Charlie Crist

FL gov. signs bill mandating autism coverage

Wed, 21 May 2008 06:59:55 -0400

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has signed a bill that could force the state's health plans to cover a range of services related to autism treatment. The new law requires the state's health plans to negotiate deals with the state on how they will cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism-related disorders. If the plans don't enter into such an agreement, the state will require certain coverages by July of 2009, capped at $36,000 per year or $200,000 over the lifetime of the policy. The measure, however, only applies to large groups, not individual policies or small employers. Because of this limitation, it's expected that the bill will serve only one-half of the people with insurance who might have benefited from such coverage, according to the bill's sponsor, state Sen. Steve Geller.

To learn more about the bill:
- read this Associated Press article

FL gov. signs law reforming CON rules

Tue, 20 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has signed a bill, strongly backed by the state's hospital association, which remakes the state's certificate-of-need process. The bill includes a "loser pays" rule that covers a hospital's legal fees if there's an unsuccessful appeal after the state has granted a CON. Under the terms of the provision, parties that appeal a CON decision must post a $1 million bond and cover the other party's legal costs if they lose their appeal.

In evaluating need, the revised rules will focus more than they have in the past on the extent to which a facility impacts access and competition, and how that facility will service indigent and Medicaid patients--as well as completing the analysis more rapidly.

To learn more about Florida's CON law changes:
- read this Modern Healthcare article (reg. req.)

Related Articles:
FL, IA legislatures pass CON reforms
FL governor wants to end CON law
GA to revamp CON system
Al study questions need for CON process

FL, IA legislatures pass CON reforms

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Picking up on a trend that seems to be mounting nationwide, Florida and Iowa legislators have passed bills that will reform their respective certificate-of-need processes. Fulfilling one of his often-stated goals, Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) plans to sign the legislation, which not only simplifies the process, but also includes a "loser pays" section that tries to discourage lawsuits designed to delay the launch of a new facilities.

Meanwhile, Iowa's CON legislation may or may not pass, as Gov. Chet Culver (D) hasn't said where he stands. Passing CON reforms there is complicated by the fact that the reforms are buried in a larger bill that addresses varied financing and policy issues. The bill would let replacement critical-access hospitals serving 75 percent of the same area, providing 75 percent of the same services and keeping 75 percent of the same staff avoid the CON process entirely.

To learn more about these bills:
- read this Modern Healthcare article

Related Articles:
IA bill exempts some hospitals from CON process
FL governor wants to end CON law
GA may approve sweeping CON changes
AL study questions need for CON process
RI reviews med equipment CON process