Capitol Update: Quick highlights of health care issues discussed as the Florida Legislature moves toward the start of the 2026 Legislative Session.

Provided by Toni Large, Large Strategies

House Health & Human Services Committee

Chair: Rep Josie Tomkow, R, Auburndale

• The application for the Rural Health Transformation Program was submitted by the Agency, on November 3, 2025, to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

• CMS will review applications and announce awards by December 31, 2025, with funding distributed beginning in calendar year 2026 and continuing through 2030.

AHCA Press Release: Florida Submits Application to Federal Rural Health Transformation Program 

Review AHCA's full briefing HERE

House Health Care Budget

Chair: Rep Alex Andrade, R, Pensacola

Presentation on Medicaid Managed Care Plan Performance

- Agency for Health Care Administration

Review AHCA's full Medicaid briefing HERE

Other Health Care Briefings this Week

House Human Services Subcommittee

Implementation briefing on HB 7021 (2024) Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Maney) by representatives of the Department of Children and Families.

House Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

Implementation briefing by the Agency on Health Care Administration:

- HB 1085 (2025) Children's Medical Services (Oliver)

- HB 1227 (2025) Medicaid Enrollment for Permanently Disabled Individuals (Tramont)

- HB 1529 (2025) Home Health Aides for Medically Fragile Children Program (Tramont)

Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee

Briefing on the Florida Rare Disease Council, Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program and the Sunshine Genetics Act Pilot Program by the Department of Health.

Health Care Bills Debated

House Education & Employment Committee

HB 121 Nursing Education Programs by Rep Toby Overdorf

Members asked how state agencies would coordinate to crack down on fraudulent programs, questioned whether uniform admission standards exist, and emphasized the need to protect students from incurring debt without passing the NCLEX. In debate, they largely supported raising standards to ensure quality instruction, strengthen oversight, and address Florida’s nursing shortage.

House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

HB 145 Suits Against the Government by Rep McFarland

Raises sovereign immunity caps in multiple phases, reaching as high as $600,000 per individual claim and $1.2 million per incident after October 1, 2031.

No member posed questions to the sponsor. In debate, Reps. Dean Black (R) and Michael “Mike” Gottlieb (D) emphasized fairness and modernizing sovereign immunity caps.

House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

HB 197 Employment Eligibility by Rep Jacques

Require all private employers to use the E-Verify system beginning July 1, 2026.

Members asked about E-Verify’s accuracy, the financial and procedural impact on small businesses, and how enforcement would be handled; supporters emphasized that E-Verify is free and efficient, while critics raised concerns about database errors, burdens on employers, and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

Senate Judiciary

SB 164 Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child by Senator Grall

Include unborn children under wrongful death claims while prohibiting actions against mothers and medical providers providing lawful care.

Members questioned whether the measure encourages wrongful death suits against medical providers, businesses, or even supportive friends, focusing on concerns about lawsuits from rapists or abusive partners and the speculative nature of possible damages. Advocates argued the bill codifies consistent legal remedies for unborn children and stressed that lawful medical care and the mother remain exempt from liability.

Health Care Bills Filed THIS Week

HB 6003        Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death by Trabulsy

SB 0202         Mandatory Human Reviews of Insurance Claim Denials by Bradley

HB 0173        Parental Rights by Kendall

SB 0166         Parental Rights (Grall)

SB 0196         Uterine Fibroid Research Database by Sharief

HB 0121        Nursing Education Programs by Overdorf

HB 0137        Coverage for Mammograms and Supplemental Breast Cancer Screenings by Hart

HB 0093        Protection from Surgical Smoke by Woodson

SB 0162         Protection From Surgical Smoke (Davis)

HB 0081        Postsurgical Recovery Homes by Robinson, F.

SB 0192         Patient Funds Held in Trust by Chiropractic Physicians by Martin

SB 0190         Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause on Women’s Health by Sharief

HB 0161        Impact of Perimenopause and Menopause on Women’s Health (Hinson)

HB 0169        Acupuncture by Alvarez, J.

SB 0188         Medical Examiners’ Duties by García

SB 0186         Student Health and Safety by García

HB 0163        Access to Medicaid Providers by Robinson, F.

