Bill > H0085

This bill amends Florida Statutes to establish and regulate "recovery care centers," which are defined as facilities providing postsurgical and postdiagnostic medical and general nursing care for patients who do not require acute hospitalization and are expected to have an uncomplicated recovery, with a stay limited to 72 hours. These centers will be licensed under Chapter 395, Florida Statutes, which governs healthcare facilities, and will have specific admission criteria requiring patients to be medically stable and certified as not needing acute care. The bill mandates that recovery care centers must have emergency care and transfer protocols, including hospital agreements, and establish discharge planning procedures. It also authorizes the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to set separate standards for these centers, including those related to dietetic services, medication administration, and pharmacy services, while generally deferring construction standards to the Florida Building Code. The bill clarifies that recovery care centers are exempt from certain minimum licensure requirements under Chapter 408, Florida Statutes, which deals with healthcare licensing procedures.