House Bill 1519e3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
HB 1519, Third Engrossed
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to rural hospitals; amending
3 ss. 395.602 and 408.07, F.S.; revising the
4 definition of "rural hospital" to increase the
5 allowable number of licensed beds; amending s.
6 409.9116, F.S.; providing that rural hospitals
7 designated after July 1, 1998, shall not be
8 included in the rural hospital disproportionate
9 share of financial assistance programs unless
10 additional appropriations are provided;
11 providing an effective date.
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13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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15 Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
16 395.602, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 395.602 Rural hospitals.--
18 (2) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this part:
19 (e) "Rural hospital" means an acute care hospital
20 licensed under this chapter, with 100 85 licensed beds or
21 less, which has an emergency room and is located in an area
22 defined as rural by the United States Census, and which is:
23 1. The sole provider within a county with a population
24 density of no greater than 100 persons per square mile; or
25 2. An acute care hospital, in a county with a
26 population density of no greater than 100 persons per square
27 mile, which is at least 30 minutes of travel time, on normally
28 traveled roads under normal traffic conditions, from any other
29 acute care hospital within the same county; or
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HB 1519, Third Engrossed
1 3. A hospital supported by a tax district or
2 subdistrict whose boundaries encompass a population of 100
3 persons or less per square mile.
4 Section 2. Subsection (47) of section 408.07, Florida
5 Statutes, is amended to read:
6 408.07 Definitions.--As used in this chapter, with the
7 exception of ss. 408.031-408.045, the term:
8 (47) "Rural hospital" means an acute care hospital
9 licensed under chapter 395, with 100 85 licensed beds or
10 fewer, which has an emergency room and is located in an area
11 defined as rural by the United States Census, and which is:
12 (a) The sole provider within a county with a
13 population density of no greater than 100 persons per square
14 mile;
15 (b) An acute care hospital, in a county with a
16 population density of no greater than 100 persons per square
17 mile, which is at least 30 minutes of travel time, on normally
18 traveled roads under normal traffic conditions, from another
19 acute care hospital within the same county; or
20 (c) A hospital supported by a tax district or
21 subdistrict whose boundaries encompass a population of 100
22 persons or less per square mile.
23 Section 3. Subsection (7) is added to section
24 409.9116, Florida Statutes, to read:
25 409.9116 Disproportionate share/financial assistance
26 program for rural hospitals.--In addition to the payments made
27 under s. 409.911, the Agency for Health Care Administration
28 shall administer a federally matched disproportionate share
29 program and a state-funded financial assistance program for
30 statutory rural hospitals. The agency shall make
31 disproportionate share payments to statutory rural hospitals
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
HB 1519, Third Engrossed
1 that qualify for such payments and financial assistance
2 payments to statutory rural hospitals that do not qualify for
3 disproportionate share payments. The disproportionate share
4 program payments shall be limited by and conform with federal
5 requirements. In fiscal year 1993-1994, available funds shall
6 be distributed in one payment, as soon as practicable after
7 the effective date of this act. In subsequent fiscal years,
8 funds shall be distributed quarterly in each fiscal year for
9 which an appropriation is made. Notwithstanding the
10 provisions of s. 409.915, counties are exempt from
11 contributing toward the cost of this special reimbursement for
12 hospitals serving a disproportionate share of low-income
13 patients.
14 (7) This section only applies to hospitals that were
15 defined as statutory rural hospitals, or their successor in
16 interest hospitals, prior to July 1, 1998, unless additional
17 funds are provided for such hospitals by the General
18 Appropriations Act.
19 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1 of the
20 year in which enacted.
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