Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1501 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 02/07/2024

                               
 
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A bill to be entitled 1 
An act relating to health care innovation; creating s. 2 
381.4015, F.S.; defining terms; providing legislative 3 
intent; creating the Health Care Innovation Council 4 
within the Department of Health for a specified 5 
purpose; providing for membership, meetings, an d 6 
conflicts of interest of the council; specifying 7 
conflicts of interest with respect to the revolving 8 
loan program established under the act; defining the 9 
terms "business relationship" and "relative"; 10 
specifying duties of the council; requiring the 11 
council, by a specified date, to adopt, and update as 12 
necessary, a certain document; requiring the council 13 
to submit annual reports to the Governor and the 14 
Legislature; requiring state agencies and statutorily 15 
created state entities to assist and cooperate with 16 
the council as requested; requiring the department to 17 
provide administrative support to the council; 18 
requiring the department to maintain a link to 19 
specified information on the homepage of its website; 20 
requiring the department to publish specified 21 
information on its website; requiring the department 22 
to provide technical assistance to certain applicants 23 
upon request; requiring the department to establish 24 
and administer a revolving loan program for applicants 25     
 
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seeking to implement certain health care innovatio ns 26 
in this state; providing for administration of the 27 
program; requiring the department to adopt certain 28 
rules; specifying eligibility and application 29 
requirements; specifying terms, authorized uses, and 30 
repayment options for loans; requiring the departmen t 31 
to create and maintain a separate account in the 32 
Grants and Donations Trust Fund within the department 33 
to fund the revolving loan program; providing that 34 
funds for the program are not subject to reversion; 35 
authorizing the department to contract with a th ird 36 
party to administer the program, including loan 37 
servicing, and manage the revolving loan fund; 38 
specifying requirements for the contract; requiring 39 
the department to publish and update specified 40 
information and reports on its website annually; 41 
requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic 42 
Research and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and 43 
Government Accountability to each develop and present 44 
an evaluation of the program to the Governor and the 45 
Legislature every 5 years beginning on specified 46 
dates; specifying requirements for the evaluations; 47 
requiring that the offices be given access to all data 48 
necessary to complete the evaluation, including 49 
confidential data; authorizing the offices to 50     
 
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collaborate on data collection and analysis; requiring 51 
the department to adopt rules; providing for future 52 
expiration; authorizing the department to adopt 53 
emergency rules to implement the act; providing 54 
appropriations; authorizing the department to use a 55 
specified percentage of appropriated funds for 56 
administrative costs to implement the revolving loan 57 
program; providing an effective date. 58 
 59 
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 60 
 61 
 Section 1.  Section 381.4015, Florida Statutes, is created 62 
to read: 63 
 381.4015  Florida health care innovation. — 64 
 (1)  DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 65 
 (a)  "Council" means the Health Care Innovation Council. 66 
 (b)  "Department" means the Department of Health. 67 
 (c)  "Health care provider" means any person or entity 68 
licensed, certified, registered, or o therwise authorized by law 69 
to provide health care services in this state. 70 
 (2)  LEGISLATIVE INTENT. —The Legislature intends to harness 71 
the innovation and creativity of entrepreneurs and businesses, 72 
together with the state's health care system and stakehold ers, 73 
to lead the discussion and highlight advances and innovations 74 
that will address challenges in the health care system as they 75     
 
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develop in real time and transform the delivery and strengthen 76 
the quality of health care in Florida. Innovative technologies, 77 
workforce pathways, service delivery models, or other solutions 78 
that improve the quality of care in measurable and sustainable 79 
ways, that can be replicated, and that will lower costs and 80 
allow that value to be passed on to health care consumers shall 81 
be highlighted for adoption across all neighborhoods and 82 
communities in this state. 83 
 (3)  HEALTH CARE INNOVATION COUNCIL. —The Health Care 84 
Innovation Council, a council as defined in s. 20.03, is created 85 
within the department to tap into the best knowledge and 86 
experience available by regularly bringing together subject 87 
matter experts in a public forum to explore and discuss 88 
innovations in technology, workforce, and service delivery 89 
models that can be exhibited as best practices, implemented, or 90 
scaled in order to improve the quality and delivery of health 91 
care in this state in measurable, sustainable, and reproducible 92 
ways. 93 
 (a)  Membership.— 94 
 1.  The Lieutenant Governor shall serve as an ex officio, 95 
nonvoting member and shall act as the council chair. 96 
 2.  The council shall be composed of the following voting 97 
members, to be appointed by July 1, 2024: 98 
 a.  One member appointed by the President of the Senate and 99 
one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 100     
 
