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<\/a>Florida hospitals generated $198 billion in economic impact and 343,952 jobs in 2023, Florida Hospital Association reports.<\/p>\nThe association pointed to a recent Wall Street Journal article, \u201cHealth Care Is Propping Up the Job Market,\u201d to place the findings in a broader context. Nationally, employment in health care and social assistance has grown 12.5% over the past three years, outpacing other industries.<\/p>\n
The report, titled \u201cEconomic Contributions of Florida Hospitals and Affiliated Healthcare Businesses in 2023<\/a>,\u201d shows continued growth at the state level. From 2021 to 2023, Florida hospitals increased employment by 11% and expanded their overall economic impact by 6.8%. Beyond direct jobs and payroll, hospitals are significant purchasers of goods and services, creating additional ripple effects across the state.<\/p>\n \u201cHospitals are the heart of medical care in our communities and are supporting health care systems to effectively meet growing demand and deliver innovative, world-class care,\u201d said Mary Mayhew, President and CEO of FHA. \u201cThe latest economic impact data underscores their contributions \u2013 not only of the lifesaving care they provide, but also as powerful economic engines driving Florida\u2019s future.\u201d<\/p>\n Association leaders emphasized that maintaining hospitals\u2019 financial strength and workforce capacity is essential to preserving access to high-quality care, particularly as the state\u2019s population ages and demand for services increases.<\/p>\n \u2014 Screening reqs \u2014<\/p>\n A bill that would expand Florida\u2019s newborn screening requirements to include a liver disease test advanced through its first Committee last week.<\/p>\n SB 1574<\/a>, titled \u201cMattie\u2019s Law,\u201d requires that all newborns be screened for biliary atresia by testing direct bilirubin levels using the blood specimen already collected for standard newborn screenings. It also creates a new statutory section requiring hospitals that provide birthing services to conduct biliary atresia screening as part of their newborn care obligations, effective Jan. 1, 2027.<\/p>\n The measure, sponsored by Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis, amends existing law to require the Department of Health to consult with the Genetics and Newborn Screening Advisory Council before adopting rules related to screening methods, follow-up procedures, or the addition of new conditions to the state\u2019s screening panel.<\/p>\n In addition, the bill directs the Department of Health to implement a statewide public health education campaign by Oct. 1, 2026, to increase awareness of biliary atresia. The campaign must educate parents on symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis and guide physicians and nurses on identifying the condition and the risks of delayed treatment.<\/p>\n SB 1574 earned unanimous approval from the Senate Health Policy Committee. It now heads to the Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services. If signed into law, the bill would go into effect on July 1.<\/p>\n \u2014 High stakes \u2014<\/p>\n House budget writers are escalating pressure on Medicaid managed care plans: reduce infant mortality or lose money.<\/p>\n A provision in the House health care spending plan would continue a 2% withholding on plans\u2019 capitation payments \u2014 in place since October \u2014 but overhaul how they recoup it. Under the proposal, only two of the state\u2019s eight managed care plans could recover the full 2%: the plan with the largest year-over-year reduction in infant mortality rate and the plan with the greatest raw reduction in infant deaths.<\/p>\n Other plans could recover 1% if they show improvement at the rate. Any plan that backslides would forfeit the entire 2% and face a four-month suspension from Medicaid auto-assignment.<\/p>\n Rep. Alex Andrade, the Pensacola Republican who chairs the House health care budget panel, said the change is designed to inject competition into the system and sharpen focus on a single outcome as Florida confronts rising infant mortality trends.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is, so long as you show improvement, you\u2019ll get at least 1% of your revenue back,\u201d Andrade said. \u201cIf you show the most improvement, you\u2019ll get the full 2%.\u201d<\/p>\n The auto-assignment penalty could carry significant financial consequences. When beneficiaries fail to choose a plan within 60 days, the state assigns them \u2014 typically steering enrollees to lower-volume plans to balance the market. In past transitions, the pool has been sizable.<\/p>\n \u2014 ROSTER \u2014<\/p>\n Gov. Ron DeSantis has reappointed Audrey Butler, Harold Goodemote, Andrew Lupoli, and Thomas McCall to the Halifax Health Board of Commissioners.<\/p>\n Butler is an Ambassador for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a former member of the PACE Center for Girls, the Ormand Memorial Art Museum and Gardens, and the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties Board of Directors. She earned her bachelor\u2019s degree and her doctorate in chemical and materials engineering from the University of Iowa.<\/p>\n Goodemote is the former vice president of Coleman Goodemote Construction Company, a member of the NASCAR Foundation Board of Directors and previously served as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Daytona State College. He earned his bachelor\u2019s degree from Bowling Green State University and his MBA from Stetson University.<\/p>\n Lupoli is the Assistant Treasurer at Brown & Brown Insurance and the Treasurer for Homes Bring Hope. He was recognized as a Rising Star Award Recipient from the Florida Institute of Chief Financial Officers. Lupoli earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting from the University of Central Florida.