SB 0040         Medicaid Providers by Sharief

HB 0155        Mental Health Programs for Gun Violence Prevention by Hinson

HB 0153        Reports of Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect by Sirois

HB 0151        Licensure by Endorsement to Practice Dentistry and Dental Hygiene by Conerly

SB 0152         Medicaid Provider Networks by Harrell

SB 0148         Temporary Licensure of Anesthesiologist Assistants by Harrell

SB 0146         Use of Artificial Intelligence by State Agencies by Harrell

SB 0138         Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice by Truenow

SB 0136         Protections for Public Employees who use Medical Marijuana as Qualified Patients by Polsky

SB 0130         Protection of Parental Rights by Polsky

HB 0047        Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations by Bartleman

SB 0042         Specific Medical Diagnoses in Child Protective Investigations (Sharief)

SB 0046         Nonparticipating and Out-of-network Nurse Registries and Home Health Agencies by Sharief

SB 0054         Use of Substances Affecting Cognitive Function by Sharief

HB 0021        Pub. Rec./Medical Examiners by Kendall

Full Listing of ALL Health Care Bills before the Legislature CLICK HERE

On August 26, the Alliance of Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) and the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) joined stakeholders as part of the National Consumers League in writing to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) urging support for the department to swiftly promulgate robust regulations reforming the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). 

The letter emphasizes the need for DOL to regulate PBMs by: requiring meaningful transparency, prohibiting spread pricing, separating PBM compensation from the cost of medication, requiring PBMs to pass savings directly to patients, and removing medication barriers. 

FSR is a member of ATAP and CSRO, with members holding Executive Committee and board positions on these coalitions. 

The letter emphasizes that PBMs play a major role in driving up costs by creating formularies that favor higher-priced medications. Six PBMs now control 94% of all prescription drug claims in the U.S., consolidating power among insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies, and limiting the decision-making ability of patients, physicians, and community pharmacists. A recent Federal Trade Commission report confirmed that PBMs often design formularies to maximize their own profits, not patient benefit.

Congress has multiple bipartisan bills ready to address these harmful practices, including the PBM Reform Act of 2025 (H.R. 4317), introduced by Rep. Buddy Carter. These reforms would break the link between PBM profits and drug prices by requiring flat, fair fees for PBM services; ensure that rebates and discounts are passed through to the consumer at the point of sale; and streamline utilization management protocols to improve access and reduce administrative burdens.

FSR leadership is proud to stand with other organizations in calling for swift congressional action on PBM reform and urges member of Congress to support H.R. 4317 by cosponsoring this important legislation.

The federal legislation intends to address the untenable Part B payment cuts to healthcare providers included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to lifesaving therapies.

A May 2025 study by Milliman found that the policies in the legislation would save the Medicare program $3.3 billion over 10 years, while maintaining the IRA’s $93.3 billion in savings for patients over 10 years. 

H.R. 4299 has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.

The FSR has recently signed a letter applauding the introduction of the Protecting Patient Access to Cancer and Complex Therapies Act of 2025 (H.R. 4299). In order to continue protecting the patient-provider relationship, this bill, which, if enacted, will address the untenable Part B payment cuts to healthcare providers included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to lifesaving therapies.

Read the Letter

Request for favorable coverage of AVISE® Lupus test in Medical Policy #05-86000-22 titled “Tumor/Genetic Markers” 

Many FSR leaders also signed onto a letter sent to Florida Blue addressing a key statement in the current Florida Blue’s medical policy that includes AVISE® Lupus testing and requests consideration in covering this important test.

The statement, “The evidence is insufficient to determine that the technology results in an improvement in the net health outcome.” does not align with the breadth and quality of published, peer-reviewed evidence.

As rheumatologists working daily to diagnose and manage systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we believe the data clearly demonstrate that AVISE Lupus improves net health outcomes through more accurate and timely diagnosis, better-informed treatment decisions, and reduced unnecessary healthcare utilization.

Read the Letter

Your contribution to the FSR PC ensures we have a strong political presence in Tallahassee, allowing rheumatologists to have a seat at the table during critical health care discussions and reforms. We are educating Florida lawmakers about our priorities such as PBM reforms, anti-copay accumulator programs, step therapy, prior authorization and more. 

This session, because of FSR and partner medical association advocacy efforts, Governor DeSantis vetoed legislation (HB 6017) that would have repealed current medical liability protections to allow an additional class of survivors to recover unlimited non-economic damages (pain and suffering) in wrongful death medical liability actions. 

FSR will stand ready to advocate in opposition to any similar legislation in the future unless tied to a medical malpractice cap.

