Legislative Update - December 15, 2023

This week wraps up the last day of the seventh and final interim committee week ahead of the 2024 regular legislative session scheduled to begin in January.

Florida’s attorney general is launching an antitrust investigation into the decision to leave Florida State University out of the upcoming College Football Playoff, marking an escalation of the still-raging controversy over FSU’s snubbing. Attorney General Ashley Moody sent on Tuesday a civil investigative demand letter to the College Football Playoff, the organization that administers the playoffs and ultimately determined that FSU couldn’t compete in it despite an undefeated regular season. 

Governor …

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Florida has secured the top spot for the second straight year in the 2023 Talent Attraction Scorecard by Lightcast, a rating system that evaluates states on factors like job growth, education attainment, regional competitiveness and migration data. Florida was second among states in migration, second in competitive effect, fourth in skilled job growth, fifth in overall job growth and fourteenth in education attainment. The state outperformed New York and California, which ranked low on Lightcast's scorecard. Over 2.7 million new businesses have formed in Florida since 2019 and the governor noted his proposed budget recommends more than $853 million for workforce education programs and $125 million for the Job Growth Grant Fund and the Rural Infrastructure Fund. DeSantis Press Release 

National Guard to Continue Helping in Prisons - Gov. Ron DeSantis extended for six more months an executive order that makes National Guard members available to help with staffing shortages at Florida prisons. He initially ordered the Guard to help staff prisons back in September of 2022, but the staffing problems continue. "An extension ... is necessary because ongoing staffing shortages, although much improved, continue to threaten the safety of officers, inmates, and the public," the governor said in the order. On Wednesday, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission is expected to take up a budget proposal for the Department of Corrections to "realign" about $23 million into a budget category that will allow the money to go to paying for the National Guard staffing. The LBC agenda notes that the plan for the Guard to work at Florida prisons will not only be extended but also "expanded," and News Service Florida reported last week that the Guard plans to put another 100 members at prisons for the ongoing task. Executive Order / LobbyTools Governor's Executive Orders / Legislative Budget Commission Agenda 

Legislative …

Final Interim Committee Week: House, Joint Committees to Meet - The final interim committee week ahead of the 2024 regular legislative session began on Monday with two House panels and two joint committees scheduled to meet.  The House Health & Human Services Committee received a briefing on the Home and Community Based Services Waiver Pre-Enrollment list from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and the House Select Committee on Hurricane Resiliency & Recovery heard a presentation on the ongoing local impacts caused by last year's Hurricane Ian. The Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight, made up of lawmakers from both chambers, is expected to hear an update from the panel's public counsel and the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee, which is also made of legislators from both the House and Senate, plans to review several local audit reports, among other things. LobbyTools Calendar

House, Senate Panels to Meet to Consider Bills, DeSantis' Proposed Budget - The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee met this week to consider three leadership-backed proposals that aim to "deregulate" public schools. The committee's agenda included a measure (SB 7004) that would end a requirement that students pass exams to graduate from high school and allow parents to decide whether their child should move from third to fourth grade if they fail an exam currently required for making that move. The panel also heard SB 7000, which would back Florida away from part of the state's merit-based teacher pay law signed in 2011 by former Gov. Rick Scott, and another bill (SB 7002) that would ease some rules related to how districts communicate with parents and how they manage certain parts of their budgets. The House State Affairs Committee considered two bills, including a concurrent resolution (HJR 693) that would encourage Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to set term limits for elected members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee considered four bills, including legislation (HB 305) that could expand the instances in which "hearsay" evidence of sexual abuse presented by children in depositions or out-of-court statements is admissible. The House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee heard three bills, including a measure (HB 87) that would allow Floridians to kill bears without permits or authorization when they feel threatened or believe such force is necessary for protection and another proposal and legislation (HB 321) to add balloons to the definition of "litter" in Florida law and change the penalty for releasing helium balloons outdoors. Presentations from stakeholders and state agencies and a breakdown of Gov. Ron DeSantis' budget recommendations for the 2024-25 fiscal year were heard. LobbyTools Calendar

Passidomo's 'Live Healthy' Initiative Passes Committee with Full Support - The Senate Health Policy Committee amended and unanimously approved the introduction of two wide-ranging health care bills collectively known as the "Live Healthy" initiative on Tuesday. The initiative, which is a priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, allocates more than $800 million in state funds to address the shortage of health care providers among Florida's growing population. The legislation (PCB 7016, PCB 7018) reduces regulations, promotes health care pricing transparency and supports technology and innovation in the field. The first proposal provides $571.2 million for Medicaid rate increases, with $195.8 million earmarked to help increase the rates for home- and community-based providers. An additional $152 million would be allocated to enhance maternal care during labor and delivery, and $100 million would be used to increase rates for statutory teaching hospitals that offer residencies in specialized tertiary care. It also includes a provision dedicating $70 million to expanding graduate medical education, or GME, programs, such as the "Slots for Doctors Program," which allows all hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers to apply for funding. The GME program allocates an annual sum of $100,000 for residency positions in either new or established accredited residency programs. That bill was also amended to permit the state to enter intrastate licensing compacts for physicians, physical therapists and audiologists and speech-language pathologists, which is an agreement allowing certain licensed providers to practice across state boundaries. The second measure proposes funding a new Health Innovation Fund at $75 million for the next ten years – totaling $750 million – to provide licensed health care providers with access to low-interest loans. The program would be overseen by a new 15-member Health Care Innovation Council within the state Department of Health. PCB 7018 was also amended to limit members of the new council to two-year terms and require the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, or OPPAGA, to conduct a thorough economic analysis of the innovation fund and the approved low-interest loans. "This is my 22nd Session in the Florida Legislature and I have never seen a bill that has the dramatic changes and enhancements and the ability to really incentivize people to come to Florida," Stuart Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell said. "Health care practitioners have new ideas, innovative ways of doing health care in Florida, this is game-changing," she added. The initiative also raises the eligibility threshold for free clinics that local health departments often run from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level, which would be about $90,000 for a family of four. It, however, does not include expanding Medicaid. Florida is one of only ten states that has declined to accept federal money to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Florida Politics

Tech Industry Expecting Busy Year in State Capitols - From the new issue of possible regulation of artificial intelligence to the now familiar battles over data privacy and how social media companies are governed, the tech industry is expecting a big year in state capitol buildings around the country in 2024. In Florida, lawmakers this coming year could again consider legislation (SB 454) that would require social media platforms to put in place content moderation that prevents minors from being exposed to grooming, solicitation, child pornography, or other sexual exploitation or abuse and put parental control features in place among other protections. Florida legislators are also starting to consider regulation of artificial intelligence applications, though so far on a narrow subject-specific basis. One AI bill (SB 850) filed for the 2024 legislative session in Florida would require political ads with content created by "generative artificial intelligence" to disclose that. The bill, by Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie, also would require the Florida Elections Commission to adopt rules to provide for a sped-up hearing on any complaints filed on the issue. Social media company Meta has already banned political advertisers from using the company's AI tools in campaign ads, and starting this month, Google also requires that all political advertisements disclose the use of AI tools and synthetic content in their videos, images and audio. There is also federal legislation in the works dealing with "deepfakes" in political advertising and several states are considering how to regulate the use of generated content in ads. Pluribus

Bill to Make it Easier to Win Libel Cases Returns - Lawmakers could again consider legislation that would make it easier for prominent people to sue for libel. The idea was proposed during the last legislative session but died earlier this year after bipartisan criticism. Republican Rep. Alex Andrade's new version of the measure (HB 757) is scaled back from the earlier effort. The bill seeks to change long-standing legal precedent that has protected use of anonymous sources in news stories. To win a lawsuit over libel, a plaintiff has to show that the information published was not only false, but was published with "actual malice," a standard set out by a landmark libel law case in the 1960s. Andrade's bill says that false statements about public figures based on anonymous sources are presumed to have been published with "actual malice." Orlando Sentinel

Impact-resistant doors, windows and garage doors would be exempt from the state's 6% sales tax for two years under a measure filed this week by Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville. If successful, the bill (HB 835) would take effect July 1, 2024, and be repealed on June 30, 2026. Under the current tax package (HB 7063) approved by lawmakers during the 2023 legislative session, impact-resistant doors, windows and garage doors are currently exempt from Florida's sales tax through June 2024. 

These bills could roll back Florida child labor restrictions. What do they do? - Two proposed bills in Florida’s Legislature could roll back child labor protections and allow some teenagers to work longer hours on school days and in hazardous professions. The bills resemble legislation in several other states. The House bill is backed by a national conservative advocacy group based in Florida. Legislation in the Senate is backed by the Associated Builders and Contractors and Florida Home Builders Associations, two powerful industry lobbying groups. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Business & the Economy …

Florida leads the nation in attracting and developing a skilled workforce - Florida was ranked the top state for attracting a skilled workforce for the second consecutive year. California and New York ranked 49th and 50th, respectively. States and counties were ranked according to several metrics to determine a "talent attraction landscape across the US," including education attainment, job growth, skilled job growth, job openings, competitive effect, and migration, according to the report. More from the Center Square and Florida Today.

