PASSIDOMO ANNOUNCES HEALTHCARE IS A PRIORITY FOR THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Florida Senate President recently announced in a Florida Senate memo that Florida Legislators could “improve the delivery and cost of health care” through efforts focusing on prevention, early detection and treatment of disease and utilizing emerging technologies such as telehealth.

In response, the Senate Health Policy Committee held a workshop on Tuesday, November 14th, 2023, focusing on novel ways to increase healthcare access and outcomes. The hearing panel, composed of industry and professional leaders, presented a list of challenges facing our state and proven methods to improve access and outcomes.

The hearing was largely driven by dramatic population growth in Florida, with a growing lack of access to care in urban and rural populations. The primary focus of the panel discussion was to provide Florida’s legislative leaders with knowledge and insight into relevant issues relating to healthcare access. Senate President Passidomo’s stated objective was to use this panel hearing as an evidence base for the Florida House and Senate to craft legislation to expand access to health care.

In her Senate Memo Passidomo said the state’s health care system will be her focus during the legislative session that will officially begin Jan. 9.

In the Senate President’s memo, she stated her objectives included “Specifically, growing Florida’s health care workforce, increasing access, and incentivizing innovation, so Floridians can have more options and opportunities to live healthy,”. The memo did not present any clear policy proposals or agendas.

““Specialists are needed across the state, as are options to access urgent but non-life-threatening, conditions outside of a hospital setting. What do you do at midnight when you get sick? Sometimes there is only one place to go — the emergency room. But that may not be the most appropriate place,” the memo said.

The committee, chaired by Lakeland Republican Colleen Burton, met on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. You can view the complete video by clicking on the link below:

Committee on Health Policy (flsenate.gov)

The hearing addressed many issues of concern for Florida Health Policy leaders including lack of access to care, declining numbers of healthcare providers in relation to the overall Florida population and rural health care challenges. Joe Baker, Executive Director of the Florida Board of Nursing, presented data regarding nurse workforce shortages.

The hearing presented limited data or commentary relating to the contributions Advanced Practice Nurses make to increasing access to care and healthcare outcomes. Because of the format of the panel hearing audience commentary was limited.