Eight policy recommendations on health insurance affordability could go before the Florida Legislature during the 2022 session, which convenes Jan. 11. The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB), consisting of various health plan carriers, agents, and employer representatives and chaired by Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier, discussed these recommendations at Tuesday’s board meeting. Board … Read more
Three agencies — the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the Florida Department of Health, and the Department of Children and Families — presented their legislative budget requests (LBR) for fiscal year (FY) 2022 to the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee for consideration on Monday. Recurring requests among the agencies included health care workforce support … Read more
Florida legislators are discussing potential actions to help reduce maternal mortality in the state, as well as racial and socio-economic disparities within those numbers. The Florida Professions and Public Health Subcommittee met last week to hear from child and maternal health experts about the current infant mortality rates in the state and potential solutions that … Read more
Representative Nicholas X. Duran (D – Miami-Dade) is the Democratic Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and a member of its Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. Duran also serves on the House Health and Human Services Committee. Ahead of the 2022 legislative session, Duran is co-sponsoring HB 135, which would expand the income eligibility threshold … Read more
The leaders of three Florida hospital systems met with members of the House Pandemics and Public Emergency Committee last week as the state continues to grapple with its surge in COVID-19 cases. The hospitals agreed that cases seem to be trending downwards, however the financial and emotional impacts on staff continue to strain facilities. … Read more
The Florida Legislative Budget Commission adopted several amendments allocating funds for the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the Department of Health, and other agencies on Friday. The Commission also reviewed a long-range financial outlook for Florida from fiscal years 2021-23, which Commission Chair Rep. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) described as “very positive,” despite the projected … Read more
The Florida Council of Licensed Midwifery, created within the state Department of Health, hosted a public meeting Tuesday to discuss legislative updates and licensing rules — including one change that could standardize the midwife certification process and bring more practitioners to the state. Executive director Kama Monroe updated the council on a couple … Read more