<\/p>\n McCall is the chief operating officer of ICI Homes and currently serves as the Chair of the Audit, Finance and Investment Committees for the Halifax Health Board of Commissioners. McCall earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in accounting and criminal justice from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.<\/p>\n \u2014 ICYMI \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cHouse advances ban on local net-zero policies<\/a>\u201d via Jim Saunders of State Affairs \u2014 Florida is suing the federal government to obtain records about a long-stalled state plan to expand a program that provides subsidized health insurance to children. The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. district court in Pensacola, alleges the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not complied with a Freedom of Information Act request for records about the proposed expansion of the KidCare program. Florida lawmakers in 2023 approved a plan that the lawsuit said \u201cwould extend access to health insurance to tens of thousands more Florida children.\u201d But the proposal required federal approval, as KidCare operates as part of the federal Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program and is partly funded by Washington. The proposal stalled, at least in part, because Florida objected to a requirement that the Biden administration issued for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.<\/p>\n \u201cRon DeSantis administration publishes proposed AIDS rules, halts state administrative court challenge<\/a>\u201d via Christine Sexton of Florida Phoenix \u2014 The DeSantis administration proposed rule changes that would allow it to pare back who qualifies for the federally funded AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and limit the benefits available. Once adopted, the proposed rules would implement previously announced changes the DOH said would take effect March 1 to ADAP to avert a purported $120 million projected shortfall. Those changes \u2014 posted on the DOH website and outlined in letters sent to affected ADAP clients \u2014 would reduce income eligibility from 400% of the federal poverty level or $63,840 annually for an individual, to 130% of the federal poverty level or $20,748. Another change is the elimination of the premium assistance program that helps underinsured patients purchase costly drugs. The DOH previously announced it would also limit the medications ADAP patients can access.<\/p>\n \u201cCannabis firms challenge new Florida marketing rules<\/a>\u201d via Dara Kam of State Affairs Florida \u2014 Calling it a \u201csudden and dramatic shift\u201d that would \u201cinvalidate years of effort and monetary investment,\u201d a group of Florida medical-marijuana operators is challenging new regulations restricting how pot products are marketed, advertised and promoted. The challenges, filed at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, also alleged the Department of Health failed to follow rulemaking requirements before issuing the new regulations. The rule violates the companies\u2019 First Amendment speech rights, the medical-cannabis operators\u2019 complaints argue. Tallahassee-based Trulieve, Inc., the state\u2019s largest medical-marijuana operator, is among the cannabis companies challenging the rule.<\/p>\n \u201cHouse Committee OKs parental rights bill requiring teens to get permission for STD treatment<\/a>\u201d via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics \u2014 A second House Committee has backed a bill to forbid doctors from treating teens with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or giving them information on contraceptives unless they get permission from their parents first. The House Judiciary Committee advanced HB 173, which contains several provisions to expand the Parents\u2019 Bill of Rights for guardians to gain more control and access over their minor children\u2019s medical records and health care decisions. The bill would also prohibit health care practitioners from prescribing drugs to a minor without first getting written parental consent. \u201cWhat\u2019s currently happening now is if you have a 12-year-old,\u201d said Kendall, sponsor of the bill, \u201cthe doctor is pulling them aside and asking the 12-year-old \u2026 if they want their parents to have access to their medical records.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014 RULES \u2014<\/p>\n The Board of Osteopathic Medicine\u2019s final rule regarding approval of osteopathic physician office accrediting organizations goes into effect Feb. 24. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Board of Medicine\u2019s final rule regarding approval of physician office accrediting organizations goes into effect Feb. 24. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Board of Nursing Home Administrators\u2019 final rule regarding application for licensure goes into effect Feb. 19. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Board of Chiropractic Medicine\u2019s final rule regarding citations goes into effect Feb. 24. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Board of Optometry\u2019s final rule regarding endorsements goes into effect Feb. 19. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>LaVon Bracy Davis sponsors SB 1574, expanding newborn screening for biliary atresia statewide.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Alex Andrade supports Medicaid payment penalties tied to reductions in infant mortality.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Audrey Butler, Harold Goodemote, Andrew Lupoli and Thomas McCall reappointed to Halifax Health Board of Commissioners.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Ron DeSantis administration proposes tighter ADAP eligibility and benefit limits statewide.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n