AAA: Gas Prices Down, Holiday Travel Up - A record-breaking 6.6 million Floridians are expected to travel 50 miles or more this year-end holiday season, according to AAA. The auto group's projection exceeds last year's record and suggests nearly 218,000, or 3.4%, more Floridians will travel this year. Over 6 million are expected to travel by road, an increase of 181,000 compared to 2022. Florida gas prices have also reached their lowest point in 2023, with the state average decreasing by 15 cents last week, reaching $3.00 per gallon at the beginning of this week. As the year comes to an end, drivers can anticipate paying a similar or even lower price for a gallon of gas compared to the previous holiday season. During Christmas Day and New Year's Day last year, state gas averages were $2.99 and $3.24 per gallon, respectively. Additionally, air travel is poised to reach unprecedented levels, with 357,000 Floridians forecast to take commercial flights, marking the second-highest air travel volume on record. Nationally, AAA projects 7.5 million air travelers, surpassing the previous 2019 record by 200,000 individuals. AAA Press Release

New Yorkers are still moving to Florida in droves - Thousands of New Yorkers are moving to Florida in search of a place in the sun and cheaper homes, according to a recent report on migration by real estate brokerage Redfin. The report released in late November revealed that the Floridian metros of Orlando, North Port-Sarasota and Tampa are among the most sought-after areas for homebuyers relocating across the country and a top choice for New Yorkers leaving the Empire State. [Source: Newsweek]

Insurance Chief Sees Stability - Almost exactly a year after lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved major changes because of problems in Florida’s property-insurance system, Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said Thursday he sees signs the state has “stopped the bleeding.” Yaworsky, speaking during a Florida Chamber of Commerce Insurance Summit in Orlando, pointed to issues such as additional insurance companies entering the market and policies moving from the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to private carriers. “We seem to be entering a place of stability,” Yaworsky said. “I’m hopeful we’ll enter a place of sustainability.” Lawmakers met in a special legislative session in December 2022 and made changes aimed at such things as curbing lawsuits against insurers and shifting policies out of Citizens. The changes came amid turmoil in the market, with insurers dropping customers and raising rates because of financial problems. Citizens, which was created as an insurer of last resort, swelled to, by far, the largest property insurer in the state. Citizens remains the largest insurer, with about 1.266 million policies as of last week.

Florida insurers got creative in 2023 but higher reinsurance, storms coming - Things are looking up in the buffeted Florida market, but reinsurance rates will continue to rise for the next two years, and a 2024 hurricane season could be busy. It all suggests that property insurers will continue to get creative in cutting costs and finding lower-level reinsurance coverage. [Source: Insurance Journal]

“Fed leaves rates unchanged and signals three cuts next year” via Jenna Smialek of The New York Times — Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged in their final policy decision of 2023 and forecast that they will cut borrowing costs three times in the coming year, a sign that the central bank is shifting toward the next phase in its fight against rapid inflation. Interest rates are set at a range of 5.25 to 5.5%, where they have been since July. After making a rapid series of increases that started in March 2022 and pushed borrowing costs to their highest level in 22 years as of this Summer, officials have held policy steady for three straight meetings. That patient stance has given policymakers time to assess whether interest rates are high enough to weigh on the economy and ensure that inflation will slow to the Fed’s 2% target over time — and increasingly, slowing inflation and a cooling job market have convinced them that policy is in a good place.

The Seminole Tribe will start payment of at least $650 million in expected revenue over the next year as part of its gambling compact with the state. The tribe last Friday launched additional casino gaming options in South Florida and last week opened its online sports book to betters. "The compact is now back in full force, and the tribe is abiding with the full terms," said Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming and chairman of Hard Rock International. Sun Sentinel-News Service Florida

The Florida Department of Revenue is reminding residents of the second "back-to-school" sales tax holiday that starts Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, and goes to Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The tax break covers certain clothing, shoes and accessories costing $100 or less per item, certain school supplies costing $50 or less per item, some learning aids, as well as some personal computers and related items. FL Dept. of Revenue Press Release

