement“This thing wasn’t going to cut it,” he said of the system, which has been plagued by bottlenecks and technology problems and has processed less than half of the tens of thousands of claims since the outbreak began in March.At one point in mid-April, it was processing just...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelSep 24, 2020 at 5:31 pmTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’ll be lifting capacity restrictions on restaurants soon and prevent any local government from closing restaurants.“I don’t think that the closure of restaurants has been particularly effective,” DeSantis said Thursday in the Capitol. “They’re not going to be able to be closed by locals anymore, and they’ll be able to operate at the capacity that they’re comfortable with.”AdvertisementUnder current state guidelines issued by an executive order from DeSantis, restaurants can operate at 50% capacity....…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelSep 24, 2020 at 5:31 pmTALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis said he’ll be lifting capacity restrictions on restaurants soon and prevent any local government from closing restaurants.“I don’t think that the closure of restaurants has been particularly effective,” DeSantis said Thursday in the Capitol. “They’re not going to be able to be closed by locals anymore, and they’ll be able to operate at the capacity that they’re comfortable with.”AdvertisementUnder current state guidelines issued by an executive order from DeSantis, restaurants can operate at 50% capacity....WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelMay 09, 2020 at 8:04 pmIf Congresswoman Val Demings is chosen as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate, spouse Jerry Demings said he would not give up his elected post.“I definitely will stay on as Orange County mayor and would just leverage my relationship on behalf of the residents and taxpayers of Orange County,” he said.AdvertisementAfter a two-hour live-streamed update Friday on the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Demings briefly addressed the possibility that Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, would...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelMay 09, 2020 at 8:04 pmIf Congresswoman Val Demings is chosen as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s running mate, spouse Jerry Demings said he would not give up his elected post.“I definitely will stay on as Orange County mayor and would just leverage my relationship on behalf of the residents and taxpayers of Orange County,” he said.AdvertisementAfter a two-hour live-streamed update Friday on the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Demings briefly addressed the possibility that Biden, the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, would...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelSep 25, 2020 at 5:56 pmTALLAHASSEE — Florida will no longer require bars and restaurants to operate at less than full capacity, as Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Friday removing all remaining restrictions on those businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic.The order, which takes effect immediately, also prohibits local governments from closing businesses or collecting fines related to pandemic-related mandates, such as mask requirements — leading to at least one Central Florida county being inundated with calls asking if people no longer have...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelSep 25, 2020 at 5:56 pmTALLAHASSEE — Florida will no longer require bars and restaurants to operate at less than full capacity, as Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Friday removing all remaining restrictions on those businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic.The order, which takes effect immediately, also prohibits local governments from closing businesses or collecting fines related to pandemic-related mandates, such as mask requirements — leading to at least one Central Florida county being inundated with calls asking if people no longer have...WW…

AdvertisementBy Guest ColumnistSep 26, 2020 at 6:00 amNearly 700,000 Floridians have been infected by COVID-19, and nearly 14,000 have died. More than a million Floridians have lost their jobs, and hundreds of thousands remain unemployed. The ongoing pandemic is the worst health and economic crisis in Florida’s history, and Floridians are begging for help — and leadership. But Gov. Ron DeSantis has ignored their pleas. Instead, this week he announced that his top legislative priority is not fixing the unemployment system or ensuring better access to health care, but an abuse of power aimed...…AdvertisementBy Guest ColumnistSep 26, 2020 at 6:00 amNearly 700,000 Floridians have been infected by COVID-19, and nearly 14,000 have died. More than a million Floridians have lost their jobs, and hundreds of thousands remain unemployed. The ongoing pandemic is the worst health and economic crisis in Florida’s history, and Floridians are begging for help — and leadership. But Gov. Ron DeSantis has ignored their pleas. Instead, this week he announced that his top legislative priority is not fixing the unemployment system or ensuring better access to health care, but an abuse of power aimed...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelNov 06, 2020 at 1:33 pmIndependent candidates with clear ties to GOP donors and operatives whose names appeared on ballots in two competitive Florida Legislature races received enough votes to swing the outcome of those contests, possibly costing Democrats those seats.The little-known candidates running without party affiliation, known as NPAs, received more votes than the Republican candidate’s margin of victory, and if some of those ballots had been cast for their opponents, the Democrats could have won.AdvertisementThat was the case in the tight contest...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelNov 06, 2020 at 1:33 pmIndependent candidates with clear ties to GOP donors and operatives whose names appeared on ballots in two competitive Florida Legislature races received enough votes to swing the outcome of those contests, possibly costing Democrats those seats.The little-known candidates running without party affiliation, known as NPAs, received more votes than the Republican candidate’s margin of victory, and if some of those ballots had been cast for their opponents, the Democrats could have won.AdvertisementThat was the case in the tight contest...WW…

AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJun 18, 2020 at 10:02 amVisitors to the Florida Keys will need to bring along face masks or face a $500 civil fine.In a Wednesday vote, the Monroe County Commission shifted from an earlier stance on face coverings, and now requires everyone including employees and customers to wear face coverings in any establishment.AdvertisementThe city of Key West already had this stricter ruling in place, but unincorporated parts of the Keys had relaxed such requirements, following the guidelines set forth by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ statewide Phase 2 of his reopening plan that...…AdvertisementBy Orlando SentinelJun 18, 2020 at 10:02 amVisitors to the Florida Keys will need to bring along face masks or face a $500 civil fine.In a Wednesday vote, the Monroe County Commission shifted from an earlier stance on face coverings, and now requires everyone including employees and customers to wear face coverings in any establishment.AdvertisementThe city of Key West already had this stricter ruling in place, but unincorporated parts of the Keys had relaxed such requirements, following the guidelines set forth by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ statewide Phase 2 of his reopening plan that...WW…

AdvertisementBy Associated PressMay 15, 2020 at 4:33 pmSUN CITY CENTER — President Donald Trump’s path to reelection runs through places like Sun City Center, a former cow pasture south of Tampa, Florida, that’s now home to a booming retirement community. But some residents in this conservative swath of America’s premier battleground are growing restless.Irvin Hilts is among them. The 72-year-old retiree voted for Trump in 2016 but has grown frustrated with the tumult surrounding his administration. His support for Trump collapsed entirely amid the coronavirus pandemic, which Hilts blames...…AdvertisementBy Associated PressMay 15, 2020 at 4:33 pmSUN CITY CENTER — President Donald Trump’s path to reelection runs through places like Sun City Center, a former cow pasture south of Tampa, Florida, that’s now home to a booming retirement community. But some residents in this conservative swath of America’s premier battleground are growing restless.Irvin Hilts is among them. The 72-year-old retiree voted for Trump in 2016 but has grown frustrated with the tumult surrounding his administration. His support for Trump collapsed entirely amid the coronavirus pandemic, which Hilts blames...WW…