Bill > H1549

Introduced Session

An act relating to health care; amending s. 381.4018, F.S.; requiring physician licensees to provide to the Department of Health specified information; requiring the department to collect and compile such information in consultation with the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability; amending s. 381.4019, F.S.; revising the purpose of the Dental Student Loan Repayment Program; defining the term "free clinic"; including dental hygienists in the program; revising eligibility requirements for the program; specifying limits on award amounts for and participation of dental hygienists under the program; deleting the maximum number of new practitioners who may participate in the program each fiscal year; specifying that dentists and dental hygienists must provide specified documentation; requiring practitioners who receive payments under the program to furnish certain information requested by the Department of Health; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to seek federal authority to use specified matching funds for the program; providing for future repeal of the program; transferring, renumbering, and amending s. 1009.65, F.S.; renaming the Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment Program as the "Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program"; revising the types of providers who are eligible to participate in the program; revising requirements for the distribution of funds under the program; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to seek federal authority to use specified matching funds for the program; creating s. 381.4021, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to provide to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report on specified student loan repayment programs; providing requirements for the report; requiring the department to contract with an independent third party to develop and conduct a design study for evaluating the effectiveness of specified student loan repayment programs; specifying requirements for the design study; requiring the department to submit the study results to the Governor and the Legislature by dates certain; requiring the department to participate in a certain multistate collaborative for a specified purpose; providing for future repeal of the requirement; creating s. 381.9855, F.S.; requiring the department to implement a health care screening and services grant program for a specified purpose; specifying duties of the department; authorizing nonprofit entities to apply for grant funds to implement new health care screening, service programs, or mobile clinics or units to expand the program's delivery capabilities; specifying requirements for grant recipients; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring the department to create and maintain an Internet- based portal to provide specified information relating to available health care screenings and services and volunteer opportunities; authorizing the department to contract with a third-party vendor to create and maintain the portal; specifying requirements for the portal; requiring the department to coordinate with county health departments for a specified purpose; requiring the department to include a clear and conspicuous link to the portal on the homepage of its website; requiring the department to publicize and encourage the use of the portal and enlist the aid of county health departments for such outreach; amending s. 383.2163, F.S.; expanding the telehealth minority maternity care program from a pilot program to a statewide program; requiring the department to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report; providing requirements for the report; amending s. 383.302, F.S.; providing and revising definitions; creating s. 383.3081, F.S.; providing requirements for birth centers to be designated as advanced birth centers with respect to operating procedures, staffing, and equipment; requiring an advanced birth center to enter into a written agreement with a blood bank for emergency blood bank services; requiring that a patient who receives an emergency blood transfusion at an advanced birth center be immediately transferred to a hospital for further care; requiring the agency to establish by rule a process for birth centers to be designated as advanced birth centers; amending s. 383.309, F.S.; providing minimum standards for advanced birth centers; authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration to enforce specified provisions of the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire Prevention Code for advanced birth centers; amending s. 383.313, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. 383.3131, F.S.; providing requirements for laboratory and surgical services at advanced birth centers; providing conditions for administration of anesthesia; authorizing the intrapartal use of chemical agents; amending s. 383.315, F.S.; requiring advanced birth centers to employ or maintain an agreement with an obstetrician for specified purposes; amending s. 383.316, F.S.; requiring advanced birth centers to provide for the transport of emergency patients to a hospital; requiring each advanced birth center to enter into a written transfer agreement with a local hospital or an obstetrician for such transfers; requiring birth centers and advanced birth centers to assess and document transportation services and transfer protocols annually; amending s. 383.318, F.S.; providing protocols for postpartum care of clients and infants at advanced birth centers; providing requirements for followup care; amending s. 394.455, F.S.; revising definitions; amending s. 394.457, F.S.; requiring the Department of Children and Families to adopt certain minimum standards for mobile crisis response services; amending s. 394.4598, F.S.; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to provide opinions to the court for the appointment of guardian advocates; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to consult with guardian advocates for purposes of obtaining consent for treatment; amending s. 394.4615, F.S.; authorizing psychiatric nurses to make certain determinations related to the release of clinical records; amending s. 394.4625, F.S.; requiring certain treating psychiatric nurses to document specified information in a patient's clinical record within a specified timeframe of his or her voluntary admission for mental health treatment; requiring clinical psychologists who make determinations of involuntary placement at certain mental health facilities to have specified clinical experience; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to order emergency treatment for certain patients; amending s. 394.463, F.S.; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to order emergency