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Representatives. The appointing officers shall make appointments 101 
prioritizing members who have the following experience: 102 
 (I)  A representative of the health care sector who has 103 
senior-level experience in reducing inefficiencies in health 104 
care delivery systems; 105 
 (II)  A representative of the private sector who has 106 
senior-level experience in cybersecurity or software engineering 107 
in the health care sector; 108 
 (III)  A representative who has expertise in emerging 109 
technology that can be used in the delivery of health care; or 110 
 (IV)  A representative who has experi ence in finance or 111 
investment or in management and operation of early stage 112 
companies. 113 
 b.  A physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, 114 
appointed by the Governor. 115 
 c.  A nurse licensed under chapter 464, appointed by the 116 
Governor. 117 
 d.  An employee of a hospital licensed under chapter 395 118 
who has executive-level experience, appointed by the Governor. 119 
 e.  A representative of the long -term care facility 120 
industry, appointed by the Governor. 121 
 f.  An employee of a health insurer or health maintenance 122 
organization who has executive -level experience, appointed by 123 
the Governor. 124 
 g.  A resident of this state who can represent the interest 125     
 
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of health care patients in this state, appointed by the 126 
Governor. 127 
 3.  The chair of the Council of Florida Medical Scho ol 128 
Deans shall serve as a voting member of the council. 129 
 4.  The council shall be composed of the following ex 130 
officio, nonvoting members: 131 
 a.  The State Surgeon General. 132 
 b.  The Secretary of Health Care Administration. 133 
 c.  The Secretary of Children and Families. 134 
 d.  The director of the Agency for Persons with 135 
Disabilities. 136 
 e.  The Secretary of Elderly Affairs. 137 
 5.  Except for ex officio, nonvoting members, the term of 138 
all appointees shall be for 2 years unless otherwise specified. 139 
However, to achieve s taggered terms, the appointees in sub -140 
subparagraphs 2.a.-c. shall serve initial terms of 3 years. The 141 
appointees may be reappointed for no more than four consecutive 142 
terms. 143 
 6.  Any vacancy occurring on the council must be filled in 144 
the same manner as the original appointment. Any member who is 145 
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring because of death, 146 
resignation, or ineligibility for membership shall serve only 147 
for the unexpired term of the member's predecessor. 148 
 7.  Members whose terms have expired may cont inue to serve 149 
until replaced or reappointed. However, members whose terms have 150     
 
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expired may not serve longer than 6 months after the expiration 151 
of their terms. 152 
 8.  Members shall serve without compensation but are 153 
entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses 154 
pursuant to s. 112.061. 155 
 9.  Members may be removed for cause by the appointing 156 
entity. 157 
 10.  Each member of the council who is not otherwise 158 
required to file a financial disclosure statement pursuant to s. 159 
8, Art. II of the State Constitut ion or s. 112.3144 must file a 160 
disclosure of financial interests pursuant to s. 112.3145. 161 
 (b)  Meetings.—The council shall convene its first 162 
organizational meeting by September 1, 2024. Thereafter, the 163 
council shall meet as necessary, but at least quarter ly, at the 164 
call of the chair. In order to provide an opportunity for the 165 
broadest public input, the chair shall ensure that a majority of 166 
the meetings held in a year are geographically dispersed within 167 
this state. As feasible, meetings are encouraged to pr ovide an 168 
opportunity for presentation or demonstration of innovative 169 
solutions in person. A majority of the members of the council 170 
constitutes a quorum, and a meeting may not be held with less 171 
than a quorum present. In order to establish a quorum, the 172 
council may conduct its meetings through teleconference or other 173 
electronic means. The affirmative vote of a majority of the 174 
members of the council present is necessary for any official 175     
 
