FSASC Member Legislative Alert 4.10.17

April 10, 2017 – Last week the Florida Senate and House adopted two different solutions to the Workers’ Compensation premium increase. The House bill, HB 7085, includes numerous changes including a shift to a Medicare based fee system at the HOPD rate that includes language giving the Three Member Panel authority to regulate non-Medicare covered issues including implants, disposable medical devices and non-covered procedures.

FSASC has consistently objected to the changes contained in the House bill. House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee Chair Danny Burgess (R) Zephyrhills, has been receptive to continuing to look at the House Medicare language but has made no changes. The bill passed its final House committee and will now go to the House floor.

The Senate bill, SB 1582, only addresses attorney fee issues and long term injury issues raised by the Florida Supreme Court. The Senate bill passed it first committee this week with no discussion about health care provider fees.

Your calls to Senators urging them to not include a Medicare fee system were well received. FSASC  remains hopeful that House leaders will also recognize that changing to a Medicare payment system will not significantly reduce Workers’ Compensation premiums; it will only serve to reduce the payments to health care providers trying to get injured workers back to work.

Likewise, your active calls in support of the 23 Hour Care Bill, HB 145, by Representatives Heather Fitzenhagen of Ft. Myers and Paul Renner of Palm Coast, had a great impact.

FSASC will again be calling on you to help contact Legislators this week on these and other important issues. Thank you for responding to our Calls to Action. Together we can ensure that you are able to continue to provide high quality health care to your patients.

Below are the key legislative actions being monitored by FSASC this week.

Top Bills

HB 0145/ SB 222    Relating to Recovery Care Services
Sponsored by Renner/ Steube

Description:  Includes recovery care centers as facilities licensed under ch. 395, F.S.;  Allows ASCs to keep patients 23 hours and 59 minutes until discharge.

Last Action:
HB 0145: Passed Florida House on March 30, 2017; 79 Yeas, 34 Nays.
SB 222: Favorable by Senate Health Policy Subcommittee on March 14, 2017; 4 Yeas, 1 Nays.

Up Next:  
SB 222: Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.

HB 0375/ SB 1434    Relating to Patient Safety Culture Surveys
Sponsored by Grant/ Perry

Description: Patient Safety Culture Surveys: Requires AHCA to develop surveys to assess patient safety culture in certain health care facilities; requires submission of patient safety culture survey data as condition of licensure.

Last Action:
HB 0375: Passed by Florida House March 30, 2017; 81 Yeas, 31 Nays.
SB 1434: Introduced -SJ 194 on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.

Up Next:
SB 1434: Referred to Health Policy.

HB 7085/ SB 1582    An Act Relating to Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Sponsored by Bradley/ Insurance and Banking Committee

Description: Revises portions of the Workers’ Compensation program to adjust for recent legal decisions.
HB 7085 revises hospital and ASC fee schedule to a percentage of Medicare.

Last Action:
HB 7085: Passed by Commerce Committee on Thursday, April 6, 2017 ; 20 Yeas, 9 Nays.
SB 1582: Passed by Banking and Insurance Committee April 3, 2017; 7 Yeas, 1 Nays.

Up Next:
HB 7085: House floor for vote.
SB 1582: Appropriations Committee.

HB 1195 Relating to Health Care Risk Managers
Sponsored by Miller and White/ Grimsley

Description: Eliminates the licensure of health care risk managers in Florida.  Requires that an ASC risk manager demonstrate competence by education and experience.

Last Action:
HB 1195: Passed Heath and Human Services Committee on April 6, 2017; 17 Yeas, 0 Nays.
SB 1760: Passed Health Policy on March 27, 2017; 7 Yeas, 0 Nays.

Up Next:
HB 1195: Heath and Human Services Committee.
SB 1760: Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services.