treatment of certain patients; requiring a clinical psychologist to have specified clinical experience to approve the release of an involuntary patient at certain mental health facilities; amending s. 394.4655, F.S.; requiring clinical psychologists to have specified clinical experience in order to recommend involuntary outpatient services for mental health treatment; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to recommend involuntary outpatient services for mental health treatment; providing an exception; authorizing psychiatric nurses to make certain clinical determinations that warrant bringing a patient to a receiving facility for an involuntary examination; amending s. 394.467, F.S.; requiring clinical psychologists to have specified clinical experience in order to recommend involuntary inpatient services for mental health treatment; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to recommend involuntary inpatient services for mental health treatment; amending s. 394.4781, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "psychotic or severely emotionally disturbed child"; amending s. 394.4785, F.S.; authorizing psychiatric nurses to admit individuals over a certain age into certain mental health units of a hospital under certain conditions; requiring the agency to seek federal approval for Medicaid coverage and reimbursement authority for mobile crisis response services; requiring the Department of Children and Families to coordinate with the agency to provide specified education to contracted mobile response team services providers; amending s. 394.875, F.S.; authorizing certain psychiatric nurses to prescribe medication to clients of crisis stabilization units; amending s. 395.1055, F.S.; requiring the agency to adopt rules ensuring that hospitals do not accept certain payments and requiring certain hospitals to submit an emergency department diversion plan to the agency for approval before initial licensure or licensure renewal; providing that, beginning on a date certain, such plan must be approved before a license may be issued or renewed; requiring such hospitals to submit specified data to the agency on an annual basis and update their plans as needed, or as directed by the agency, before each licensure renewal; specifying requirements for the diversion plans; requiring the agency to establish a process for hospitals to share certain information with certain patients' managed care plans; amending s. 408.051, F.S.; requiring certain hospitals to make available certain data to the agency's Florida Health Information Exchange program for a specified purpose; authorizing the agency to adopt rules; amending s. 409.909, F.S.; authorizing the agency to allocate specified funds under the Slots for Doctors Program for existing resident positions at hospitals and qualifying institutions if certain conditions are met; requiring hospitals and qualifying institutions that receive certain state funds to report specified data to the agency annually; requiring certain hospitals and qualifying institutions to annually report to the agency specified data; defining the term "sponsoring institution"; requiring such hospitals and qualifying institutions, beginning on a date certain, to produce certain financial records or submit to certain financial audits; providing applicability; providing that hospitals and qualifying institutions that fail to produce such financial records to the agency are no longer eligible to participate in the Statewide Medicaid Residency Program until a certain determination is made by the agency; requiring hospitals and qualifying institutions to request exit surveys of residents upon completion of residency; providing requirements for the exit surveys; creating the Graduate Medical Education Committee within the agency; providing for membership and meetings of the committee; requiring the committee, beginning on a specified date, to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report detailing specified information; requiring the agency to provide administrative support to assist the committee in the performance of its duties and to provide certain information to the committee; creating s. 409.91256, F.S.; creating the Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) Funding Program for a specified purpose; providing legislative intent; providing definitions; requiring the agency to develop an application process and enter into certain agreements to implement the program; specifying requirements to qualify to receive reimbursements under the program; requiring the agency, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop, or contract for the development of, specified training for, and to provide assistance to, preceptors; providing for reimbursement under the program; requiring the agency to submit to the Governor and the Legislature an annual report; providing requirements for the report; requiring the agency to contract with an independent third party to develop and conduct a design study for evaluating the impact of the program; specifying requirements for the design study; requiring the agency to begin collecting data for the study and submit the study results to the Governor and the Legislature by dates certain; authorizing the agency to adopt rules; requiring the agency to seek federal approval to use specified matching funds for the program; providing for future repeal of the program; amending s. 409.967, F.S.; requiring the agency to produce an annual report on patient encounter data under the statewide managed care program; providing requirements for the report; requiring the agency to submit to the Governor and the Legislature the report by a date certain; authorizing the agency to contract with a third-party vendor to produce the report; amending s. 409.973, F.S.; requiring Medicaid managed care plans to continue assisting certain enrollees in scheduling an initial appointment with a primary care provider; requiring such plans to coordinate with hospitals that contact them for a specified purpose; requiring the plans to coordinate with their members and members' primary care providers for such purpose; requiring the agency to seek federal approval necessary to implement an acute hospital care at home program meeting specified criteria; amending s. 456.073, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to report certain investigative information to the data system; amending s. 456.076, F.S.; requiring that monitoring contracts for certain impaired practitioners participating in treatment programs contain specified terms; creating s. 456.4501, F.S.; enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact in this state; providing purposes of the compact; providing that state medical boards of member states retain jurisdiction to impose adverse action against licenses