Florida 'Live Healthy' Bill Signed Into Law

With a clear aim to improve access to health care and boost the number of doctors and healthcare providers available throughout Florida communities, Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a package of bills into law. Collectively part of the State’s Live Healthy plan, the life-changing legislation was presented through the Committee on Health Policy in the Florida Senate.

The bills have been a priority for Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, who coined them as the “Live Healthy” initiative to reflect the Sunshine State’s commitment to meet the future healthcare needs of the state’s rapidly growing population. Passidomo had previously remarked that it was good news people were moving the Florida but unfortunate they’re not bringing healthcare providers with them.

“This is expected to be a positive step forward for patients in Central Florida to have easier access to better health care in the future,” says Dr. Michael Steppie, Orlando Mohs surgeon and medical director of Associates in Dermatology. “It’s great to see the State Legislature taking a proactive approach to ensure our state remains attractive to the workforce, technology, and medical innovations that can meet our community’s needs.”

Live Healthy also creates the Health Care Innovation Council that will convene health care experts to explore innovations in technology, health care delivery models, and among other responsibilities, to develop best practice recommendations. The goal is to position Florida as a nationwide leader in innovation, education, and technology to be a more attractive option to tomorrow’s medical workforce.

LIVE HEALTHY PLAN – Overview

Four of the new bills for Live Healthy that unanimously passed in the Florida Senate were recently signed into law by Governor DeSantis. Live Healthy increases access, incentivizes innovation, and breaks down barriers to help in growing Florida’s healthcare workforce. Each of the enacted bills advance opportunities and enhance healthcare services for residents of all communities across the Sunshine State, and include:

• SB 7016 – Health Care Workforce removes regulations to increase workforce mobility and increase health care providers to expand access to efficient health care for all communities. “Through Live Healthy, Florida will grow the health care workforce we need to serve our communities,” said Chair & Senator Colleen Burton. Increasing access to preventative health screenings and ensuring early diagnosis and better management of chronic disease, will be accomplished through partnerships with Community Health Centers and other primary care settings.

• SB 7018 – Health Care Innovation provides incentivizes for innovations in Florida’s health care industry through investments in technology. “Free-market principles show us the private sector can innovate in ways government could never imagine. What government can do is facilitate the exploration and implementation of innovative technologies and delivery models that increase efficiency, reduce strain on the health care workforce, improve patient outcomes, expand public access to care, and reduce costs for patients and taxpayers without impacting the quality of patient care,” said Senator Gayle Harrell.

• SB 1758 – Individuals with Disabilities expands services to Floridians with disabilities. “Everyone deserves a chance to live healthy, and for our fellow Floridians with disabilities that means living independently, at home in our communities, for as long as they possibly can. Family members of those with disabilities are truly amazing people who sacrifice so much. As a caregiver ages, it becomes more difficult for our neighbors with disabilities to receive care at home, accelerating the need for additional services,” said Senator Jason Brodeur. This bill prioritizes home-based care options.

• SB 330 – Behavioral Health Teaching Hospitals establishes a new category of teaching hospitals focused on behavioral health. “By utilizing existing partnerships between medical schools and teaching hospitals, and working to create new collaborations, we will identify and designate behavioral health teaching hospitals that provide research, education, and health care services across our state,” said Senator Jim Boyd. “The innovative strategy outlined in our legislation will not only enhance our behavioral health workforce but advance our goal of making Florida’s system of care the national standard.”

Legislators worked together during the 2024 Florida Regular Legislative Session that began on January 9 and ended March 8 to move the bills through the statute process. The Live Healthy bills discussed above are only four of the state’s relevant health care laws that will be effective July 1, 2024, due to Governor DeSantis enacting them into Florida Law. The bills moved through the Legislature and across the Governor’s desk with almost no opposition

• Orlando Dermatology