FSR also advocated in support and in opposition to the following legislation this session that did not ultimately pass. We will look forward to working with bill sponsors on similar policies next session:

• SUPPORT: Payment Certainty for Insurance Claims (HB 1231/SB 1526): : Proposes essential reforms to ensure payment certainty and eliminate hidden fees being charged to practices solely to receive payment for medical services they have provided. This was a priority bill during FSR February 2025 Capitol Days.

• SUPPORT: Prescription Drug Coverage Reforms (HB 899/SB 1342): Aims to ban practices by health insurers that prioritize profits over patient costs, ensuring lower out-of-pocket expenses and addressing mid-year formulary changes. This was a priority bill during FSR February 2025 Capitol Days.

• SUPPORT: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Decision-Making (SB 794): Mandates that decisions regarding the denial of healthcare services must involve a qualified human professional, protecting patients from AI algorithms deciding the care they receive. 

• SUPPORT: Regulation of Specialty Titles and Designations (SB 172/HB 1341): Seeks to prohibit non-physicians from misrepresenting themselves as physician specialists, maintaining the integrity of our field and ensuring patients have transparency in “who” is providing their care. The bill passed the Senate unanimously this session.

• OPPOSE: Mandatory E-Prescribing Concerns (SB 1568/HB 1297): Opposed proposed legislation that removes exceptions from existing law which would mandate e-prescribing in ALL situations. Current exemptions are necessary to allow physician discretion in prescribing based on unique patient situations. We know our patients want to price shop, have refill barriers such as drug shortages, and our patients also have prescription fill needs late nights, holidays and weekends, all requiring a patient to have a hard copy of their prescription. Though for most cases, e-prescribing is appropriate, we still need exception in Florida law when the technology would create barriers for a patient in timely getting a prescription or at the best price.

In this insightful reflection, FSR member Dr. Ken Stark guides us through the evolution of rheumatology practice, highlighting the progression from handwritten notes and mailed bills to the sophisticated coding systems and compliance measures used today.

Prompted by insights from an FSR Town Hall  presentation, Dr. Stark highlights the critical role of education, advocacy, and member engagement in navigating today’s healthcare landscape.

His story underscores why the Florida Society of Rheumatology continues to be an essential ally for clinicians facing the ever-changing demands of medical practice.

SB 890 - Improving Screening for and Treatment of Blood Clots

Senator Clay Yarborough, R Jacksonville

Enhances screening and treatment protocols for blood clots and pulmonary embolisms in Florida healthcare facilities and establishes a related registry.

• Amends legislative findings to include chronic critical illnesses and genetic predispositions for blood clots in chronic diseases.
• Creates a Blood Clot and Pulmonary Embolism Registry, mandating state healthcare facilities report specific patient data.
• Specifies confidentiality and use limitations for personal data in the registry, allowing certain disclosures for epidemiological and medical research.
• Allocates funds specifically for the registry's setup, maintenance, and data quality.
• Requires high-risk facilities to perform initial risk assessments for blood clots upon patient admission and mandates ongoing staff training.
• Updates training protocols for nursing home staff to include recognizing symptoms of blood clots and emergency response techniques.
• Revises assisted living facility standards to include identification and response protocols for residents at risk of developing blood clots.
• Adds blood clot risk identification and response to core training requirements for assisted living administrators.

Bill Analysis

Members voiced concerns about the bill’s definitions, training requirements, and facility protocols – particularly around how certified nursing assistants and assisted living facilities would identify and respond to blood clots – while expressing support if refinements were made. The measure ultimately advanced unanimously, with the sponsor pledging further amendments to address these issues

FAVORABLE by Senate Health Policy - 2 remaining committee stops

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SSB 942 - Invalid Restrictive Covenants in Health Care

Senator Colleen Burton, R Lakeland

The bill provides exceptions from the prohibition for restrictive covenants related to research, related to physicians whose individual compensation is $250,000 per year or more, or related to physicians who have an ownership interest in a medical business, practice, management services organization, or entity of any kind who sells a specified type of related asset.

The bill specifies that its provisions apply to restrictive covenants entered into on or after July 1, 2025.

Bill Analysis

In committee, members discussed how the bill’s $250,000 salary threshold would influence restrictive covenants, weighing concerns about the continuity of patient care and young physicians’ ability to establish a practice versus the protection of small, privately owned offices. Questions centered on whether physicians terminated without cause or who cross salary thresholds mid-contract should remain locked into noncompete agreements, with some senators seeking further consideration of discipline-related exceptions.

