Florida H0693 was introduced during the 2026 legislative session. This legislation proposed substantial revisions to health care provisions, licensure compacts, and Medicaid requirements. As of the latest recorded action, the bill has died in rules. This status indicates that the legislation is currently inactive and will not proceed to a vote.
Executive Summary
- The bill proposed revisions to emergency medical technician and paramedic emergency medical provisions.
- It sought to repeal specific provisions related to the Health Facility and Services Development Act.
- New requirements were introduced for the Kidcare program and Medicaid management.
- Proposals included licensure interstate compacts for physician assistants, social workers, and EMT personnel.
- Significant investigation information reporting requirements for the Department of Health were revised.
- Health insurer payment rules regarding nonpreferred providers were updated in the proposal.
What This Bill Would Do
This legislation aimed to modernize and streamline various regulatory frameworks within the Department of Health. The primary objective was to expand portability of licensure for certain advanced practice roles while maintaining patient safety standards. The bill text specifies that it revises health care provisions relating to emergency medical technicians and paramedics. These provisions would govern the scope of practice and training requirements necessary for licensure across state lines.
Another major component involved the repeals of provisions relating to the Health Facility and Services Development Act. This repeal would remove specific regulatory layers previously applied to certain health facility developments. The bill also revises provisions relating to certificates-of-need and the Kidcare program. These changes would impact how facilities seek permission for new services and how financial assistance is administered for children in the state.
Furthermore, the legislation requires the Department of Children and Families to develop and implement a food assistance payment accuracy improvement plan. This mandate focuses on reducing errors in government assistance payments to ensure recipients get the correct benefits. Additionally, the bill modifies health insurer payment rules. Specifically, it changes how insurers calculate payments for providers who are not preferred within their networks. This provision was intended to give providers more leverage to negotiate rates and ensure fair compensation.
Crucially, the bill includes specific sections on licensure interstate compacts. It seeks to establish compacts that allow physician assistants and social workers to practice in multiple jurisdictions with a single license. It also seeks to expand these compacts to cover emergency medical technician personnel. This would significantly reduce administrative burdens for workers seeking to practice in rural areas or move between counties. The bill also requires revisions to the rules regarding licensure for physician assistants and emergency medical personnel. These revisions ensure that the rules align with the new compact agreements.
The legislation also addresses data reporting. It requires the Department of Health to revise specific investigation information reporting requirements. This would ensure that data regarding disciplinary actions is reported more accurately to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Finally, the bill revises provisions relating to the Health Facility and Services Development Act repeals, ensuring that these repeals take effect as intended by the legislature.
Where Bill Is
The current status of Florida H0693 is ‘Died in Rules.’ This is the latest action recorded in the 2026 session. A status of ‘Died in Rules’ typically occurs when a bill is not approved by the Rules Committee before the session concludes or is withdrawn from the committee docket.
Because it died in rules, the proposed changes are no longer part of the legislative agenda. The 2026 legislative session for the Florida House has concluded. Therefore, if the bill was to be reintroduced, it would need to be brought forward in a future session, likely the 2028 session. It is not expected to pass in the current session or a future session unless explicitly reintroduced by its sponsor.
Who Is Impacted
While the bill is inactive, it is important to review who these provisions would have affected if passed. This analysis helps professionals prepare for future regulatory changes.
Patients: The bill would have indirectly impacted patients by changing licensure compacts. Expanding compacts could allow patients to see providers who are licensed in other states, increasing access. However, repeals of the Health Facility and Services Development Act could impact availability of certain health services in rural or underserved areas.
Physician Assistants (PAs): The proposed interstate compact for PAs would have been a significant opportunity for career mobility. It would allow PAs to work in multiple counties or states with one license, provided they met the compact requirements.
Social Workers: Similar to PAs, social workers would have benefited from the new licensure compact. This would facilitate better support for children in the Kidcare program and other DCF-related social services.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics: The bill aimed to revise EMT provisions. This could have led to standardized training and licensure across Florida, potentially increasing the safety and efficacy of emergency response teams.
Dentists: While not the primary target, some dental provisions were mentioned in the broader healthcare context of the bill. Dentists would have been affected by general health care provision updates.
Insurance Companies: The bill revised health insurer payment rules for nonpreferred providers. This provision would have significantly impacted insurance carriers, affecting their reimbursement structures and network management strategies.
Practical Takeaways
- Review current licensure compacts to ensure alignment with federal standards.
- Monitor the status of similar bills reintroduced in future legislative sessions.
- Ensure insurance contracts comply with current payment rules for nonpreferred providers.
- DCF payment accuracy plans must adhere to state-mandated improvement goals.
- Emergency medical technicians and paramedics should review training standards.
- Physician Assistants should monitor interstate licensure compact developments.
- Social workers should review licensure compacts for cross-state practice.
- Dentists should monitor general healthcare provision updates for impact.
- Patients should be aware of potential changes in provider availability.
- Investigation reporting requirements must remain compliant with state mandates.
Open Questions
Since the bill is inactive, several questions remain open regarding future regulatory landscapes.
Will it reintroduce? The sponsor may choose to reintroduce the bill in the next session. If they do, it would go through the same rules committee process. The likelihood depends on the sponsor’s priorities.
Will other compacts be introduced? Other legislation often introduces licensure compacts for other professions. We should watch for similar bills for nurses or pharmacists.
Will payment rules change? If similar bills pass in future sessions, the payment rules for nonpreferred providers may be revisited by the Legislature.
Will DCF payment plans be stricter? Future legislation may tighten the food assistance payment accuracy requirements, making plans more rigorous.
Will Health Facility provisions be re-enabled? The Health Facility and Services Development Act provisions might be reintroduced or modified, affecting facility development.
Will EMT licensure change? Training standards and licensure for EMTs might be updated by the Department of Health in future sessions.
Will investigation reporting change? Reporting requirements to the National Practitioner Data Bank might be revised to include more data points.
Next Steps for Stakeholders
Given that the bill has died in rules, stakeholders should not take immediate action based on these provisions. However, they should continue to monitor the legislative schedule. The Rules Committee plays a critical role in Florida legislation. Bills that do not survive this stage are typically not enacted.
If a similar bill is introduced in the next session, stakeholders should be prepared to review the text. The text will likely address the same topics: licensure compacts, payment rules, and EMT provisions. It is advisable to review the Florida Statute chapters regarding health and wellness and social services.
We recommend checking the Florida Legislative Reference Library for updates. Also, review the Department of Children and Families website for any updates to payment accuracy plans. These steps ensure you remain informed regardless of the bill’s status.
Conclusion
Florida H0693 proposed significant updates to health care and licensure in Florida. While it has died in rules, its proposals offer insight into future regulatory directions. Stay informed to ensure your practice or organization remains compliant and ready for changes.
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