Bill

Bill > H0823


FL H0823

Health Care


summary

Introduced
02/20/2025
In Committee
02/26/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An act relating to health care; providing a short title; repealing ss. 286.31, 286.311, and 381.00321, F.S., relating to the prohibited use of state funds for travel to another state for purpose of abortion services, the prohibited use of state funds for sex- reassignment prescriptions or procedures, and the right of medical conscience of health care providers and health care payors, respectively; creating s. 381.027, F.S.; providing a short title; defining terms; requiring a covered entity to, by a specified date, adopt a policy relating to providing written notice of a complete list of its refused services to patients; providing requirements for such notice; requiring a covered entity to submit a complete list of its refused services to the Department of Health by a specified date; requiring a covered entity to notify the department within a specified timeframe after a change is made to such list; requiring a covered entity to submit the list, along with its application, if applying for certain state grants or contracts; providing a civil penalty; requiring the department to adopt rules; requiring the department to publish and maintain on its website a current list of covered entities and their refused services by a specified hb823-00 date; requiring the department to develop and administer a certain public education and awareness program; providing construction; providing for severability; amending s. 381.96, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "eligible client" and redefining the term "pregnancy and parenting support services" as "pregnancy support services,"; revising department duties and contract requirements to conform to changes made by the act; amending s. 390.011, F.S.; deleting the definition of the term "fatal fetal abnormality"; amending s. 390.0111, F.S.; revising the timeframe in which a physician may perform a termination of pregnancy; revising exceptions; deleting the prohibition against the use of telehealth to perform abortions, the requirement that medications intended for use in a medical abortion be dispensed in person by a physician, and the prohibition against dispensing such medication through the United States Postal Service or any other courier or shipping service; amending s. 390.012, F.S.; revising rules the Agency for Health Care Administration may develop and enforce to regulate abortion clinics; repealing s. 395.3027, F.S., relating to patient immigration status data collection in hospitals; amending s. 409.905, F.S.; defining the terms "gender identity" and hb823-00 "transgender individual"; requiring the agency to provide Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary treatment for or related to gender dysphoria or a comparable or equivalent diagnosis; prohibiting the agency from discriminating in its reimbursement on the basis of a recipient's gender identity or that the recipient is a transgender individual; amending s. 456.001, F.S.; deleting the definition of the terms "sex" and "sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures"; amending s. 456.47, F.S.; deleting the prohibition against the use of telehealth to perform abortions, including medical abortions; repealing ss. 456.52 and 766.318, F.S., relating to sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures and civil liability for provision of sex-reassignment prescriptions or procedures to minors, respectively; amending ss. 61.517, 61.534, 409.908, 409.913, 456.074, and 636.0145, F.S.; conforming provisions and cross- references to changes made by the act; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

This bill, named the "Health Care Freedom Act," makes several significant changes to Florida's healthcare laws. It repeals existing statutes related to state-funded travel for abortion services and restrictions on sex reassignment procedures. The bill introduces a new "Health Care Transparency and Accessibility Act" requiring healthcare facilities to disclose and report any services they refuse to provide, including creating a public list of such refused services by January 2026. It modifies abortion regulations by removing restrictions on telehealth abortion services and medication dispensing, and eliminates the definition of "fatal fetal abnormality." The bill also expands Medicaid coverage to include gender-affirming care, requiring reimbursement for medically necessary treatments related to gender dysphoria and prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity. Additionally, the bill updates definitions and removes previous restrictions on gender-related medical procedures, such as eliminating specific language about sex reassignment prescriptions and procedures. The legislation aims to increase healthcare transparency, expand access to reproductive and gender-affirming care, and remove previous limitations on medical services. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration (on 05/03/2025)

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