FAVORABLE by Health Policy - 2 remaining committee stops        

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SB 294 - Collaborative Pharmacy Practice for Chronic Health Conditions

Senator Gayle Harrell, R Stuart

SB 294 amends s. 465.1865, F.S., relating to collaborative pharmacy practice agreements. Under current law, collaborative pharmacy practice describes an arrangement in which a physician authorizes a pharmacist to provide specified patient care services relating to chronic health conditions to one or more of the physician’s patients. The bill provides that the term “chronic health condition” does not include heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac rhythm disorder.

Bill Analysis

Senator Harrell explained that the bill prevents adding complex cardiac conditions to collaborative pharmacy practice protocols. Support came from medical groups emphasizing physician oversight for such complex conditions, and no opposition was voiced.

FAVORABLE by Senate Rules -No remaining Committee stops

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SB 110 - Rural Communities

Senator Corey Simon, R Quincy

To further healthcare access in rural communities, the bill:

• Creates the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and Education (SCORE) Grant Program within DOH
• Creates the Rural Access to Primary and Preventative Care Grant Program (RAPP-C) program within the DOH
• Expands the existing Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program (RHCI)
• Amended to add Board Certified Emergency Physicians working in Florida's rural hospitals to the Medical Student Loan Repayment Program (FRAME)

Bill Analysis

Known as the Rural Renaissance and priority of Senate President Ben Albritton

FAVORABLE by Senate Fiscal Policy -No remaining Committee stops

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SB 668 - Storage and Disposal of Prescription Drugs & Sharps

Senator Danny Burgess, R Zephyrhills

Requires the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Protection, to study and assess the safe collection and proper disposal of sharps used in home healthcare.

Requires a comprehensive report on the study's findings and recommendations, including evaluations of collection methods, current local practices, and possible statewide implementation costs, to be submitted by July 1, 2026.

Bill Analysis

In the discussion, Senator Berman (D) highlighted the increasing use of sharps, such as Ozempic injections, and queried how both individual and commercial disposal would be addressed, while Senator Burgess (R) emphasized the bill’s aim to resolve conflicts between state and federal law to ensure safe, efficient prescription drug and sharps disposal. No opposition was raised.

FAVORABLE by Senate Fiscal Policy - 2 remaining committee stops

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Week 2 HOUSE Highlights

HB 1119 - Health Care Patient Protection

Rep Vanessa Oliver, R Punta Gorda

Improves pediatric readiness in hospital emergency departments (EDs), the bill requires the AHCA, in consultation with the Florida Emergency Medical Services for Children State Partnership Program, to adopt rules that establish minimum standards for pediatric patient care in hospital EDs.

Requires all hospitals with EDs to develop and implement policies and procedures for pediatric patient care, and to designate a pediatric emergency care coordinator.

Requires all hospital EDs to conduct the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment every five years. Each hospital ED must submit the results of the assessment to AHCA, and AHCA must publish the results of the assessment score for each and provide a comparison to the national average score.

Bill Analysis

During the discussion, members emphasized the importance of ensuring that emergency departments are prepared to treat pediatric patients, raised questions about integrating new protocols into existing hospital systems, and ultimately signaled unanimous support for enhanced pediatric care standards.

FAVORABLE by HC Facilities & Systems - 1 remaining Committee stops

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HB 883 - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice

Rep Jason Shoaf, R Port St Joe

The bill authorizes a psychiatric nurse registered for autonomous practice to engage in the practice of psychiatric mental health services, as defined by the Board of Nursing, without an established physician protocol.

Psychiatric nurses are licensed APRNs who hold a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric nursing and a national advanced practice certification as a psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse.

Bill Analysis

In the Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee meeting, members examined whether psychiatric APRNs should practice autonomously to address mental health needs, posing questions about scope expansion, patient safety, and oversight. The debate included personal stories and concerns about physician supervision, with the bill ultimately passing.

FAVORABLE by Health Professions & Programs - 1 remaining Committee stops

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HB 519 - Administration of Controlled Substances by Paramedics

Rep Robin Bartleman, R Weston

Specifies that certified paramedics can administer controlled substances but only under direct supervision and during emergency services, ailing state law with federal law.