issued under the compact; providing definitions; specifying eligibility requirements for physicians seeking an expedited license under the compact; providing requirements for designation of a state of principal license for purposes of the compact; authorizing the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission to develop certain rules; providing an application and verification process for expedited licensure under the compact; providing for expiration and termination of expedited licenses; authorizing the Interstate Commission to develop certain rules; providing requirements for renewal of expedited licenses; authorizing the Interstate Commission to develop certain rules; providing for the establishment of a database for coordinating licensure data amongst member states; requiring and authorizing member boards to report specified information to the database; providing for confidentiality of such information; providing construction; authorizing the Interstate Commission to develop certain rules; authorizing member states to conduct joint investigations and share certain materials; providing for disciplinary action of physicians licensed under the compact; creating the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission; providing purpose and authority of the commission; providing for membership and meetings of the commission; providing public meeting and notice requirements; authorizing closed meetings under certain circumstances; providing public record requirements; requiring the commission to establish an executive committee; providing for membership, powers, and duties of the committee; authorizing the commission to establish other committees; specifying powers and duties of the commission; providing for financing of the commission; providing for organization and operation of the commission; providing limited immunity from liability for commissioners and other agents or employees of the commission; authorizing the commission to adopt rules; providing for rulemaking procedures, including public notice and meeting requirements; providing for judicial review of adopted rules; providing for oversight and enforcement of the compact in member states; requiring courts in member states to take judicial notice of the compact and the commission rules for purposes of certain proceedings; providing that the commission is entitled to receive service of process and has standing in certain proceedings; rendering judgments or orders void as to the commission, the compact, or commission rules under certain circumstances; providing for enforcement of the compact; specifying venue and civil remedies in such proceedings; providing for attorney fees; providing construction; specifying default procedures for member states; providing for dispute resolution between member states; providing for eligibility and procedures for enactment of the compact; providing for amendment to the compact; specifying procedures for withdrawal from and subsequent reinstatement of the compact; authorizing the Interstate Commission to develop certain rules; providing for dissolution of the compact; providing severability and construction; creating s. 456.4502, F.S.; providing that a formal hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings must be held if there are any disputed issues of material fact when the licenses of certain physicians and osteopathic physicians are suspended or revoked by this state under the compact; requiring the Department of Health to notify the Division of Administrative Hearings of a petition for a formal hearing within a specified timeframe; requiring the administrative law judge to issue a recommended order; requiring the Board of Medicine or the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, as applicable, to determine and issue final orders in certain cases; providing the department with standing to seek judicial review of any final order of the boards; creating s. 456.4504, F.S.; authorizing the department to adopt rules; specifying that provisions of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact do not authorize the Department of Health, the Board of Medicine, or the Board of Osteopathic Medicine to collect a fee for expedited licensure, but rather state that fees of that kind are allowable under the compact; amending s. 458.311, F.S.; revising an education and training requirement for physician licensure; exempting certain foreign-trained applicants for physician licensure from the residency requirement; providing certain employment requirements for such applicants; requiring such applicants to notify the Board of Medicine of any changes in employment within a specified timeframe; repealing s. 458.3124, F.S., relating to restricted licenses of certain experienced foreign-trained physicians; amending s. 458.314, F.S.; authorizing the board to exclude certain foreign medical schools from consideration as an institution that provides medical education that is reasonably comparable to similar accredited institutions in the United States; providing construction; deleting obsolete language; amending s. 458.3145, F.S.; revising criteria for medical faculty certificates; deleting a cap on the maximum number of extended medical faculty certificates that may be issued at specified institutions; amending ss. 458.315 and 459.0076, F.S.; authorizing temporary certificates for practice in areas of critical need to be issued to physician assistants, rather than only to physicians, who meet specified criteria; amending ss. 458.317 and 459.0075, F.S.; specifying who may be considered a graduate assistant physician; creating limited licenses for graduate assistant physicians; specifying criteria a person must meet to obtain such licensure; requiring the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, to establish certain requirements by rule; providing for a one-time renewal of such licenses; authorizing limited licensed graduate assistant physicians to provide health care services only under the direct supervision of a physician and pursuant to a written protocol; providing requirements for, and limitations on, such supervision and practice; providing requirements for the supervisory protocols; providing that supervising physicians are liable for any acts or omissions of such graduate assistant physicians acting under their supervision and control; authorizing third-party payors to provide reimbursement for covered services rendered by graduate assistant physicians; authorizing the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, respectively, to adopt rules; creating s. 464.0121, F.S.; providing that temporary certificates for practice in areas of critical need may be issued to advanced practice registered nurses who meet specified criteria; providing restrictions on the issuance of temporary certificates; waiving