Join Our
Mail List
| |
|
|
|
2010 Florida Legislative Session
Round the clock budget negotiations and hours of
floor debate marked a frenetic week as legislators
moved to approve the final details of the state
budget proposal and continue to address policy
issues ranging from property insurance to Medicaid
reform. Budget conferees met throughout the
weekend to iron out differences. A recent
headline from the press, "Crist Decision
Overshadows Everything," best describes the
current political environment. Governor
Crist must make a decision by Friday, April 30th
on whether he will run for the United States
Senate as either a Republican or an
Independent. And the Governor's
deteriorating relationship with the Republican-led
legislature is ever apparent as we enter the final
week of the Regular
Session. |
|
Medicaid Reform/Health Care Budget
- Being discussed in
budget conference. By late Sunday, it
appeared that Medicaid Reform may be at a
stalemate with the intention to address it in the
2011
Session. |
|
Department of Health (DOH)
Reorganization
- HB 7183 being discussed in
budget
conference |
Treatment of Diabetes
- HB
747 awaiting a final vote by the full
Senate
SB 896 by Senator Durell Peaden (R-Crestview) and
HB 747 by Representative Nick Thompson (R-Fort
Myers) prohibit a school district from restricting
the assignment of a student who has diabetes to a
particular school. The bills permit diabetic
students, whose parent and physician provide their
written authorization to the school principal, to
carry diabetic supplies and equipment while in
school or while participating in school sponsored
activities. Additionally, the bills add a member
of FAFP to the Diabetes Advisory Council.
The Senate is expected to take a final vote
on HB 747 early this
week. |
|
Controlled Substances
- SB 2272 awaiting a vote
by the full Senate; HB 225 awaiting a vote by the
full House
SB 2272 by Senators Mike Fasano (R-New Port
Richey) and Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) and HB 225
by Representatives John Legg (R-Port Richey) and
Joseph Abruzzo (D-Wellington) further regulate the
dispensing of controlled substances in Florida in
an effort to curb prescription drug abuse. The
bills no longer include the seventy-two hour
dispensing prohibition for physicians. The
bills provide additional exemptions to the
registration requirements for pain management
clinics not owned by a physician. The bills
require that all medications, including controlled
substances, be prescribed and dispensed at pain
management clinics must be prescribed and
dispensed by physicians licensed under chapter 458
or chapter 459. SB 2272 is awaiting a vote
by the full Senate and HB 225 is awaiting a vote
by the full
House. |
|
Physician Workforce
- HB 1503 awaiting a
final vote by the House
SB 1256 by Senator Durell Peaden (R-Crestview)
modifies the section of law that establishes DOH's
responsibility for physician workforce
development. SB 1256 creates a Physician
Workforce Advisory Council and a Physician
Workforce Graduate Medical Education (GME)
Innovation Pilot Projects program. The bill
repeals the Community Hospital Education Act that
includes the Community Hospital Education Council,
the GME Committee, the GME annual report and the
Community Hospital Education Program.
Additionally the bill allows the FAFP to
recommend one of its members to serve on the
Physician Workforce Advisory Council. SB 1256 has
one more committee hearing before a vote by the
full Senate. A similar bill, HB 935, by
Representative Ed Homan (R-Temple Terrace) has yet
to receive a committee
hearing.
Several weeks ago HB 1503, a comprehensive health
care bill by Representative Anitere Flores
(R-Miami) was amended to include the substance of
SB 1256 and was approved by the House Health and
Family Services Policy Council. HB 1503 was
discussed and further amended by the full House
last week. The full House is expected to
take a final vote on HB 1503 early this
week. |
|
Physician Assistants
- HB 573 approved by
the Senate and House
SB 1456 by Senator Dennis Jones (R-Seminole) and
HB 573 by Representative Paige Kreegel (R-Punta
Gorda) delete the requirement that physician
assistants provide evidence to DOH, before they
prescribe or dispense medication, that they have
completed three months of clinical experience
practicing in the specialty area of their
supervising physician. Last week HB 573
received unanimous approval by the Senate and
House. The bill now awaits consideration by
the
Governor.
|
|
Child Restraint Requirements in Motor
Vehicles
- SB 316 approved by
the full Senate; HB 387 - no
movement |
|
No action was taken on
these bills this week:
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- SB 214 by Senator Jeremy Ring
(D-Margate) and HB 107 by Representative Marti
Coley (R-Marianna)
Smoking in
Vehicles with Minor
Passengers
- SB
2596 by Senator Victor Crist (R-Tampa) and HB 1141
by Representative Kevin Ambler
(R-Tampa)
Statewide
Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Program
-
HB 5309 House Health Care Appropriations Committee
(Conference issue)
Balanced
Billing
- SB 2504 by Senator Al
Lawson
(D-Tallahassee)
Arbitration
Agreements Governing Certain Medical Negligence
Claims
- SB 2034 by
Senator Steve Wise (R-Jacksonville) & HB 1529
by Representative Nick Thompson (R-Ft.
Myers)
Optometry/Oral and Topical
Pharmaceutical Agents
- SB 330 by
Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) and HB 135 by
Representative Ron Reagan
(R-Sarasota)
Advanced
Registered Nurse Practitioners
- SB 188 by Senator Mike
Bennett (R-Bradenton) and HB 677 by Representative
Juan Zapata
(R-Miami)
Continuity of
Care
- SB 516 by Senator Mike
Fasano (R-New Port Richey) and HB 275 by
Representative Denise Grimsley
(R-Sebring)
Sovereign Immunity for
Health Providers
- SB 1474 by Senator John
Thrasher (R-Jacksonville) and HB 791 by
Representative Ron Renuart (R-Ponte Vedra
Beach)
| |
|
| |
