Legislation regarding ‘rural emergency hospitals’ and other healthcare matters forwarded to Governor DeSantis

On Tuesday, the Legislature officially delivered at least 27 bills to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval. One of the bills, Senate Bill 644, is focused on creating a new category of “rural emergency hospitals” to improve healthcare access in rural areas. This bill was prompted by a federal law allowing for the designation of rural emergency hospitals, making them eligible for Medicare payments. These hospitals must be licensed by states, leading to the need for this specific bill.

Under Senate Bill 644, rural emergency hospitals would offer emergency services, observation care, and outpatient services with an average stay of fewer than 24 hours. These hospitals would be exempt from certain requirements, such as providing inpatient and surgical care. Other health care-related bills include House Bill 705, which establishes a $10 million grant program for community projects focused on specialized treatments for sickle cell disease.

Another bill, House Bill 7009, prevents the scheduled repeal of the public record exemption in the state’s Baker Act. Two additional bills aim to streamline the dental licensure process (Senate Bill 938) and establish telehealth standards for dentists (House Bill 855). Lastly, House Bill 1259 amends licensing requirements to allow Level I adult cardiovascular service programs to use specific tools and treatments. These measures reflect the Legislature’s commitment to improving healthcare access and services in Florida.