The 2013 Florida Legislature passed a number of healthcare-related bills that may impact your business or practice. The bills make changes to Medicaid and affect healthcare providers, hospitals, health insurers, HMOs, and pharmacies.
Most recently, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed one of the bills, Florida Senate Bill 1842, into law on May 31. The new law conforms parts of the Florida Insurance Code with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”). It makes the following changes:
- Provides that the Florida Insurance Code applies unless it conflicts with PPACA.
- Authorizes the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to review insurance policies and determine whether the policies comply with PPACA. Allows the Office to report violations to the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
- Requires individuals working as navigators (i.e., individuals designated by PPACA to help consumers find and sign up for health coverage) to register with the Department of Financial Services.
- Exempts certain individual and small group health plans from having to get their premiums approved by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for 2014 and 2015 (although the health plans still must file their premium information with Florida for informational purposes). Requires certain health plans to provide a specific notice to their customers describing the estimated impact of PPACA on monthly premiums.
The provisions became effective on May 31.
For a more complete summary of the healthcare-related bills passed during the 2013 Florida Legislative Session, see Akerman’s recent Practice Update.
