To Members of the Health Law Section and its Executive Council:

Many of us know that law and medicine are not necessarily diametrically opposed to each other.  I am taking the opportunity today to send you the attached news article links, showing how our professions can work together for the benefit of children in the State of Florida.  

The Health Law Section congratulates John S. Curran, M.D. of the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine, on his recent appointment as Deputy Secretary of Children’s Medical Services (“CMS”) with the Florida Department of Health (“DOH”).  One of the first tasks facing Dr. Curran in his new post will be getting the word out to nearly 13,000 children determined ‘ineligible’ for the CMS program last year that DOH has now implemented a new eligibility screening tool.  Many of these children may now once again be eligible for services to address their chronic and serious illnesses.

I am asking each of you who may represent family practitioners, pediatricians, and children’s hospitals to help get the word out about the revised CMS eligibility screening tool to your respective clients.  This could make a huge difference in the life of children in your community, so my deepest thanks to you in advance for your cooperation.

The Section also extends its gratitude to The Florida Bar Foundation and the FSU Public Interest Law Center for its support and hard work in bringing light to this important children’s health issue.

Very truly yours,

Charmaine T. M. Chiu

Chair, The Florida Bar Health Law Section

CCHIU@SMITHHULSEY.COM

Additional Resources

http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/new-doh-hire-signals-new-approach-children-s-health#stream/0

https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/foundation-funded-project-protects-the-rights-of-chronically-ill-children-to-specialty-care/