Navigating the Legislative Tides: A Mid-Session Update from the Florida Gastroenterologic Society
As the 2024 Legislative Session in Florida strides past its one-third mark, the Florida Gastroenterologic Society (FGS) remains actively engaged, monitoring and influencing healthcare legislation that impacts gastroenterologists across the state. While thousands of bills are in the mix, only a select few have garnered significant attention. Here’s a concise overview of the key bills and initiatives that FGS is closely watching:
Office Surgeries Regulation
A significant development is the progress of a bill aiming to distinguish office surgery facilities from ambulatory surgery centers. This bill, having cleared the Health Regulation Committee, is set to be discussed in the House Health Appropriations Committee shortly. The current language of the bill is broad and complex, but FGS has proactively submitted an amendment, with unanimous stakeholder support, that seeks to clarify and streamline the definition of an office surgery unit. This amendment proposes integrating the identification of such units into regular inspection protocols, avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic expansion.
Protection of Medical Titles and Designations
The ‘Ology’ Bill, pivotal in safeguarding titles like “surgeon” and “internist” exclusively for physicians, is on the cusp of being deliberated in the Senate Health Policy Committee. The bill’s passage would be a significant stride in maintaining the integrity and trust inherent in these professional designations.
Scope of Practice for APRNs
Efforts to broaden the scope of practice for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) have encountered a roadblock. The bills intended for review in the Health Regulation Committee were postponed and remain off the agenda, signaling their probable discontinuation for this session.
Worker’s Compensation Reform
Legislative actions to enhance compensation for physician services under Worker’s Compensation have advanced through committee stages in both chambers. Although the exact increase is yet to be determined, the prospects for its passage are promising.
Incorporating Foreign Doctors
As part of the Senate’s “Healthy Florida” initiative, there’s a move to permit foreign-trained physicians to practice in Florida, aimed at augmenting the doctor workforce. However, this provision mandates that the Florida Board of Medicine evaluates each physician to ensure their residency training aligns closely with the American ACGME standards.
Amendments in Wrongful Death Claims
Legislation is underway to allow adult children of medical malpractice victims to pursue wrongful death claims. FGS has been instrumental in including an amendment to reinstate a cap on non-economic damages, though this remains a sensitive and evolving issue.
As these bills and topics continue to evolve, the FGS is committed to representing the interests of gastroenterologists and ensuring that any legislative changes support the highest standards of patient care and professional practice. The journey through this legislative session is far from over, but we have made a promising start. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to advocate for policies that positively impact our profession and the patients we serve.