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action by the council. 176 
 (c)  Conflicts of interest. — 177 
 1.  A council member may not vote on any matter that would 178 
provide: 179 
 a.  Direct financial benefit to the member; 180 
 b.  Financial benefit to a relative of the member, 181 
including an entity of which a relative is an officer, partner, 182 
director, or proprietor or in which the relativ e has a material 183 
interest; or 184 
 c.  Financial benefit to a person or entity with whom the 185 
member has a business relationship. 186 
 2.  With respect to the revolving loan program established 187 
in subsection (7): 188 
 a.  Council members may not receive loans under the 189 
program. 190 
 b.  A person or entity that has a conflict -of-interest 191 
relationship with a council member as described in sub -192 
subparagraph 1.b. or sub -subparagraph 1.c. may not receive a 193 
loan under the program unless that council member recused 194 
himself or herself from consideration of the person's or 195 
entity's application. 196 
 3.  For purposes of this paragraph, the term: 197 
 a.  "Business relationship" means an ownership or 198 
controlling interest, an affiliate or subsidiary relationship, a 199 
common parent company, or any mutual interest in any limited 200     
 
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partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability 201 
company, or other entity or business association. 202 
 b.  "Relative" means a father, mother, son, daughter, 203 
husband, wife, brother, sister, grandparent, father -in-law, 204 
mother-in-law, son-in-law, or daughter-in-law of a person. 205 
 (d)  Public meetings and records. —The council and any 206 
subcommittees it forms are subject to the provisions of chapter 207 
119 relating to public records and the provisions of chapter 286 208 
relating to public meetings. 209 
 (4)  HEALTH CARE INNOVATION COUNCIL DUTIES. —In order to 210 
facilitate and implement this section, the council shall: 211 
 (a)  By February 1, 2025, adopt and update as necessary a 212 
document that sets forth and describes a mission statement, 213 
goals, and objectives for the council to function and meet the 214 
purposes of this section. 215 
 (b)  Facilitate public meetings across this state at which 216 
innovators, developers, and implementers of technologies, 217 
workforce pathways, service delivery models, and othe r solutions 218 
may present information and lead discussions on concepts that 219 
address challenges to the health care system as they develop in 220 
real time and advance the delivery of health care in this state 221 
through technology and innovation. 222 
 1.  Consideration must be given to how such concepts 223 
increase efficiency in the health care system in this state, 224 
reduce strain on the state's health care workforce, improve 225     
 
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patient outcomes, expand public access to health care services 226 
in this state, or reduce costs for pa tients and the state 227 
without reducing the quality of patient care. 228 
 2.  Exploration and discussion of concepts may include how 229 
concepts can be supported, cross -functional, or scaled to meet 230 
the needs of health care consumers, including employers, payors, 231 
patients, and the state. 232 
 3.  The council may coordinate with the Florida Small 233 
Business Development Center Network, the Florida Opportunity 234 
Fund, the Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology, 235 
and other business incubators, development organiza tions, or 236 
institutions of higher education to include emerging and early 237 
stage innovators, developers, and implementers of technology, 238 
models, or solutions in health care in the exploration and 239 
discussion of concepts and breakthrough innovations. 240 
 4.  To support adoption and implementation of innovations 241 
and advancements, specific meetings may be held which bring 242 
together technical experts, such as those in system integration, 243 
cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, to 244 
lead discussions on recommended structures and integrations of 245 
information technology products and services and propose 246 
solutions that can make adoption and implementation efficient, 247 
effective, and economical. 248 
 5.  The council may also highlight broad community or 249 
statewide issues or needs of providers and users of health care 250     
 
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delivery and may facilitate public forums in order to explore 251 
and discuss the range of effective, efficient, and economical 252 
technology and innovative solutions that can be implemented. 253 
 (c)  Annually distinguish the most impactful concepts by 254 
recognizing the innovators, developers, and implementers whose 255 
work is helping Floridians live brighter and healthier lives. In 256 
seeking out projects, initiatives, and concepts that are having 257 
a positive impact in Florida, have huge potential to scale that 258 
impact throughout this state through growth or replication, or 259 
are cutting-edge advancements, programs, or other innovations 260 
that have the capability to accelerate transformation of health 261 
care in this state, the council may issue awards to recognize 262 
these strategic and innovative thinkers who are helping 263 
Floridians live brighter and healthier lives. The council may 264 
develop a logo for the award for use by awardees to advertise 265 
their achievements and recognition. 266 
 (d)  Consult with and solicit input from health care 267 
experts, health care providers, and technology and manufacturing 268 
experts in the health care or related fields, users of such 269 
innovations or systems, and the public to develop and update: 270 
 1.  Best practice recommendations that will lead to the 271 
continuous modernization of the health care system in this state 272 
and make the Florida system a nationwide leader in innovation, 273 
technology, and service. At a minimum, recommendations must be 274 
made for how to explore i mplementation of innovations, how to 275     
 
