New Legislation Impacting Your Profession

Posted in Latest News on April 15, 2022.

HB 5 - Reducing Fetal and Infant Mortality

Effective Date: July 1, 2022
HB 5 (Full Text)

Summary:

The bill adds definitions of “fatal fetal abnormality” and “medical abortion,” and revised the definition of “gestation” in section 390.011, Florida Statutes. The law prohibits an abortion after a gestational age of 15 weeks and provides an exception to the prohibition when a fetus has not achieved viability under section 390.01112, Florida Statutes, and two physicians certify in writing that the fetus has a fatal fetal abnormality based on reasonable medical judgment.

The bill clarifies the requirement for monthly reporting to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), on a form adopted by rule, of surgical and medical abortions by the director of a medical facility where abortions are performed. The bill also requires physicians who perform abortions outside of a medical facility to submit a monthly report to AHCA. The bill specifies that if a woman having the abortion provides evidence that she is a victim of human trafficking, this information is required to be included in the monthly report as the reason the abortion was performed. The bill also requires that the monthly report include the number of drug regimens dispensed or prescribed for a medical abortion.

SB 312 - Telehealth

Effective Date: July 1, 2022
SB 312 (Full Text)

Summary:

The bill authorizes telehealth providers to prescribe controlled substances listed in Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V of section 893.03, Florida Statutes, without limitation. The bill also authorizes telehealth providers to prescribe controlled substances listed in Schedule II of section 893.03, Florida Statutes, when treating a psychiatric disorder, inpatient care at a hospital, a patient receiving hospice services, or a resident of a nursing home facility.

SB 1222 - Acute and Post-acute Hospital Care at Home

Effective Date: July 1, 2022
SB 1222 (Full Text)

Summary:

The bill expands the scope of Class III institutional pharmacies to authorize them to dispense, distribute, compound, and fill prescriptions for medicinal drugs for inpatient treatment to a patient receiving acute and post-acute hospital care at their residence through a program approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Agency for Health Care Administration. The bill authorizes paramedics to perform basic life support services and advanced life support services to patients receiving acute and post-acute hospital care at home under the supervision of a physician or standing orders as described in sections 401.265, 458.348, or 459.025, Florida Statutes. Physicians who supervise or provide medical direction to a paramedic are liable for any act or omission of the paramedic while acting under supervision or medical direction.

SB 768 -Department of Health

SB 768 (Full Text)

Section 8

Designated Health Care Professionals – Information Required for Licensure

The bill requires health care professionals licensed under chapters 458, 459, 460, or 461, Florida Statutes, to provide specified information upon initial licensure or upon license renewal including the medical school attended and coursework completed; the name of each hospital where the applicant has privileges; the address of primary practice; any certification received from a specialty board; the year the applicant began practicing; any appointment to the faculty of a medical school; relevant professional qualifications; information regarding any criminal convictions; and any final disciplinary action. The bill requires submission of proof that applicants licensed under chapters 458, 459, or chapter 461, Florida Statutes, provide proof of payment of assessments to fund the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association required under section 766.314, Florida Statutes.



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