In between the proverbial dog and the fire hydrant.” That’s Florida’s uncomfortable situation regarding $1.3 billion in hospital money that is in flux, according to state Sen. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, the influential chairman of the powerful Florida Senate Appropriations Committee. Whatever the outcome of this difficult dilemma, Florida’s leaders must rely on the same prudent, …
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Modeled after the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 (HIP 2.0), this bill is an alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion. The bill creates a state-operated marketplace for low-income Floridians to access health care coverage, services and products. Under the proposed legislation, enrollment will begin July 1, 2015 and will utilize a phased transition to ensure continuity of …
Requires Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities document to contain provision indicating the patient may be charged for out of network physician services. The document is to be presented upon admission. The bill also requires insurers to evaluate coverage for prosthetics and orthotics. The House companion only contains the language concerning coverage for prosthetics …
This legislation greatly expands the role of ASCs and Recovery Care Centers without providing the necessary and proper safeguards for patients. Do not expand ASC length of stay. Ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) in Florida are currently permitted to only provide elective surgical procedures to patients admitted and discharged within the same working day. The nature of surgical procedures and …
The House intends to move a bill (the ABLE Act HR 647) that would cut hospitals’ Medicare payments to establish tax-exempt accounts to assist disabled individuals. Please email your Representative (by clicking the link below) and ask him/her to oppose legislation that cuts hospital payments.
The House of Representatives passed H.4803, cannabis oil to help children. Representative Horne explained the committee amendment. Representative Tallon expressed concern over the quality of the oil. Horne and Tallon discussed production standards and quality oil. Horne said, “It will do more harm to the children of South Carolina if they do not get this …
The Senate Medical Affairs committee gave a favorable as amended report Thursday to S.919, Medicaid fraud. The bill changes the penalties for Medicaid fraud. The subcommittee clarified the definition of “provider.” Senator Alexander noted that the Department of Health and Human Services has a very good fraud unit. He said, “They have done great work …
The House 3M IV subcommittee gave a favorable report to S.1036 Wednesday. This bill addresses requirements concerning the varying levels of sedation to be administered to dental patients. Dr. Jim Mercer of Columbia spoke on behalf of the bill and said it protects the public. The legislation references national dental standards. It was noted that …
The House Labor, Commerce and Industry Insurance subcommittee met Wednesday and gave a favorable as amended report to S.569, the Competitive Insurance Act. This bill is a response to the 2007 Omnibus Insurance Reform. It would require the Department of Insurance to develop a new catastrophe model specific to South Carolina for insurers to use …
Dr. Pat O’Neal with the Department of Public Health (DPH) was successful in pushing SB 342 through the system. It permits DPH to notify a patient’s physician when records indicate that a patient has fallen out of treatment for HIV. O’Neal testified on both sides of the Capitol that keeping HIV-positive patients in treatment can …