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implement new technologies and strategies, and health care 276 
service delivery models. As applicable, best practices must be 277 
distinguished by practice setting and with an emphasis on 278 
increasing efficiency in the delivery o f health care, reducing 279 
strain on the health care workforce, increasing public access to 280 
health care, improving patient outcomes, reducing unnecessary 281 
emergency room visits, and reducing costs for patients and the 282 
state without reducing the quality of pati ent care. Specifically 283 
for information technology, best practices must also recommend 284 
actions to guide the selection of technologies and innovations, 285 
which may include, but need not be limited to, considerations 286 
for system-to-system integration, consistent user experiences 287 
for health care workers and patients, and patient education and 288 
practitioner training. 289 
 2.  A list of focus areas in which to advance the delivery 290 
of health care in this state through innovative technologies, 291 
workforce pathways, or servic e delivery models. The focus areas 292 
may be broad or specific, but must, at a minimum, consider all 293 
of the following topics: 294 
 a.  The health care workforce. This topic includes, but is 295 
not limited to, all of the following: 296 
 (I)  Approaches to cultivate inter est and growth in the 297 
workforce, including concepts resulting in increases in the 298 
number of providers. 299 
 (II)  Efforts to improve the use of the workforce, whether 300     
 
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through techniques, training, or devices to increase 301 
effectiveness or efficiency. 302 
 (III)  Educational pathways that connect students with 303 
employers or result in attainment of cost -efficient and timely 304 
degrees or credentials. 305 
 (IV)  Use of technology to reduce the burden on the 306 
workforce during decisionmaking processes such as triage, but 307 
which leaves all final decisions to the health care 308 
practitioner. 309 
 b.  The provision of patient care in the most appropriate 310 
setting and reduction of unnecessary emergency room visits. 311 
These topics include, but are not limited to, all of the 312 
following: 313 
 (I)  Use of advanced technologies to improve patient 314 
outcomes, provide patient care, or improve patient quality of 315 
life. 316 
 (II)  The use of early detection devices, including remote 317 
communications devices and diagnostic tools engineered for early 318 
detection and patient engagement. 319 
 (III)  At-home patient monitoring devices and measures. 320 
 (IV)  Advanced at-home health care. 321 
 (V)  Advanced adaptive equipment. 322 
 c.  The delivery of primary care through methods, 323 
practices, or procedures that increase efficiencies. 324 
 d.  The technical aspects of the provision of health care. 325     
 
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These aspects include, but are not limited to, all of the 326 
following: 327 
 (I)  Interoperability of electronic health records systems 328 
and the impact on patient care coordination and administrative 329 
costs for health care systems. 330 
 (II)  Cybersecurity and the protection of health care data 331 
and systems. 332 
 (e)  Identify and recommend any changes to Florida law or 333 
changes that can be implemented without legislative action which 334 
are necessary to: 335 
 1.  Advance, transform, or innovate in the delivery and 336 
strengthen the quality of health care in Florida, including 337 
removal or update of any regulatory barriers or governmental 338 
inefficiencies. 339 
 2.  Implement the council's duties or recommendations. 340 
 (f)  Recommend crite ria for awarding loans as provided in 341 
subsection (7) to the department and review loan applications. 342 
 (g)  Annually submit by December 1 a report of council 343 
activities and recommendations to the Governor, the President of 344 
the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. At 345 
a minimum, the report must include an update on the status of 346 
the delivery of health care in this state; information on 347 
implementation of best practices by health care industry 348 
stakeholders in this state; and highlights of exp loration, 349 
development, or implementation of innovative technologies, 350     
 
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workforce pathways, service delivery models, or other solutions 351 
by health care industry stakeholders in this state. 352 
 (5)  AGENCY COOPERATION. —All state agencies and statutorily 353 
created state entities shall assist and cooperate with the 354 
council as requested. 355 
 (6)  DEPARTMENT DUTIES. —The department shall, at a minimum, 356 
do all of the following to facilitate implementation of this 357 
section: 358 
 (a)  Provide reasonable and necessary support staff and 359 
materials to assist the council in the performance of its 360 
duties. 361 
 (b)  Maintain on the homepage of the department a link to a 362 
website dedicated to the council on which the department shall 363 
post information related to the council, including the outcome s 364 
of the duties of the council and annual reports as described in 365 
subsection (4). 366 
 (c)  Identify and publish on its website a list of any 367 
sources of federal, state, or private funding available for 368 
implementation of innovative technologies and service deli very 369 
models in health care, including the details and eligibility 370 
requirements for each funding opportunity. Upon request, the 371 
department shall provide technical assistance to any person 372 
wanting to apply for such funding. If the entity with oversight 373 
of the funding opportunity provides technical assistance, the 374 
department may foster working relationships that allow the 375     
 
