Florida's state-run health insurance exchange, first launched as an alternative to the federal exchange, has moved its PR account to Tallahassee-based On 3 PR after four years with Salter Mitchell.
Florida Health Choices' made the switch at its annual budget meeting Dec. 5, noting the federal Dept. of Health and Human Services determined Salter Mitchell's business with the federal government regarding healthcare.gov and health insurance reform to be a conflict.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott opposes the federal healthcare law and has rebuffed funding and challenged the law in court. FHC was initially set up as a voluntary marketplace for coverage, but it drew little participation -- a September report said it had only 30 customers despite a high six-figure budget -- while more than one million Floridians flocked to the federal marketplace. This year, the exchange is offering some Obamacare plans, but it primarily targets citizens that don't qualify for federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
On 3 is charged with leading an earned media push, $75K paid media campaign and other efforts starting January 1 amid the latest enrollment period under the federal ACA through Feb. 15, 2015.
Media reports suggest more than 200K Floridians could sign up for Obamacare coverage during the latest period.
In addition to Florida and the federal government, Salter Mitchell worked on Minnesota's exchange.
Lo Isidro, senior director at Real Chemistry with more than a decade of strategic communications and PA experience, has joined Narrative Strategies.
Nelson Fernandez, former North American chair of APCO Worldwide and managing director of Burson-Marsteller, has joined Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires as director of communications and PA.
Lilit Bargar, who was most recently an EVP in the healthcare practice at Weber Shandwick, comes on board at GCI Health as EVP, corporate practice lead.
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