health & human services heather wildermuth3/15/12
TRANSCRIPT
Health & Human Services
Heather Wildermuth3/15/12
2012 Health & Human Services Priority Bills
• Disposition of Human Remains (Indigent Burials) - HB 625 and SB 956
• Florida Clean Indoor Air Act - HB 143 and SB 746
• Health Care Consumer Protection (EMS Reimbursement) - HB 1329 and SPB 7186
• Department of Health Reorganization - HB 1263 and SB 1824
• County Medicaid Contributions – HB 1988 and HB 5301
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Disposition of Human Remains (Indigent Burials)HB 625 and SB 956
• Sponsors: Representative Roberson and Senator Hays
• Clarified and updated current statute relating to unclaimed and indigent bodies.
• Specified that it is up to each county to determine appropriate procedures for disposing of unclaimed human remains.
• HB 625 passed the House floor unanimously, but was never taken up on the Senate floor. It died in Senate Messages. SB 956 died on the Senate Special Order Calendar.
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Florida Clean Indoor Air Act - HB 143 and SB 746
• Sponsors: Representative Passidomo and Senator Hays
• Authorized municipalities and counties to restrict outdoor smoking on certain municipal/county owned properties.
• Senate bill 746 was heard in committee and passed unanimously; House bill was never taken up.
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Health Care Consumer Protection (EMS Reimbursement)HB 1329 and SPB 7186
• Sponsors: Representative Corcoran and Senate Health Regulation Committee
• Revised the Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to require certain health care practitioners to publish a schedule of charges for services provided to patients.
• Would have also prohibited “balance billing”. Without this mechanism, county EMS providers would not be able to collect fees outside of what an insurance company reimburses to cover the service cost. Balance billing works to offset the amount of subsidies needed from local taxpayers.
• HB 1329 passed its first committee of reference; SPB 7186 failed to be submitted as a committee bill.
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Department of Health Reorganization HB 1263 and SB 1824
• Sponsors – Representative Hudson and Senator Garcia
• House bill originally contained language transferring county health departments from a state responsibility to a county responsibility. That section of the bill was removed and the bill now revises the purpose of DOH, the State Surgeon General and makes other changes to the Department.
• Closes the A.G. Holley Tuberculosis Hospital.
• Provides for an evaluation program for septic tanks once every five years. Although program specifics are preempted, counties are not required to participate (opt-in) and can implement in portions of the county. Those with first magnitude springs must opt-out by a 60% majority vote.
• FAC committed to working with Rep. Hudson this summer to talk more about the “decentralization” concept.
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