Bill Analysis

FAVORABLE by Health Health Professions & Programs- 1 remaining committee stops

_______________________________________________

HB 231 - Pub. Rec./Medical Examiners

Rep Kim Kendall, R

• Defines "medical examiner"
• Establishes a public records exemption for the personal identifying and location information of current and former medical examiners, along with their spouses and children

Bill Analysis

FAVORABLE by Criminal Justice -2 remaining committee stops

BILL TRACKING

Large Strategies Cheat Sheet Moving HC Bills

HC Bills on Agenda NEXT WEEK

House Block Calendar WEEK 3

From comprehensive list:

Click here to view LIVE Senate Calendar

Senate Block Calendar WEEK 3

From comprehensive list:

Click here to view LIVE House Calendar

May 2

END of the 2025 Legislative Session

View Videocast

Healthcare Session 2025 Recap of "Capitol Conversations" as we ADVOCATE in 2025

Content provided by Toni Large, Large Strategies, Inc.

First Week SENATE Spotlight

SB 110 - Rural Communities

https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2025/pdf/analysis_110_03-03-25_post_2342.pdf

• To further healthcare access in rural communities, the bill:
• Creates the Stroke, Cardiac, and Obstetric Response and Education (SCORE) Grant Program within the Department of Health (DOH) to implement training, purchase equipment, establish telehealth capabilities, and develop quality improvement programs with the goal of improving patient outcomes and increasing access to high-quality stroke, cardiac, and obstetric care in rural communities;
• Creates the Rural Access to Primary and Preventative Care Grant Program (RAPP-C) program within the DOH to provide incentive funding for primary care physicians and autonomous Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to open new practice locations in rural and underserved areas of the state; and
• Expands the existing Rural Hospital Capital Improvement Grant Program (RHCI) to allow rural hospitals to use grant funds to establish mobile care units to provide primary care services, behavioral health services, or obstetric and gynecological services in rural health professional shortage areas (HPSA) or to establish telehealth kiosks to provide urgent care services in rural HPSAs.

Senator Corey Simon, R Quincy

Know as the Rural Renaissance Priority of Senate President Ben Albritton

FAVORABLE by Community Affairs

Remaining Committee Stops: Senate Fiscal Policy

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SB 526 - Nursing Education Programs

https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2025/pdf/analysis_526_03-05-25_post_2351.pdf

Amends s. 464.019, F.S., adding the the following requirements to the application process for nursing education program approval:

• Must have evaluation and standardized admission criteria that identify students who are likely to need additional educational support
• Must have a comprehensive examination to prepare nursing students for the NCLEX;
• Criteria for remediation that will be offered to students who do not successfully pass the exit examination.

A program with NCLEX passage rates at least ten % points below the average passage rate must offer remediation at no additional cost or refer the student to an approved remedial program.

The bill requires the BON to deny or revoke an application that has had adverse action taken against it by another regulatory jurisdiction in the U.S.

READ MORE

Supporters maintained the need to raise Florida’s last-place NCLEX pass rates

Senator Gayle Harrell, R Stuart

FAVORABLE by Senate Health Policy

Remaining Committee Stops:

Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services; Fiscal Policy

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First Week HOUSE CONCERNS

HB 649 - Autonomous Practice by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2025/pdf/analysis_649_03-05-25_post_2320.pdf

The bill authorizes autonomous CRNAs to perform CRNA-specific acts without an established supervisory protocol. The bill also exempts autonomous CRNAs practicing in certain facilities from the statutory requirement that they only administer anesthesia under onsite physician or dentist supervision and within an established protocol. The bill allows such facilities to require an autonomous CRNA to operate under an established protocol approved by the medical staff or the governing board of the facility.

Members asked whether CRNAs are adequately trained, insured, and prepared to handle emergencies, while supporters noted that removing physician supervision aligns with other states and addresses workforce gaps, and opponents argued that ultimate responsibility should remain with physicians for patient safety.

Rep Mike Giallombardo, R

Cape Coral

FAVORABLE by Health Professions & Programs SubCommittee

Remaining Committee Stops: Health & Human Services Committee

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HB 6017 - Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death

https://static-s3.lobbytools.com/bills/2025/pdf/analysis_6017_03-05-25_post_2322.pdf

Expands the application of the Florida Wrongful Death Act by repealing exceptions that prohibit certain parents and children of a deceased patient who dies due to medical negligence from recovering noneconomic damages

Currently, neither an adult child (25+) of an unmarried person who dies due to medical negligence, nor the parents of an adult child (25+) who dies due to medical negligence, may recover noneconomic damages (commonly referred to as “pain and suffering damages”). They may, however, recover through the estate economic damages such as net accumulations, final medical bills, and funeral and burial expenses.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee, members such as Senator Hooper (R) and Senator Passidomo (R) debated accountability versus containing malpractice premiums. The bill ultimately passed, with supporters emphasizing justice for survivors and opponents calling for stronger oversight of negligent providers.

In the House subcommittee hearing, members asked whether repealing the provision might drive up medical malpractice premiums or if there had been any recent surge in such cases. The bill sponsor noted that the intent was to establish parity rather than respond to increased suits.

Rep Dana Trabulsy, R Ft Pierce

FAVORABLE (18-0) by Civil Justice & Claims

Remaining Committee Stops: Judiciary

The Senate companion, SB 734 also received favorable passage in Judiciary

(9-2); Remaining stops: Appropriations Committee on Health & Human Services; Rules

Senator Sponsor: Clay Yarborough, R Jacksonville

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Up Next Week

Want to know what health care legislation has been filed as of today?

We have a comprehensive report on all heath care bills being considered before the Florida Legislature.

Find an updated tracking chart in each new addition.

https://files.constantcontact.com/2a3b97ad701/1bd498c1-a19e-422d-8ac8-3f212e45b163.pdf?rdr=true

HC Bills on Agenda NEXT WEEK

*Note: House & Senate have short committee agenda notice timeframes.

This is not a comprehensive listing, just the bills on agenda at time of email.

From comprehensive list:

Click here to view live Senate Calendar

Click here to view live House Calendar

SB 0890

Improving Screening for and Treatment of Blood Clots (Yarborough)

SENATE On Committee agenda - Health Policy, 03/11/25, 1:30 pm, 412 K

SB 0294

Collaborative Pharmacy Practice for Chronic Health Conditions (Harrell)

SENATE On Committee agenda - Rules, 03/12/25, 11:00 am, 412 K

HB 0723

Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection Program (Tant)

HOUSE On Committee agenda - Education Administration Subcommittee, 03/11/25, 8:00 am, 102 H

HB 1119

Health Care Patient Protection (Oliver)

HOUSE On Committee agenda - Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee, 03/11/25, 8:00 am, 404

HB 0791

Surrendered Newborn Infants (Cobb)

HOUSE On Committee agenda - Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee, 03/11/25, 8:00 am, 404 H - PCS

HB 0355

Emergency Opioid Antagonists in Public K-12 Schools and Postsecondary Educational Institutions (Alvarez (J))

HOUSE On Committee agenda - Human Services Subcommittee, 03/11/25, 10:30 am, 314 H

___________________________________

House of Representatives

Tuesday Mar 11

Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

8AM-10AM

Human Services Subcommittee

10:15AM-12:15PM

Wednesday Mar 12

Health Care Budget Subcommittee 1:00PM-4:00PM

Thursday Mar 13

Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee 1:00PM-4:00PM

Insurance & Banking Subcommittee 1:00PM-4:00PM

Friday Mar 14

Insurance & Banking Subcommittee 8:00AM-10:00AM

Senate

Tuesday Mar 11

Health Policy 1:30PM-3:30PM

Wednesday Mar 12

SESSION

Chamber 3:00PM-5:00PM

Rules 11:00AM-1:00PM

Thursday Mar 13

SESSION

Chamber 1:30PM-5:30PM

May 2

END of the 2025 Legislative Session

As many of you may know, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a 2.83% cut to physician reimbursement on January 1, 2025, the fifth consecutive year of reductions to Medicare payments for physicians. Compounding this issue, medical inflation costs are projected to rise by 3.5% this year, further straining our financial resources and the sustainability of our practices.

The FSR has been a steadfast advocate for addressing these cuts, and we are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), who have reintroduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879). This crucial legislation aims to eliminate the 2.83% cut and provide a 2.0% payment update to stabilize our practices.

Now, we need your help! We urge all rheumatologists and practice partners to join us in advocating for this important legislation. Please click the link below to contact your member of Congress and encourage them to cosponsor and advance H.R. 879. Your voice is vital in ensuring that Congress recognizes the immediate need to replenish these reimbursement cuts.

Thank you for your commitment to our patients and our profession. Together, we can make a difference!

Take Action Now! CLICK HERE

How will this impact my license renewal?

During the 2024 legislative session, the Florida Legislature approved the state’s participation in a multistate compact for medical licensure. Seen as a way to streamline the application process associated with what previously had been a state-by-state approach to granting a license to practice, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC or Compact) is one of the tools included in the “Live Healthy” legislation focused on attracting more physicians to and retaining more physicians in our state.  

The IMLC is different than the nursing compact. Physicians participating in the Compact still must have a license in each state where they practice, but the Compact offers doctors a single electronic pathway to gain those licenses once they have met the qualifications of licensure in their home state. Now that Florida is a member state along with over 40 other jurisdictions, the good news is there is now the potential for a single point of entry should you as a Florida medical license holder have need to be licensed in multiple states.

Though implementation is ongoing, here is a first look into how the new licensing pathway will work. If you are currently licensed in Florida and plan to continue practicing in this state, in many ways nothing will change for you. You will need to biennially renew your license as usual. Want to seek licensure in another IMLC jurisdiction? It can all start with your existing Florida license. 

The first step in your multistate journey is to head to the IMLC website and use your Florida license as your “ticket to entry” by choosing Florida as your “State of Principal Licensure” and applying for a “Letter of Qualification.” If granted, this letter is valid for 365 days and certifies you are licensed and in good standing in your home state, thus eliminating much of the duplicative administrative work to be completed by each additional state where you ultimately will seek licensure.  

To designate Florida as your State of Principal Licensure (SPL), ensure AT LEAST ONE of the following are true:

• Your primary residence is in the SPL (in this case Florida)
• At least 25% of your practice of medicine occurs in the SPL (in this case Florida)
• You are employed to practice medicine by a person, business or organization located in the SPL (in this case Florida)
• You use the SPL (Florida) as your state of residence for U.S. Federal Income Tax purposes.

With your Letter of Qualification (LOQ) in hand, you can now choose the state(s) where you would like to apply for an “expedited license.” Remember, upon receipt of an expedited license, you will have an unrestricted license in the new state. 

To qualify to get an expedited license from another member jurisdiction in addition to your Florida medical license, you must have:

• Graduated from an accredited medical school, or a school listed in the International Medical Education Directory or its equivalent such as the World Directory of Medical Schools
• Successfully completed ACGME- or AOA-accredited graduate medical education
• Passed each component of the USMLE, COMLEX-USA, or equivalent in no more than three attempts for each component (note that passing the Canadian Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada, or the LMCC, DOES NOT meet this requirement)
• Hold a current specialty certification or time-unlimited certification by an ABMS or AOABOS board

In addition, physicians must:

• Not have any history of disciplinary actions toward their medical license
• Not have any criminal history
• Not have any history of controlled substance actions toward their medical license
• Not currently under investigation

As for cost, if you choose to participate in the Compact by designating Florida as your SPL, the Compact Commission will collect $700 for the work associated with granting the SPL designation and issuing an LOQ. If you chose to pursue an expedited license through the Compact, each state will have costs associated with issuing a medical license. In Florida, this is the standard $355 licensure fee plus any NICA fees associated with your NICA status.

The Department of Health plans to roll out Florida’s Compact participation by the first of the year. Implementation details can be found on the Florida Board of Medicine website under the licensure tab as they are released at. As with any new program, we will share information as it develops or changes but hope this gives you a quick overview of new ways to maximize one of your greatest assets – your medical license. Special thanks to Paul Vazquez, Executive Director at the Florida Board of Medicine, for his time and expertise in sharing the information included in this article. FCEP is happy to be a team partner with regulators working to address issues that affect our patients and our profession.

During a recent Town Hall, CSRO's government affairs team highlighted the critical "Lame Duck" session—the period between the November 5 elections and the swearing-in of the 119th Congress on January 3, 2025. This is a crucial time when Congress meets to address urgent or unfinished business.

We need your help to remind members of Congress about CSRO’s priority policy issues and to encourage their attention to these matters during the Lame Duck session.

Your voice makes a difference. Together, we can advocate for policies that impact our profession and the patients we serve.

• Urge Congress to address the 2.8% impending cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule before January 1, 2025. 
  

  Take Action on MPFS

• Urge Congress to enact meaningful Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reforms that will curb their abusive practices and protect patients.

Take Action on PBM Reform

Read letter

FSR conducted a Town Hall on November 13, 2024, for its members to provide important insights on how recent State and Federal elections, along with regulatory changes, will shape access to rheumatology care in 2025 and beyond. This discussion featured key updates from expert speakers:

Analysis of State and Federal Elections & Impact on Rheumatology Services

Toni Large, Large Strategies

Breaking Down the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

Kevin Daley, Hart Health Strategies

Medicare Pharmacy Benefit Changes and Drug Affordability Considerations in 2025

Mitchell Zoerhoff, Value and Access, Sanofi

Thank you to all who joined us at the Town Hall. We look forward to continuing our efforts together to navigate these important changes!

