Michelle is a 47 year-old mother of six, a part-time school employee, and the primary caregiver for her 17 year-old son, Bryce, who battles cancer and other serious conditions. Her life has been shaped by years of constant vigilance, advocacy, and financial strain as she navigates a complex and often inaccessible healthcare system.  Through all the challenges, Michelle works hard to center Bryce’s wellbeing and resilience. She calls him “my Superman,” sharing that even in his

Kathy grew up in New England and spent most of her life working hard and building stability. She worked for over 20 years at a payroll service company providing tech support for payroll software used by McDonald’s restaurants. “When I graduated, I got a really good job at a payroll service, and I was there for 21 years.”     Her steady job allowed her to become a homeowner at a young age: “I had my first house at age 26. I had multiple cars. I had a motorcycle and two antique

Florida – Today, the Florida Department of Health held a workshop to consider a proposal that would repeal vaccination requirements for children in public schools, including critical immunizations for Hepatitis B, chickenpox, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. In response, Scott Darius, Executive Director with Florida Voices for Health, shared the following statement. "While we recognize the skepticism that some Floridians feel about

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 11, 2025   CONTACT Jossie Barroso jossie@healthyfla.org       Florida Health Care Advocacy Groups Respond to Senate Vote Rejecting the Extension of Health Care Tax Credits Florida  - In a disheartening setback for health care affordability across the nation, the U.S. Senate rejected a proposal  to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act that has helped millions of people access more affordable health coverage. Over the past few months, advo

By Kam S. I have been on Dialysis now since July 2021. Several of my friends keep asking me how I am coping with the new normal with an almost sympathetic tone. I thought about it and thought some more and with over three months of practical experience and some introspection I decided to put my thoughts on paper. So here I go: - Is it the best thing that has happened to me?...Absolutely not! - Is it easily manageable?... Positively yes! It is a gift of life. Numbers always ma

ICYMI: On National Rural Health Day, Rural Floridians Celebrate New Opportunities but Cite Need for Better Access to Care   Lake City, Fla.  – On Thursday, November 20th, health care leaders, providers, and advocates gathered in Lake City in North Central Florida to highlight National Rural Health Day, a recognition of initiatives focused on improving health access and outcomes in rural communities.     Florida’s top health care leader, Shevaun Harris, Secretary at the Agency