Lawmakers seek to increase healthcare workforce and access in Florida
In a bid to bolster the state’s healthcare system, Florida lawmakers introduced the ‘Live Healthy’ initiative on Thursday, focused on expanding the workforce, increasing access, and encouraging innovation.
On Thursday, Dec. 7, Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) joined two key lieutenants to announce the “Live Healthy” proposal.
The new legislative package calls for next to $900 million that would go toward expanding Florida’s healthcare workforce with new opportunities for education and training.
“Access to health care is important at every phase of life. Insurance does not guarantee access, as even Floridians with great insurance face barriers to care.” Senate President Passidomo said.
Expanding the Workforce
Creating Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) Funding Program
Healthy Living is rolling out the TEACH Funding Program to address the challenges in healthcare education caused by insufficient clinical sites, faculty, and resources.
The program would support Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to participate in Florida’s Statewide Medical Residency Program and receive funding for residency slots.
Right now, only four currently participate due to financial issues.
It also seeks to increase opportunities and improve training site quality.
Through TEACH, qualified entities can apply to the AHCA for funding to offset the administrative
costs and loss of revenue that come along with maintaining clinical training programs.
Removing Barriers for Foreign-Trained Physicians
Through this initiative, hospitals would be prohibited from accepting money related to hours from offshore medical schools.
If a comparable program is completed, experienced foreign-trained physicians could be exempt from the residency requirement.
Additionally, it would remove statutory barriers to Florida medical schools hiring experienced, foreign-trained physicians for their faculty.
Broadening Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical and Dental Education
Originally created in 2002 but funded in 2022-2023, Healthy Living wants to broaden the Medical Education Reimbursement and Loan Repayment (FRAME) Program.
This expansion is designed to encourage healthcare practitioners to stay in-state by providing increased loan repayment for up to four years.
The dental student loan repayment program would now include private dental practices in underprivileged areas.
To qualify, people must commit to serving Medicaid patients and complete 25 hours of volunteer health services per year.
Award amounts range from $45,000 to $150,000 over the four years.
Increasing Access
Increasing eligibility for low-income people in Florida to receive care at nonprofit medical clinics.
A Health Screening and Practioner Volunteer Portal and Grant Program are included in the initiative.
It would require the Department of Health to create a portal for healthcare workers to advertise services while also offering a place for people to search for free local services.
The Grant Program would support nonprofit organizations to provide new services or expand the area.
Requiring ER Diversion Plans and Care Coordination
Live Healthy would work to create partnerships encouraging patients to set up a medical home.
All hospitals with emergency departments must create a plan to help those who come to the ER lacking regular access to primary care.
Growing Mobile Response Teams
Live Healthy aims to ensure statewide coverage of mobile response teams to reduce Baker Acts and unnecessary hospitalizations.
The proposal states that this would require enhanced mobile response team coverage in every county.
Encouraging Innovation
Creating a 15-member Health Care Innovation Council to assemble healthcare experts assigned the following:
Hold public meetings across the state to hear from innovators about new technologies and other solutions
Annually recognize work that is helping Floridians to live healthier
Consistently develop best practice recommendations synonymous with healthcare modernizations
Introducing a revolving loan program to implement solutions.
In addition, the Council would review applications.
Allocating $75 million in nonrecurring GR for loans and $250,000 in nonrecurring, $1 million in recurring GR for support
of the Health Care Innovation Council.
Senate President Passidomo said Live Healthy will help make sure Florida’s healthcare workforce is growing at the same pace as the rest of the state.
For further information and to view the full proposal, read below:
