SB 676- Relating to Health Care
On Monday, January 11th, SB 676, relating to Health Care, by Senator Denise Grimsley (R-Sebring) was heard in the Senate Health Policy Committee and passed with 4 yeas and 2 nays.

SB 676 would authorize and increase the scope for practice for physician assistants (PAs) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) to prescribe controlled substances under current supervisory standards for PAs and protocols for ARNPs beginning January 1, 2017.  ARNPs and Pas would not be allowed to prescribe controlled substances in a pain management clinic. Other provisions of the bill include:

• Requiring health insurers, HMOs and pharmacy benefits managers to use the standardized prior authorization form by January 1, 2017;
• Providing a health insurer or HMO cannot retroactively deny a claim due to an insured’s ineligibility, if that insurer or HMO verified eligibility at the time of treatment; and
• Requiring hospitals to notify OB physicians with privileges at least 90 days prior to closing its OB department.

AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, testified in committee expressing concern about the provision in this bill that would prohibit a health insurer and health maintenance organization (HMO) from retroactively denying a claim due to the insured’s delinquency of premium payments, if that insurer or HMO already verified the insured’s eligibility at the time of treatment. This provision on claims payment could lead to increased costs on Florida’s businesses.

In addition, Brewster Bevis, spoke in SUPPORT of the provisions in this bill that will provide for an increase of the scope of practice for ARNPs and PAs.

At this juncture AIF did not take a position on this bill.

The next step for this bill is in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee .

AIF supports removing regulatory scope of practice obstacles for qualified health care professions to ensure greater access to quality care for more Floridians at more affordable costs.