Florida Hospital Association Applauds Proposed Live Healthy Legislation Intended to Address the Evolving Needs of a Modern, Sophisticated Health Care System for All Floridians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2023
CONTACT: JULIET HAUSER
(941) 830-2922
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Hospital Association (FHA) today applauded the proposed Live Healthy legislation championed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo. Today, the President gave an overview of two components of the Live Healthy package: Senate Bill 7016, sponsored by Senator Burton, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy, and SB 7018, sponsored by Senator Harrell, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services. The Live Healthy package of legislation is intended to advance a modern, sophisticated health care system to meet the increasing demand for health care in Florida.
Fundamental priorities outlined in Live Healthy include growing and retaining the health care workforce, increasing access to care, and incentivizing innovation – each of which the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) and its member hospitals believe to be key tenets for a more robust, patient-centered health care delivery system for Floridians.
“With the Sunshine State’s exponential population growth and increasing demand for health care, Live Healthy comes at a critical time to support a vision for Florida’s health care delivery system focused on keeping pace with the latest medical treatments and technologies and improving timely access to health care services for all Floridians,” said Mary C. Mayhew, president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association. “Thank you, Florida Senate President Passidomo, Chair Colleen Burton, and Chair Gayle Harrell, for working to address our health care workforce needs, incentivize critical healthcare investments, and enhancing primary care and mental health services. FHA is looking forward to working with both chambers towards passing this important legislation.”
Live Healthy underscores the vital importance of growing Florida’s physician, nurse and allied health care professional workforce, supporting maternity care, helping patients obtain care in the right setting, implementing innovative health care in rural areas, streamlining technology to ease the administrative burden on health care professionals, and increasing access to mental health services and primary care physicians. Other Senate proposals and the House companion bills are expected in the coming days.
Significant highlights outlined in the Live Healthy legislation:
- $152 Million to enhance hospital Medicaid reimbursement rates to support moms and babies in labor & delivery
- Approval for Medicaid reimbursement for Hospital @ Home
- $170 million for Graduate Medical Education to train and retain the next generation of doctors
- $5 million to expand nurse education capacity through the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program
- Reducing Barriers to Psychologists psychiatric nurses to work in Baker Act Facilities
- $750 million over 10 years for a revolving loan program to incentivize innovative health care solutions.
View the announcement of the Live Healthy proposal.
When the bill language becomes available, it will be posted on the Florida Senate website. Learn more about SB 7016 at The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov). Learn more about SB 7018 at The Florida Senate (flsenate.gov)
ABOUT THE 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.
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