The Florida Association of Health Plans have announced their priorities ahead of the 2019 Florida Legislative Session, which includes supporting Senate Bill 626 and House Bill 673, Insurer Guaranty Associations, and Senate Bill 302 and House Bill 411, Nonemergency Medical Transportation Services.
In a statement, Audrey Brown, the President and CEO of FAHP, commented that “FAHP is proud to support SB 626 and HB 673, which will address instability in the long-term care insurance market and protect Florida’s seniors who purchased long-term care insurance, by broadening the safety net for potential future insolvencies and ensuring seniors receive the benefits of these policies they purchased when planning for their future.” In addition, Brown thanked Senator Jeff Brandes and Representative Jason Fischer “for bringing this good policy forward and being strong proponents of its adoption during the 2019 session.”
Brown also detailed that SB 302 and HB 411 “allows for expanded non-emergency transportation options to Medicaid patients in the state.” This “patient-centered solution… would enable medically fragile patients more access to ambulances to transport them between facilities and to medical appointments.” This would assist greatly because “many trips are cancelled because ambulances are being redirected for emergency cases; however, this legislation would remove current statutory barriers and allow available ambulances in a neighboring county to provide non-emergency trips to medically fragile patients in Medicaid.”
Brown detailed that the “FAHP will look to support public policy that increases access and expands options in health care.” And, what they would like to continue seeing are “proposals that continue to leverage technology, including telehealth measures, that will expand access and reduce costs, and look forward to working with Florida’s leaders to bring innovation to the health care market.
She concluded by encouraging “partners in the provider to community to eliminate antiquated paper processes, in favor of using technology and automated systems that health plans have in place, in order to expedite payments of claims, and ensure timely approvals for services so that patients receive the care they need.”
Taking all of this into account will ensure “a healthy Florida.”