CS/CS/HB 161 2024
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hb0161-02-c2
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to payments for health care providers 2
and surgical procedures under workers' compensation; 3
amending s. 440.13, F.S.; increasing the maximum 4
amounts of certain witness fees related to workers' 5
compensation cases; increasing the maximum 6
reimbursements for physicians and surgical procedures 7
under workers' compensation; providing an effective 8
date. 9
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the Stat e of Florida: 11
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Section 1. Subsection (10) and paragraphs (f) and (g) of 13
subsection (12) of section 440.13, Florida Statutes, are amended 14
to read: 15
440.13 Medical services and supplies; penalty for 16
violations; limitations. — 17
(10) WITNESS FEES.—Any health care provider who gives a 18
deposition shall be allowed a witness fee. The amount charged by 19
the witness may not exceed $300 $200 per hour. An expert witness 20
who has never provided direct professional services to a party 21
but has merely reviewed medical r ecords and provided an expert 22
opinion or has provided only direct professional services that 23
were unrelated to the workers' compensation case may not be 24
allowed a witness fee in excess of $300 $200 per day. 25
CS/CS/HB 161 2024
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(12) CREATION OF THREE -MEMBER PANEL; GUIDES OF MAXIMUM 26
REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCES. — 27
(f) Maximum reimbursement for a physician licensed under 28
chapter 458 or chapter 459 shall be 150 110 percent of the 29
reimbursement allowed by Medicare, using appropriate codes and 30
modifiers or the medical reimbursement l evel adopted by the 31
three-member panel as of January 1, 2003, whichever is greater. 32
(g) Maximum reimbursement for surgical procedures shall be 33
150 140 percent of the reimbursement allowed by Medicare or the 34
medical reimbursement level adopted by the thre e-member panel as 35
of January 1, 2003, whichever is greater. 36
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The department, as requested, shall provide data to the panel, 38
including, but not limited to, utilization trends in the 39
workers' compensation health care delivery system. The 40
department shall pro vide the panel with an annual report 41
regarding the resolution of medical reimbursement disputes and 42
any actions pursuant to subsection (8). The department shall 43
provide administrative support and service to the panel to the 44
extent requested by the panel. F or prescription medication 45
purchased under the requirements of this subsection, a 46
dispensing practitioner shall not possess such medication unless 47
payment has been made by the practitioner, the practitioner's 48
professional practice, or the practitioner's pr actice management 49
company or employer to the supplying manufacturer, wholesaler, 50
CS/CS/HB 161 2024
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
distributor, or drug repackager within 60 days of the dispensing 51
practitioner taking possession of that medication. 52
Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025. 53