Florida State Association of Rehabilitation Nurses

Health Policy Updates:

Susan Fowler, PhD, RN, CNRN, FAHA 

Health Policy Chair

https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2019/#HP

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/05/06/florida-legislature-2019-what-passed-and-what-failed/

2019 Bill Summaries

The 2019 Bill Summaries are reports created by committee staff that give brief explanations of legislation that passed this session in both the House and Senate. These summaries are created by committee staff and do not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Health Policy (HP)

• CS/HB 19 — Prescription Drug Importation Programs: DRUG IMPORTS: Allows drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be imported into Florida by Canada and other countries. (HB 19)
• CS/HB 21 — Hospital Licensure: CERTIFICATE OF NEED: Removes a requirement that general hospitals apply and obtain approval from the state to build or expand (HB 21)
• CS/CS/HB 23 —Telehealth: TELEHEALTH: Establishes a regulatory framework for telehealth. (HB 23)
• CS/CS/CS/SB 182 — Medical Use of Marijuana: These provisions were approved by the Governor and take effect March 18, 2019.
• CS/HB 213 — Immunization Registry: The bill provides that the DOH must make immunization records “electronically available” to entities that are required by law to have such records
• CS/CS/SB 366 — Infectious Disease Elimination Programs: NEEDLE EXCHANGE: Expands the pilot needle exchange established in Miami-Dade County by allowing other counties to create their own programs with the approval of their county commissions. (SB 366)
• CS/CS/HB 375 — Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
• CS/HB 411 — Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services
• FIREFIGHTERS (SIGNED): Provides certain benefits to firefighters who are diagnosed with cancer and benefits to the families of firefighters who die as a result of cancer or cancer treatment. (SB 426)
• CS/CS/HB 451 — Nonopioid Alternatives: The bill requires the Department of Health (DOH) to develop and publish on its website an educational pamphlet regarding the use of nonopioid alternatives for the treatment of pain
• CS/CS/HB 501 — Alternative Treatment Options for Veterans
• HB 549 — Continuing Education for Dentists
• CS/CS/SB 732 — Office Surgery: PLASTIC SURGERY: Tightens regulations for offices and clinics performing plastic surgeries. Requires those that are not completely owned by a licensed doctor to show financial responsibility for claims against them (SB 732)
• CS/HB 831 — Electronic Prescribing
• CS/HB 843 — Health Care: AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS: Allows patients to stay up to 24 hours in ambulatory surgery centers. (HB 843); HEART SURGERIES: Increases oversight of pediatric heart surgeries by letting team of doctors make unannounced visits to struggling programs and review death records. (HB 843)
• HB 1045 — Closing the Gap Grant Proposals
• CS/CS/HB 1253 — Prescription Drug Monitoring Program: OPIOID LAWSUIT: Would allow state lawyers to access a Florida Department of Health database of patients’ opioid prescriptions. State Attorney General Ashley Moody needs the database for a lawsuit alleging Walgreens and CVS “raced to sell as many opioids as possible” in Florida while failing to stop suspicious shipments of drugs. (HB 1253)
• CS/CS/SB 1460 — Stroke Centers: The bill also adds a new type of stroke center, the thrombectomy-capable stroke center (TSC), to the current types of stroke centers referenced in the Florida Statutes.
• HB 7003 — OGSR/Alzheimer’s Disease Research Grant Advisory Board
• HB 7009 — OGSR/Identification and Location Information/Department of Health