Bill > S1250

This bill makes several changes to Florida law concerning healthcare professionals and services. It expands the categories of healthcare providers who can prescribe brand-name drugs when medically necessary, allowing advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) and physician assistants (PA) to do so in addition to physicians. The bill also clarifies procedures for recommending patient admission to treatment facilities, specifically for mental health services, and requires certain licensed professionals to complete continuing education courses on human trafficking as a condition for renewing their licenses. Additionally, it specifies actions that can lead to the denial of a license or disciplinary measures against ARNPs, and expands the scope of controlled substance prescribing authority to include ARNPs and PAs under certain conditions, while also establishing new regulations for their controlled substance prescribing practices and outlining grounds for disciplinary action. The bill also addresses requirements for deputy pilot and state pilot certifications, including health and drug testing standards, and mandates that hospitals notify physicians before closing obstetrical departments. Finally, it makes various technical amendments and reenactments to ensure consistency with the changes made by the bill.