Courts …

Scofla Grants Motion to Expedite Redistricting Case

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to speed up its decision in a challenge to the new congressional boundary map that wiped out a minority-access district in North Florida. A lower court ruled that the new map violated state requirements but the DeSantis Administration has argued that the map properly replaced an older districting system that violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law because, the governor's office argued, it essentially gerrymandered the map for racial purposes, namely to guarantee Black access. The trial court's ruling on the map was overturned by the First District Court of Appeal and the matter is now before the state Supreme Court. The court agreed Thursday to expedite the case, with briefs due by Dec. 29. The case is Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute vs. Byrd. Florida Supreme Court

Campaigns & elections …

GOP Voter Edge Widens - The Republican Party of Florida had a nearly 700,000-voter registration edge over the Florida Democratic Party at the end of November, as the GOP continued widening a gap between the parties. Data posted Wednesday on the state Division of Elections website showed that 5,158,753 Floridians were registered as Republicans, while 4,460,831 were registered as Democrats. Another 3,607,279 were registered without party affiliation, while 313,272 were registered with third parties. The GOP’s 697,922-voter advantage Nov. 30 came after it had a 680,030-voter edge at the end of October. Democrats historically held a registration edge in the state, but Republicans overtook them in 2021 and have steadily expanded the lead. Republicans hold all statewide offices, a majority in Florida’s congressional delegation and supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate.

“Ron DeSantis’ campaign and allied super PAC face new concerns about legal conflicts” via Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont of The Associated Press — DeSantis’ expansive political machine is facing a churn of leadership, stagnant polling numbers, and new concerns about potential legal conflicts.

Specifically, there has been concern in recent weeks among some within DeSantis’ operation that interactions between his campaign and his network of outside groups are blurring the lines of what’s legally permissible.

“DeSantis sinks to new low in Florida GOP Primary polling” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — In a Victory Insights survey of 1,220 voters conducted Dec. 8 and 9, the Governor has hit a new low in polling against Trump. Trump has 59% support, with DeSantis at 19% and Haley at 8%. Compounding the difficulty for DeSantis, 95% of respondents say they are committed to their choice. “Trump boasts a more than 40% lead over any of his challengers, and even if the race came down to only Trump and DeSantis, Trump still leads by more than 30 points,” notes pollster Ben Galbraith. A head-to-head matchup between Trump and DeSantis is likewise lopsided, with Trump at 57% and Trump at 26%.

“GOP looks ready to remove Christian Ziegler as Chair, analysts say” via Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel — Embattled Florida Republican Party Chair Ziegler faces a vote Sunday to remove him from his $120,000 a year job following rape allegations lodged against him and the admission that he and his wife had a three-way affair. So far, he has steadfastly refused to resign even as DeSantis and most state Republican leaders want him out. Christian Ziegler’s wife Bridget, a co-founder of the powerful conservative group Moms for Liberty, faced a resolution Tuesday night calling for her removal from the Sarasota County School Board. Given the continual bad headlines and lack of support, Christian Ziegler’s time as Chair could soon be over, whether charges are filed or not, political analysts said.

Health Care Related News Articles

Bills Would Allow Autonomous Practice for Nurse Anesthetists - Legislation sponsored by Cape Coral Republican Rep. Mike Giallombardo and Spring Hill Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia would allow Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, or CRNAs, in Florida to practice autonomously, removing the requirement for written supervisory agreements with physicians. The proposed measures (HB 257, SB 810) aim to eliminate the existing mandate for CRNAs to have formal agreements with physicians, asserting that the current system lacks clinical significance and leads to a shortage of CRNAs in the state, especially in rural areas. Critics, including the Florida Medical Association, have raised concerns over patient safety and quality of care due to the potential lack of physician oversight. The bills seek to address workforce shortages and reduce health care costs in anesthesia services. Similar legislation was filed during the 2023 legislative session but failed to pass. The Capitolist

Advanced practice psychiatric nurses would be allowed to practice autonomously in Florida under a proposal filed this week by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Miami. Currently, advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, are permitted to practice independently, or without physician supervision, within primary care, family medicine, general pediatrics and general internal medicine under certain circumstances. A similar bill (HB 771) in the House is sponsored by Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deland.  

AARP on board with Kathleen Passidomo priority — AARP of Florida praised the Senate Health Policy Committee for introducing the bill housing Senate President Passidomo’s “Live Healthy” priority, which aims to address health care staffing shortages and boost health care access. “We support the Live Healthy initiative because a robust health care system is a fundamental component of an age-friendly or livable community. Even though this bill is premised on projections of a shortage of health care providers in Florida in the future, some residents are already encountering difficulties in getting the care they need today. This shortage echoes across the health care profession, particularly impacting long-term care providers, both in-home and in institutional settings, jeopardizing the health and well-being of vulnerable adults in need of assistance,” AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said. He added, “AARP will be listening to our members to hear what their concerns and experiences are related to our health care workforce, and we will continue bringing their voice to the legislative process.”