licensure fees for such applicants under certain circumstances; amending s. 464.0123, F.S.; requiring certain certified nurse midwives, as a condition precedent to providing out-of-hospital intrapartum care, to maintain a written policy for the transfer of patients needing a higher acuity of care or emergency services; requiring that such policy prescribe and require the use of an emergency plan-of-care form; providing requirements for the form; requiring such certified nurse midwives to document specified information on the form if a transfer of care is determined to be necessary; requiring certified nurse midwives to verbally provide the receiving provider with specified information and make himself or herself immediately available for consultation; requiring certified nurse midwives to provide the patient's emergency plan-of- care form, as well as certain patient records, to the receiving provider upon the patient's transfer; requiring the Board of Nursing to adopt certain rules; amending s. 464.019, F.S.; deleting the sunset date of a certain annual report required of the Florida Center for Nursing; creating s. 458.3129 and 459.074, F.S.; providing that an allopathic physician or an osteopathic physician, respectively, licensed under the compact is deemed to be licensed under ch. 458, F.S., or ch. 459, F.S., as applicable; amending s. 468.1135, F.S.; requiring the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology to appoint two of its board members to serve as the state's delegates on the compact commission; amending s. 468.1185, F.S.; removing provisions relating to licensure by endorsement and refusal of certification for speech- language pathologists and audiologists; exempting audiologists and speech-language pathologists from licensure requirements who are practicing in this state pursuant to a compact privilege under the compact; amending s. 468.1295, F.S.; authorizing the board to take adverse action against the compact privilege of audiologists and speech-language pathologists for specified prohibited acts; creating s. 468.1335, F.S.; creating the Practice of Audiology and Speech-language Pathology Interstate Compact; providing purpose, objectives, and definitions; specifying requirements for state participation in the compact and duties of member states; specifying that the compact does not affect an individual's ability to apply for, and a member state's ability to grant, a single-state license pursuant to the laws of that state; providing for recognition of compact privilege in member states; specifying criteria a licensee must meet for compact privilege; providing for the expiration and renewal of compact privilege; specifying that a licensee with compact privilege in a remote state must adhere to the laws and rules of that state; authorizing member states to act on a licensee's compact privilege under certain circumstances; specifying the consequences and parameters of practice for a licensee whose compact privilege has been acted on or whose home state license is encumbered; specifying that a licensee may hold a home state license in only one member state at a time; specifying requirements and procedures for changing a home state license designation; providing for the recognition of the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology through telehealth in member states; specifying that a licensee must adhere to the laws and rules of the remote state in which he or she provides audiology or speech-language pathology through telehealth; authorizing active duty military personnel and their spouses to keep their home state designation during active duty; specifying how such individual may subsequently change his or her home state license designation; authorizing member states to take adverse actions against licensees and issue subpoenas for hearings and investigations under certain circumstances; providing requirements and procedures for such adverse action; authorizing member states to engage in joint investigations under certain circumstances; providing that a licensee's compact privilege must be deactivated in all member states for the duration of an encumbrance imposed by the licensee's home state; providing for notice to the data system and the licensee's home state of any adverse action taken against a licensee; establishing the Audiology and Speech-language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission; providing for jurisdiction and venue for court proceedings; providing for membership and powers of the commission; specifying powers and duties of the commission's executive committee; providing for the financing of the commission; providing specified individuals immunity from civil liability under certain circumstances; providing exceptions; requiring the commission to defend the specified individuals in civil actions under certain circumstances; requiring the commission to indemnify and hold harmless specified individuals for any settlement or judgment obtained in such actions under certain circumstances; providing for the development of the data system, reporting procedures, and the exchange of specified information between member states; requiring the commission to notify member states of any adverse action taken against a licensee or applicant for licensure; authorizing member states to designate as confidential information provided to the data system; requiring the commission to remove information from the data system under certain circumstances; providing rulemaking procedures for the commission; providing for member state enforcement of the compact; authorizing the commission to receive notice of process, and have standing to intervene, in certain proceedings; rendering certain judgments and orders void as to the commission, the compact, or commission rules under certain circumstances; providing for defaults and termination of compact membership; providing procedures for the resolution of certain disputes; providing for commission enforcement of the compact; providing for remedies; providing for implementation of, withdrawal from, and amendment to the compact; specifying that licensees practicing in a remote state under the compact must adhere to the laws and rules of that state; specifying that the compact, commission rules, and commission actions are binding on member states; providing construction; providing for severability; specifying that the provisions of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact do not authorize the Department of Health or the Board of Physical Therapy to collect a compact privilege fee, but rather state that fees of that kind are allowable under the compact; authorizing the Department of Health or the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology to collect a compact privilege fee; amending ss. 486.028, 486.031, and 