A Florida state law allowing certain workers to keep dependents on their health insurance policies until age 30 was scheduled to take effect on Wednesday, but some of the specifics of the law still are being discussed.

In the past 12 months, 245 South Florida defendants have been charged with filing nearly $793.5 million in false Medicare claims.

Three Florida HMOs have said they will continue participating in a "Medicaid Reform" plan after the Agency for Health Care Administration agreed to reduce payments by an average of 3% on Sept. 1, instead of 5% as previously announced.

Health care experts are jumping to the defense of a new Florida law allowing health insurance providers to sell health insurance coverage plans free of expensive mandates and thus making plans more affordable for individuals and families.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has signed a bill allowing uninsured Floridians to purchase affordable health insurance plans largely free of expensive, superfluous mandated health insurance coverages.

The "Cover Florida" plan, which offers "bare-bones" health insurance to low-income residents, likely will not reduce the number of uninsured.