Florida is trying to catch up to the retention rate of medical residents in other states - The Florida Senate wants to spend $70 million to increase the number of physicians training to practice medicine in the state, which lags behind other states in retaining its trainees. Senators in the Health Policy Committee on Tuesday approved legislation SBP 7016 — a part of the “Live Healthy” initiative seeking to bolster the healthcare workforce in Florida. More from the Florida Phoenix.

Medicaid Biomarker Bills Backed - A bill (HB 885) filed Wednesday by Tampa Republican Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman would require the state's Medicaid program to cover biomarker testing. Biomarker testing enables doctors to identify the most effective cancer treatment for patients. Currently, not all patients have access to the new technology, but other states have passed similar laws. No Senate companion is currently filed. Similar measures were filed during the 2023 legislative session but failed to receive a committee hearing. Last session's proposals were supported by the American Cancer Society's Cancer Action Network. 

Legislation filed in the Senate (SB 636) would spell out when Florida residents can claim exemptions from vaccine requirements, such as for school attendance or as an employment condition. The measure would allow exemptions when vaccines aren't available that have met certain testing requirements, including that the drug has gone through at least a year-long clinical trial. Pensacola News Journal  

Fine: Fund State Waitlist for People with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities

The House Health & Human Services Committee received an overview of the Medicaid iBudget program waitlist from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on Monday. The iBudget program offers home- and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, there are 21,587 Florida residents on the waitlist, with 300 who need intensive care or have caregivers aged 70 or older. Committee Chairman Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, expressed a desire to increase funding to address the needs of those 300 people and move them off the waitlist, estimating it would take around $15 million in recurring funds to do so. "I always think about the fact that we have $500 million to give people discounts on tolls and then we have folks like this who need our help," said Fine. Although some individuals still on the waiting list could be getting services through school or Medicaid, the iBudget program offers services not typically covered by Medicaid or health insurance. The federal government does not require the state to provide the benefits to all people who qualify because the iBudget program is an optional Medicaid "waiver" program, thus leading to Florida's longstanding waitlist. Around 37% of people on Florida's iBudget waitlist for state services have been on it for more than ten years, according to Fine. The governor's budget recommendations include funding to take 1,100 individuals off the waiting list, with several hundred more getting services through a new Medicaid managed care pilot program. That pilot program was funded through the Legislature's most recent state budget (SB 2500) and is expected to launch on Jan. 31, 2024. Florida Politics

Bill Aims to Bolster Transparency in Long-Term Care Facilities - A health care transparency bill filed Wednesday by Stuart Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell would require nursing homes in Florida to report to the Agency for Health Care Administration any common ownership relationships they or their parent companies share with entities that conduct business within their facility, including staffing firms, management companies or vocational or physical rehabilitation companies. The state agency would then be tasked with providing such information to the public via an online dashboard. The legislation (SB 952) would also require AHCA to submit an annual report to the governor and legislative leaders regarding the status and success of the Personal Care Attendant Training Program, which aims to expand the long-term care workforce in the state by providing a pathway to develop skills to become certified nursing assistants. In 2021, lawmakers passed a measure (HB 485) that codified the personal care attendant training program into law. Previously, the program had been temporarily authorized by an emergency executive order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Harrell's new proposal would increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain direct care providers in long-term care facilities from 95% to 100%, among other things. 

Proposal Seeks to Enhance Rural Emergency Care - Recently filed legislation by Sen. Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, and Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe, aims to improve access to emergency health care in rural communities. The bills (SB 644, HB 309) would allow rural hospitals to explore a recently established license type within the federal Medicare program and enable them to enter contracts for federal reimbursement, including seeking approval through the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration to provide Medicaid reimbursements. The measures would define "rural emergency hospital" in state law and require insurance policies to be applicable in such facilities if a similar service performed in a general hospital would be covered by the policy. Additionally, the proposal establishes the Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment Program to attract health care professionals to underserved areas by offsetting loans and expenses for students and assisting with licensing fees. The proposed legislation aims to preserve critical emergency and outpatient services in rural areas and has garnered support from the Florida Hospital Association. Center Square

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, and Rep. Spencer Roach, R-Fort Myers, are sponsoring legislation aimed at expanding pharmacy access by allowing for telepharmacy in Florida. Telepharmacy is the delivery of pharmaceutical care via telecommunications to patients in locations where they may not have direct contact with a pharmacist. The identical bills (SB 444, HB 493) would also allow pharmacy technicians to dispense medications under the remote supervision of an offsite pharmacist, among other things. 

