Florida Hospital Association Applauds Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for Signing Live Healthy Package
Tallahassee, Fla. – In response to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing the ‘Live Healthy’ legislative package, which bolsters health care across Florida’s hospitals through policy enhancements and $716 million in health care investments, Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, issued the following statement:
“Breaking down barriers to quality health care for Florida families is the driving force behind the Florida Legislature’s landmark ‘Live Healthy’ legislation and $716 million in strategic health care investments. These investments will expand access to health care, address Florida’s workforce shortage and support health care innovation. By signing ‘Live Healthy’ into law, Governor Ron DeSantis has shown bold leadership to ensure Florida remains a resilient, first-class destination for health care in the future. We extend our gratitude to Governor DeSantis for his unwavering support for Florida hospitals and the communities they serve.”
Health care investments included in ‘Live Healthy’ that the Florida Hospital Association has championed include:
- $134 million to increase hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery services.
- $50 million ($500 million over 10 years) for the Innovation Fund, incentivizing groundbreaking technologies, workforce mobility and health care delivery models to maintain a modern, sophisticated health care delivery system in Florida.
- $5 million (increasing funding to $30 million) for the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program to fortify health care workforce development partnerships and create a robust pipeline of skilled health care professionals.
- $321 million to create a new integrated care and education model to bolster the behavioral health workforce and system.
- $150 million to increase Graduate Medical Education Statewide Medical Residency Program and expand the Slots for Doctors Program.
- $30 million to increase student loan reimbursement through Florida’s Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) Program for health care and behavioral health care professionals.
- $11.5 million to expand behavioral health Mobile Response Teams usage and reimbursement.
- $8.2 million for reimbursing behavioral health collaborative care models, which integrate physical and behavioral health care.
Additional investments in Florida’s Medicaid program include:
- Approval for Medicaid reimbursement for ‘Hospital at Home’ services, enabling more patients to receive quality care in the comfort of their own homes.
For more information about FHA’s state advocacy efforts, visit www.FHA.org.
About FHA
Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of over 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association is located in Tallahassee and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions.