Bill Summaries: Health and Supportive Services
“It is essential to improve health care quality and safety, and to raise consumers awareness of these issues,as we continue our efforts to assure affordable health care is available for all.” -AARP Public Policy Institute
HIGHLIGHTS
Ratification of Agency for Health Care Administration Rules HB 7099, by the Health and Human Services Committee and Representative Magar, PASSED. The companion bill was SB 7030, by the Committee on Rules. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2018-123, Laws of Florida, effective upon becoming law. AARP supported this legislation. The legislation ratifies the Agency for Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) Rule 59A-4.1265, Florida Administrative Code, which requires licensed nursing homes, by July 1, 2018, to maintain an alternative power source, such as generators. That power source must be capable of cooling areas of not less than 30 net sq. ft. per resident at a temperature of 81 degrees or lower for at least 96 hours. Nursing homes also must have on-site 72 hours of fuel to power the alternative power source. The rule allows AHCA to grant compliance extensions until January 1, 2019, to NHs that demonstrate the need for extensions due to construction needs, delayed delivery of ordered equipment, zoning restrictions or other regulatory approval processes. See Voting Record for SB 7030 p. 27 for HB 7099 p. 26. Ratification of Department of Elderly Affairs Rules - 2018 SB 7028, by the Committee on Rules, PASSED. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2018-122, Laws of Florida, effective upon becoming law. AARP supported this legislation. The legislation ratifies the Department of Elder Affairs Rule 58A-5.036, Florida Administrative Code, which requires licensed assisted living facilities (ALF), by June 1, 2018, to maintain an alternative power source, such as a generator, that can air-condition an area of no less than 20 net sq. ft. per resident at a temperature of 81 degrees or lower for at least 96 hours. ALFs must keep fuel on-site to power the alternative power source or use piped natural gas. The rule allows AHCA to grant compliance extensions until January 1, 2019, to ALFs that demonstrate the need for extensions due to construction needs, delayed delivery of ordered equipment, zoning restrictions or other regulatory approval processes. See Voting Record for SB 7028 p. 27. Health Insurer Authorization CS/CS/SB 98, by Senator Steube, FAILED. The companion bill was CS/CS/HB 199, by Representative Harrison. AARP supported this legislation. Insurance plans may require an insured to try particular drug(s) or treatment(s) before the plans will cover alternative drugs or treatments. The legislation would have required health insurers to establish expedited, standardized processes for medical practitioners to use when seeking authorizations for patients to initially use the alternative drug or treatments. See Voting Record for CS/CS/SB 98 p. 30; CS/CS/HB 199 p. 31.
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