The U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services urged the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a ruling that Florida violated federal law by denying Medicaid coverage for transgender medical care. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled in June that Florida's law violated federal health care laws and the U.S. Constitution. The state is appealing that ruling. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill (SB 254) in May providing criminal penalties for doctors who violate a statewide ban on gender-related medical care for minors and restricting care for adults. The law codifies 2022 Agency for Health Care Administration rules barring Medicaid from covering treatment for gender dysphoria, including puberty blockers, hormones and hormone antagonists, sex reassignment surgeries, and other procedures that alter sexual characteristics on the grounds they're "experimental" and "not medically necessary." News Service Florida 

Tampa General Hospital received unanimous approval from the Tampa City Council to construct a 13-story pavilion on the northern end of its Davis Islands campus. The pavilion, part of a $550 million master facility plan, will house new transplant and neuroscience departments and feature 144 beds, 32 operating suites, increased intensive care capacity and space for education, training, emergency response and sterile processing. The project, approved last week, is expected to be completed in 2027. Health News Florida

In Duval County, the uninsured rate has dropped nearly 22% in a month due to Jacksonville's successful Get Covered Jax initiative. Launched on Nov. 2, the program educates residents under 65 about affordable health care options through HealthCare.gov. Over 26,000 people have enrolled by Nov. 30, surpassing expectations. The initiative's success is attributed to effective public education and simplified enrollment processes, reducing uncompensated care costs and improving primary care access. The deadline for enrollment is approaching, with Dec. 15 as the last day to enroll for coverage starting on Jan. 1, and open enrollment ending on Jan. 15. WJCT

Abortion rights supporters are closing in on having enough signatures to get a referendum on next year's ballot that would prevent restrictions on pre-viability abortions or those deemed necessary by a doctor. Axios 

In a federal trial that began Wednesday, plaintiffs are arguing against state rules on care for transgender people in Florida, while the state asserts that procedures related to changing genders are underregulated. The lawsuit, being tried in federal court in Tallahassee, was filed by transgender rights groups. Politico

State Saw $1B in 'Excessive Profits' Returned by Medicaid Managed Care Plans - The Agency for Health Care Administration told the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday that state-contracted Medicaid managed care plans returned $1 billion in "excessive profits" over four years from 2019 to 2022. The managed care plans returned $326.3 million in 2022 alone, the highest amount since Florida implemented Medicaid managed care plans. The Children's Medical Services plan, administered by Sunshine Health Plan, returned the most in 2022 at $77.3 million, followed by Humana Medical Plan and Clear Health Alliance/Simply Health Care Plan. In total, managed care plans refunded $316.3 million in 2021, $274.8 million in 2020 and $129.2 million in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic, causing Medicaid enrollment to exceed 5 million, was cited as a factor contributing to the recent boost in returns. Managed care plans are paid a monthly premium regardless of whether enrollees seek care. Florida law allows plans to keep profits up to at least 5%, with amounts exceeding this threshold subject to partial returns to the state. Additionally, plans failing to meet quality benchmarks do not qualify for an extra 1% profit incentive under state law. Florida Politics

Feds to Respond to Florida's Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program Proposal - State health officials told a House health care spending panel Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to respond to Florida's proposal to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada by Jan. 5, 2024. In 2019, lawmakers passed HB 19, known as the Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program, which aimed to lower drug prices for people covered by state programs such as Medicaid and the Department of Corrections to initially treat conditions such as HIV and AIDS, hepatitis C, diabetes and mental illness. The initiative was stalled due to federal regulations and the DeSantis administration filed two lawsuits over the delay. It is unclear if the upcoming response will include an approval, denial or further inquiry on the details of the program. The Agency for Health Care Administration claims the program could save Florida $183 million per year. News Service Florida

 CDC director visits Orlando to encourage vaccination, combat misinformation[Orlando Sentinel]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Mandy Cohen traveled to Orlando this week as part of a nationwide tour to combat vaccine misinformation during respiratory disease season. Doctors this year are recommending a flu vaccine, an updated COVID-19 booster, and, for those who qualify, the newly available vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. The common disease can turn deadly in very young children and in adults ages 60 and older.

Ron DeSantis says Casey DeSantis ‘fought’ to get a mammogram - https://floridapolitics.com/archives/648608-casey-mammogram/