By Carmel J. Barrau, MD
As president of the Dade County Medical Affiliation (DCMA), these are my observations on the not too long ago concluded 2024 Florida legislative session and its implications for healthcare in Miami-Dade County.
This session has been a time when quite a few payments have been proposed, a few of which straight influence the medical neighborhood and affected person care. With its mission to advocate for the best requirements of well being care, the DCMA carefully monitored legislative developments and actively participated in help or opposition as deemed mandatory.
One of many affiliation's main issues was proposals for autonomous follow by licensed registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and licensed psychiatric nurses, as outlined in SB 810/HB 257 and HB 0771/SB 0936, respectively. Whereas the DCMA acknowledges the invaluable contributions of nurse practitioners to the healthcare system, it strongly opposed these payments as a result of issues about affected person security and high quality of care. Our management is relieved to report that these payments didn’t advance, because of the diligence of our advocacy efforts and the help of allied stakeholders.
Moreover, the DCMA supported HB 1475 and SB 1574, which addressed crucial elements of healthcare companies and aimed to enhance affected person entry and supplier reimbursement. Sadly, these payments didn’t advance past the committee stage, highlighting the challenges inherent in selling complete well being care reform.
The DCMA additionally handled different legislative issues related to the supply of well being care. The affiliation was actively concerned in discussions on payments akin to SB 7016/7018, which proposed revolutionary initiatives to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and increase telehealth companies. Moreover, he advocated for measures akin to SB 362 and HB 161, which sought to deal with reimbursement charges for medical suppliers and guarantee equitable compensation below employees' compensation.
In distinction, the DCMA supported payments that aimed to enhance well being companies and affected person outcomes. SB 584 and HB 659, centered on well being companies, gained our full help. These payments sought to streamline dispute decision processes and guarantee well timed cost for healthcare companies, aligning with the affiliation's dedication to facilitating environment friendly, patient-centered care supply. Regardless of its unlucky demise within the legislative course of, the DCMA stays steadfast in its advocacy for comparable initiatives sooner or later.
One other main space of concern was laws relating to recoverable damages in wrongful loss of life actions, significantly in medical negligence instances. Whereas payments akin to SB 248, SB 310, and SB 442 aimed to reform sure elements of medical malpractice legal guidelines, they in the end failed within the legislative course of, underscoring the complexity of the authorized frameworks surrounding healthcare legal responsibility.
Regardless of the challenges encountered throughout this legislative session, the DCMA stays steadfast in its dedication to advocating for insurance policies that preserve the best requirements of affected person care and supplier well-being. The affiliation will proceed to encourage physicians to hitch organized medication and collaborate with policymakers, stakeholders, and the broader neighborhood to form a healthcare panorama that prioritizes excellence, accessibility, and fairness in Miami County. Dade.
Dr. Carmel Barrau is president of the Dade County Medical Affiliation, Inc.
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