Gov. Ron DeSantis signs healthcare bills spearheaded by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo

Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the broad-based “Live Healthy” legislation that’s designed to bolster the supply of healthcare workers and streamline access to care for needy groups.

The governor signed the five-bill package at a Bonita Springs restaurant in the Southwest Florida backyard of outgoing Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. She championed the $716 million package as a key goal for herself during the recent Legislative session.

DeSantis said the Live Healthy package helps develop a healthcare workforce that is critically needed in a growing state and helps address needs in rural communities, promote telehealth and more.

“You’re talking about having more flexibility for healthcare providers to be able to attract graduates from other states and be able to come and serve our residents,” he said.

How many bills did he sign?

He signed five bills including SB 7016 that expands workforce training for the healthcare industry; SB 7018 which supports innovation including telehealth; and SB 1758 that supports the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

SB 330, also signed, creates a new category of teaching hospitals to help address mental health needs and SB 322 supports the interstate medical licensure compact for medical workers.

DeSantis said the bill serving people with disabilities is something that had been in the works for a while and was an initiative of his wife, Casey DeSantis, to help people with disabilities and their caregivers with immediate and long term needs, he said.

More: Legislators: Live Healthy legislation still requires short-term solutions

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“And it expands access to home and community-based services by appropriating more than $38 million to serve those in pre-enrollment categories,” he said.

What about mental health care?

On the behavioral health bill, DeSantis said the country has gotten away from institutional-based care for people with mental health issues but sometimes it is needed.

“We as a society have walked away from that and so I’ve said, ‘Look, I want more beds for mental health patients, particularly (for) people that are not able to function in society.'”

Passidomo pointed out that Florida’s population will grow by 300,000 a year “but unfortunately the new Floridians are not bringing their health care providers.”

The Live Healthy legislation will help grow the healthcare workforce, and increase access and innovation so Florida residents “can have more options and opportunities to live healthy here in the Sunshine State,” she said.

Maternity care costs get a boost

Key parts of the bill improve maternity care and access to primary care services.

“We are expanding sites for clinical training to include more rural and difficult to access locations so sick and injured Floridians do not have to travel long distances for care,” she said.

Before the press conference, Passidomo said a key aspect will help streamline how emergency rooms are used by having hospitals work with 24/7 clinics.

“The most expensive real estate in Florida is the emergency room and prisons,” she said.

From the emergency room to clinics

When patients come to the emergency room, they will be triaged but if their medical issue is not a real emergency, they will be diverted to clinics for care that will be huge cost savings.

“And we are asking the clinics to create a relationship with the patients to follow up with the patients,” she said. “It’s creating a medical home.”

The Florida Hospital Association said the investments to expand access to care and address the critical healthcare workforce shortage is crucial “to ensure Florida remains a resilient, first-class destination for health care in the future.” Mary Mayhew, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Also speaking at the bill signing was Taylor Hatch, director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, who said SB 1758 helps make sure clients get help at the earliest moment possible and helps families navigate and connect with their community-based programs. A second component helps eliminate barriers toward high school graduation and workplace opportunities.

What one hospital executive had to say

John Couris, president and chief executive officer of Tampa General Hospital, said the state has been dealing with some of the biggest challenges when it comes to the critical shortage of healthcare workforce, the growth in labor costs and how patients struggle to access care.

The Live Healthy legislation makes investments in innovation and technology that helps reduce costs and improve patient outcomes, he said.

Tampa General has created a hospital-to-home program using telehealth that lets patients get care at home.

“It cut costs and improves patient outcomes and frees up space inside the hospital for patients with more critical conditions,” Couris said.

The readmission rate after hospital-based care ranges from 14% to 16% while its much lower at 4% to 6% with care at home, he said.

“It’s a state like Florida that allows us to innovate, create and explore new things,” he said.

Lee Health CEO had something to say

Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and chief executive officer of Lee Health system, the largest public hospital system in the state, did not speak at the event but said the Live Healthy legislation will be a tremendous help in addressing the rising costs of labor and delivery care (for mothers and babies).

About 46% of deliveries statewide are by patients on Medicaid but the joint state and federal insurance covers 35% of the cost, he said. That’s why so many hospitals have closed their labor and delivery programs, he said.

The bill includes $134 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for labor and delivery statewide.

“This will pump it (the reimbursement) up to 45%,” he said, adding that Lee Health expects a $5 million jump in payments for deliveries. Lee Health does about 7,000 deliveries a year.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: DeSantis signs Live Healthy bills to boost care, ease worker shortage