Currently, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) strict review process for determining the interchangeability of biosimilars requires comprehensive clinical switching studies to demonstrate that there are no clinically meaningful differences in safety, efficacy, and quality compared to reference biologic products. The FSR argues that eliminating these mandatory studies would undermine the confidence of prescribers, including rheumatologists, in the safety of biosimilars.

Additionally, the letter highlights concerns over potential changes in health insurance plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), which may lead to non-medical switching of patients between biosimilars based on formulary preferences rather than clinical appropriateness.

While acknowledging the potential for biosimilars to provide more affordable treatment options and improve adherence for rheumatic disease management, the FSR urges lawmakers to maintain current FDA standards to ensure patient safety and provider trust.

FSR Letter to House

FSR Letter to Senate

At its annual meeting in early August, the Florida Medical Association (FMA) adopted a significant resolution, championed by the South Florida Caucus and the Florida Society of Rheumatology (FSR), and developed by Dr. Shawn Baca. This resolution commits the FMA to sharing any research indicating that reductions in Medicare Advantage networks adversely affect patient care with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and relevant CMS advisory boards overseeing insurance companies responsible for these network reductions. Dr. Robert Levin also highlighted the impacts of these network changes on both patients and providers during the meeting.

In late 2023, the FSR learned from various rheumatology practices that they had been removed from the Florida Blue Medicare Advantage Network. In response, FSR conducted a member survey to gather data and subsequently sent a formal letter to Florida representatives on the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means, as well as to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. The letter informed Florida Blue of their breach of CMS’s network adequacy standards for Medicare Advantage.

Seeking further assistance, FSR reached out to the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) for support with CMS. Although a virtual meeting with CMS representatives followed, the outcome was a report from CMS affirming the network’s adequacy. FSR then arranged another meeting with the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to discuss potential solutions for the network adequacy issues faced by Florida rheumatologists.

FSR will keep members informed on the progress of the resolution’s objectives and any other developments related to network adequacy.

1. The Department of Management Services (DMS) is now required to provide coverage for biomarker testing for specified purposes under the state employees' state group health insurance plan policies.
   
2. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is authorized to fund biomarker testing under the Medicaid program for specified purposes, subject to specific appropriations.
3. Managed care plans under contract with AHCA in the Medicaid program must offer coverage for biomarker testing for Medicaid recipients in a specified manner.
   
4. The law specifies the circumstances under which such coverage may be provided and mandates a clear, convenient, and readily accessible process for authorization requests for biomarker testing.
   
   

These measures are crucial in improving healthcare outcomes and access to necessary diagnostic tools for Medicaid beneficiaries across the state. The Florida Society of Rheumatology applauds this legislative initiative, which underscores our commitment to advancing patient care and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.

We encourage you to review the full text of House Bill 885 for detailed information on how these changes will impact our practice and patient care. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our profession and the patients we serve. Together, we can continue to make a positive difference in healthcare delivery in Florida.

Most recently, Dr. Robert Levin (Clearwater), traveled to Tallahassee to provide committee testimony in support of the Prescription Drug Reform Act, which targets several bad practices pharmacy benefit managers (PBMS) use that impacts affordability and access to prescription drugs. The 49-page bill, which is expected to pass and be signed into law, has protections from steering patients to preferred pharmacies, a 60-day notice for switching medications within the plan year, new requirements for reporting, and numerous other protections for pharmacies and patients.

2023 Legislative Priorities

• Senate Bill 1550 - Prescription Drug Reform Act.
• House Bill 203 - Limiting payor mandated white bagging.
• Senate Bill 46 / House Bill 1063 - Ensure a patient’s co-pay assistance is applied to their deductible.
• Senate Bill 746 - Protections from switching a patient’s medications within the plan year for non-medical reasons.
• House Bill 805 - Mandatory insurance coverage for biomarker testing.
• Senate Bill 1500 / House Bill 1545 - Transparency for health insurance identification cards.
• House Bill 1067 - Opposition to allow nurse practitioners and other non-physician groups to engage in specialty medical practice and provide completely unsupervised services in every medical specialty.

Advocacy efforts will continue throughout the year as the Society prepares for legislative committee weeks in the fall. FSR advocacy leaders encourage members to consider getting more involved by participating in the annual capitol day in Tallahassee. This opportunity and others will be discussed and presented at the FSR annual meeting in July.

Question about advocacy or how to get involved? Contact Kevin Daley at kdaley@hhs.com.