Part of the Sunshine State’s preparation for an ever-growing population is an effort to boost the number of health care providers in Florida — and a slate of bills signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis aims to facilitate that process.
The legislative package was a major priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, who dubbed them the “Live Healthy” initiative. The suite of bills also is designed to address issues such as mental-health treatment.
DeSantis signed five bills, with much of the attention focused on a wide-ranging measure (SB 7016) that includes $717 million in spending. The bill, for example, will provide money for increased residency slots for doctors and put additional dollars into loan-forgiveness programs for health-care professionals.
Tampa General Hospital President and CEO John Couris took part in a bill-signing event in Bonita Springs.
“We’re facing a myriad of challenges in the health care industry, in the health-care system. There are critical shortages in the health care workforce,” Couris said.
The measure also is designed to help clear the way for foreign-trained physicians to practice in Florida, and shift patients away from hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency conditions.
As the state’s population balloons, Passidomo said the legislation aims to keep up with demand.
“Unfortunately, the new Floridians are not bringing their health care providers with them,” Passidomo said. “We’re going to change that. The good news is that Live Healthy will help grow Florida’s health care workforce, increase access, incentivize innovation so Floridians can have more options and opportunities to live healthy here in the Sunshine State.”
Another measure signed by DeSantis (SB 7018) is geared toward increasing health care access in rural communities.
The measure will provide $50 million a year for a revolving-loan fund program for health innovation projects, with priority given to applicants such as rural hospitals and organizations that provide care in medically underserved areas.
Another bill (SB 330) will designate four behavioral health teaching hospitals linked to universities to help address issues with treating patients for mental health conditions. The bill will provide $100 million a year over the next three years to the teaching hospitals, with additional money provided for such things as residency positions for psychiatrists.
“I’ve said, look, I want more beds for mental health patients, particularly people that are not able to function in society. And so this is going to be, I think, a key component of that, and I think it’s something that’s going to be very, very meaningful,” DeSantis said at the bill-signing event.
Other bills signed were a measure (SB 1758) that addresses programs and services at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and a measure (SB 322) that creates a public records exemption for certain health-care professionals. ¦
The post Opening the door for doctors first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .
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