Florida Senate Passes Live Healthy Legislative Package

The Florida Senate passed Thursday the Live Healthy Legislative Package with unanimous support.

The broad appeal of the free state of Florida continues to attract families, businesses and seniors at a rate of 300,000 new residents per year.  Unfortunately, these new Floridians are not bringing their health care providers with them.  Our comprehensive Live Healthy proposals will help grow Florida’s health care workforce, increase access, and incentivize innovation so Floridians can have more options and opportunities to live healthy here in the Sunshine State.

Live Healthy increases workforce mobility and incentivizes Florida-trained health care workers to serve in needed fields like mental health, labor and delivery, and helping Floridians with disabilities.  We are also increasing access to effective, efficient and economical health care with an emphasis on connecting Floridians with primary care providers who play a vital role as the main point of contact in the health care system for families and seniors.  And, incentivizing innovation with targeted investments that help rural and underserved communities integrate the latest technology.

My friend, Senator Travis Hutson, presented a sentimental amendment to Senate Bill 7016 before its passage.  This amendment, co-introduced by the Florida Senate, names the Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program in honor of my parents, Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti. 

My father, Dr. Cinotti, spent many years as a volunteer ophthalmologist, serving others well into his 90s.  He passed away last fall at the age of 100. I was honored to see their legacy of philanthropy celebrated by my Senate colleagues.  I cannot thank them enough.  I am blessed to have the opportunity to lead a body of 40 Senators who each give back to their communities in so many ways. 

Senate Bill 7016: Health Care

Senate Bill 7016, presented by Senator Colleen Burton (R-Lakeland), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Policy, establishes the framework to increase Florida’s health care workforce through expanded opportunities for education, training, and retention.

This legislation enhances partnerships between Florida’s hospitals and schools, increases residency slots, and establishes loan repayment options that incentivize providers to offer services in underserved areas.  Through these measures, Florida will build a more robust health care workforce that will be able to meet the needs of our growing state.

Additionally, Senate Bill 7016 removes unnecessary regulations that limit workforce mobility while maintaining rigorous training and certification requirements.  Specifically, Live Healthy enhances the role of medical school graduates waiting to be placed in a residency, expands sites for clinical training to include rural and other underserved communities, and reduces barriers for autonomous nurse midwives. These provisions will increase workforce mobility and remove barriers that interfere with quality care for patients.

This legislation also establishes the Nonemergent Care Access Plan (NCAP) requirements for hospitals and Medicaid-managed care plans.  By creating partnerships between hospitals and primary care settings that improve coordination and encourage patients to establish a medical home in which non-life-threatening care can be provided in a more cost-efficient and appropriate setting. Further, Senate Bill 7016 expands access to free and charitable clinics, allowing for more low-income Floridians to access quality health care.

Senate Bill 7018: Health Care Innovation 

Senate Bill 7018, presented by Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services, provides critical funding for health care innovation in the State of Florida.

This legislation establishes a Health Care Innovation Council, consisting of health care experts, to examine solutions and improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery.

Free-market principles show us that government is not able, or sometimes willing, to innovate in the same manner as the private sector. However, government is able to facilitate innovation and technological advancement through strategic investments that can improve the delivery of health care services and reduce costs for taxpayers.

Senate Bill 7018 supports this goal by providing funding for creative medical care solutions to enhance delivery methods through technology and innovation.

This legislation will now be sent to the Florida House of Representatives for their consideration.

My Safe Florida Home Enhancement Moves to Next Committee Stop 

Tuesday, Senator Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) presented Senate Bill 7028 in the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance.  This legislation enacts several important policy enhancements to the My Safe Florida Home Program.

The My Safe Florida Home Program was established in 2006 and renewed in 2022 to empower Floridians to make their homes more resilient to storm damage and potentially lower insurance premiums.  Senate Bill 7028 expands eligibility for the program, increases eligible improvements, and implements policies for prioritization.  Specifically, this legislation prioritizes low-income seniors, ensuring that Florida’s senior citizens can remain in their homes and live out their golden years with an increased sense of safety and financial security.

Senate Bill 7028 revises the application process and allows for certain applications to be revisited for further consideration, providing Floridians with the opportunity to potentially receive grant money from the program if they were previously rejected.

Measure Expanding Educational Opportunity Passes First Committee

Tuesday, Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) presented Senate Bill 7032 in the Senate Committee on Postsecondary Education.  This legislation provides an expanded slate of educational opportunities for students to earn postsecondary credit before earning a high school diploma or equivalent.

Senate Bill 7032 establishes the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program and GATE Scholarship. The GATE Program provides students who left high school with access to high-quality workforce education programs, enabling students to attain industry-recognized postsecondary credentials while they work to earn a high school diploma or equivalent.

This legislation builds upon critical workforce education legislation passed in the 2023 Legislative Session to further enhance Florida’s robust education system with a specific emphasis on workforce education programs.

A dynamic workforce is critical to a robust, resilient economy.  This legislation seeks to enhance Florida’s workforce through key investments in Florida’s world-class career and technical education programs.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office any time that I can be of assistance.

Respectfully,

Kathleen C. Passidomo

Senate President
State Senator, District 28

Not paid for at taxpayer expense.

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