486.102, F.S.; exempting from licensure requirements physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who are practicing in this state pursuant to a compact privilege under the compact; revising licensure requirements to include licensure by endorsement to practice as a physical therapist; creating s. 486.112, F.S.; creating the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact; providing a purpose and objectives of the compact; providing definitions; specifying requirements for state participation in the compact; authorizing member states to obtain biometric-based information from and conduct criminal background checks on licensees applying for a compact privilege; requiring member states to grant the compact privilege to licensees who meet specified criteria; specifying criteria licensees must meet to exercise the compact privilege under the compact; providing for the expiration of the compact privilege; requiring licensees practicing in a remote state under the compact privilege to comply with the laws and rules of that state; subjecting licensees to the regulatory authority of remote states where they practice under the compact privilege; providing for disciplinary action; specifying circumstances under which licensees are ineligible for a compact privilege; specifying conditions that a licensee must meet to regain his or her compact privilege after an adverse action; specifying locations active duty military personnel and their spouses may use to designate their home state for purposes of the compact; providing that only a home state may impose adverse action against a license issued by that state; authorizing home states to take adverse action based on investigative information of a remote state, subject to certain requirements; directing member states that use alternative programs in lieu of discipline to require the licensee to agree not to practice in other member states while participating in the program, unless authorized by the member state; authorizing member states to investigate violations by licensees in other member states; authorizing member states to take adverse action against compact privileges issued in their respective states; providing for joint investigations of licensees under the compact; establishing the Physical Therapy Compact Commission; providing for the venue and jurisdiction for court proceedings by or against the commission; providing construction; providing for commission membership, voting, and meetings; authorizing the commission to convene closed, nonpublic meetings under certain circumstances; specifying duties and powers of the commission; providing for membership and duties of the executive board of the commission; providing for financing of the commission; providing for qualified immunity, defense, and indemnification of the commission; requiring the commission to develop and maintain a coordinated database and reporting system for certain information about licensees under the compact; requiring member states to submit specified information to the system; requiring that information contained in the system be available only to member states; requiring the commission to promptly notify all member states of reported adverse action taken against licensees or applicants for licensure; authorizing member states to designate reported information as exempt from public disclosure; providing for the removal of submitted information from the system under certain circumstances; providing for commission rulemaking; providing construction; providing for state enforcement of the compact; providing for the default and termination of compact membership; providing for appeals and costs; providing procedures for the resolution of certain disputes; providing for enforcement against a defaulting state; providing construction; providing for implementation and administration of the compact and associated rules; providing that compact states that join after initial adoption of the commission's rules are subject to such rules; specifying procedures for compact states to withdraw from the compact; providing construction; providing for amendment of the compact; providing construction and severability; specifying that the provisions of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact do not authorize the Department of Health or the Board of Physical Therapy to collect a compact privilege fee, but rather state that fees of that kind are allowable under the compact; amending s. 486.023, F.S.; requiring the Board of Physical Therapy Practice to appoint a person to serve as the state's delegate on the Physical Therapy Compact Commission; amending s. 486.125, F.S.; authorizing the board to take adverse action against the compact privilege of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants for specified prohibited acts; amending s. 766.1115, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "low-income" for purposes of certain government contracts for health care services; amending s. 768.28, F.S.; designating the state delegates and other members or employees of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission, and the Physical Therapy Compact Commission as state agents for the purpose of applying sovereign immunity and waivers of sovereign immunity; requiring the commission to pay certain claims or judgments; authorizing the commission to maintain insurance coverage to pay such claims or judgments; amending s. 1002.32, F.S.; requiring developmental research schools to develop programs for a specified purpose; requiring schools to offer technical assistance to any school district seeking to replicate the school's programs; requiring schools, beginning on a date certain, to annually report to the Legislature on the development of such programs and the results, when available; amending s. 1004.015, F.S.; requiring the Commission for Independent Education and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida to annually report specified data for each medical school graduate; amending s. 1009.8962, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "institution" for purposes of the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund; requiring the Board of Governors and the Department of Education to submit to the Governor and the Legislature a specified report; amending ss. 486.025, 486.0715, and 486.1065, F.S.; conforming cross- references; amending ss. 395.602, 458.316, and 458.3165, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing appropriations; providing a directive to the department; providing effective dates.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Michael Grant (R)*,  Adam Botana (R),  Alina García (R),  Johanna López (D),  Dana Trabulsy (R), 

Other Sponsors (2)

Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 7016 (on 02/21/2024)

Official Document