Skip to Navigation | Skip to Main Content | Skip to Site Map

MyFloridaHouse.gov | Mobile Site

Senate Tracker: Sign Up | Login

The Florida Senate

CS/HB 81 — Health Care for Children

by Health and Human Services Committee and Rep. Andrade and others (CS/CS/SB 190 by Appropriations Committee; Health Policy Committee; and Senators Montford, Harrell, Berman, Cruz, and Braynon)

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Education Committee (ED)

The bill requires the Department of Health to create an electronic pamphlet with information on the screening for, and treatment of, preventable infant and childhood eye and vision disorders. The pamphlet must be provided to new parents by hospitals providing birthing services, birth centers, and by the healthcare practitioner attending an out-of-hospital birth.

The bill authorizes school districts to certify for reimbursement eligible school-based health services provided to any student enrolled in Medicaid, regardless of whether that student qualifies for Part B or H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the exceptional student education program, or has an individualized education plan. The bill aligns Florida law with updated federal guidance that authorizes the federal reimbursement of Medicaid-eligible, school-based health services for all students enrolled in Medicaid.

The bill clarifies that an auditory-oral education program must use faculty and supervisors certified as listening and spoken language specialists each day the child is in attendance and also requires a certified listening and spoken language specialist from the family’s chosen auditory-oral education program to be included in the Individualized Education Plan team or Family Support Plan team.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2020.

Vote: Senate 38-0; House 113-0