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department to refer the person seeking funding to the 376 
appropriate contact for such assistance. 377 
 (d)  Incorporate recommendations of the coun cil into the 378 
department's duties or as part of the administration of this 379 
section, or update administrative rules or procedures as 380 
appropriate based upon council recommendations. 381 
 (7)  REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM. —The department shall establish 382 
and administer a revolving loan program for applicants seeking 383 
to implement innovative solutions in this state. 384 
 (a)  Administration.—The council may make recommendations 385 
to the department for the administration of the loans. The 386 
department shall adopt rules: 387 
 1.  Establishing an application process to submit and 388 
review funding proposals for loans. Such rules must also include 389 
the process for the council to review applications to ensure 390 
compliance with applicable laws, including those related to 391 
discrimination and conflict s of interest. If a council member 392 
participated in the vote of the council recommending an award 393 
for a proposal with which the council member has a conflict of 394 
interest, the division may not award the loan to that entity. 395 
 2.  Establishing eligibility crit eria to be applied by the 396 
council in recommending applications for the award of loans 397 
which: 398 
 a.  Incorporate the recommendations of the council. The 399 
council shall recommend to the department criteria based upon 400     
 
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input received and the focus areas developed . The council may 401 
recommend updated criteria as necessary, based upon the most 402 
recent input, best practice recommendations, or focus areas 403 
list. 404 
 b.  Determine which proposals are likely to provide the 405 
greatest return to the state if funded, taking into 406 
consideration, at a minimum, the degree to which the proposal 407 
would increase efficiency in the health care system in this 408 
state, reduce strain on the state's health care workforce, 409 
improve patient outcomes, increase public access to health care 410 
in this state, or provide cost savings to patients or the state 411 
without reducing the quality of patient care. 412 
 3.  It deems necessary to administer the program, 413 
including, but not limited to, rules for application 414 
requirements, the ability of the applicant to properly 415 
administer funds, the professional excellence of the applicant, 416 
the fiscal stability of the applicant, the state or regional 417 
impact of the proposal, matching requirements for the proposal, 418 
and other requirements to further the purposes of the program. 419 
 (b) Eligibility.— 420 
 1.  The following entities may apply for a revolving loan: 421 
 a.  Entities licensed, registered, or certified by the 422 
Agency for Health Care Administration as provided under s. 423 
408.802, except for those specified in s. 408.802(1), (3), (13), 424 
(23), or (25). 425     
 
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 b.  An education or clinical training provider in 426 
partnership with an entity under sub -subparagraph a. 427 
 2.a.  Council members may not receive loans under the 428 
program. 429 
 b.  An entity that has a conflict -of-interest relationship 430 
with a council member as described in sub -subparagraph 431 
(3)(c)1.b. or sub-subparagraph (3)(c)1.c. may not receive a loan 432 
under the program unless that council member recused himself or 433 
herself from consideration of the entity's application. 434 
 3.  Priority must be given to applicants located in a rural 435 
or medically underserved area as designated by the department 436 
which are: 437 
 a.  Rural hospitals as defined in s. 395.602(2). 438 
 b.  Nonprofit entities that accept Medicaid patients. 439 
 4.  The department may award a loan for up t o 50 percent of 440 
the total projected implementation costs, or up to 80 percent of 441 
the total projected implementation costs for an applicant under 442 
subparagraph 3. The applicant must demonstrate the source of 443 
funding it will use to cover the remainder of the total 444 
projected implementation costs, which funding must be from 445 
nonstate sources. 446 
 (c)  Applications.— 447 
 1.  The department shall set application periods to apply 448 
for loans. The department may set multiple application periods 449 
in a fiscal year, with up to f our periods per year. The 450     
 
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department shall coordinate with the council when establishing 451 
application periods to establish separate priority, in addition 452 
to eligibility, within the loan applications for defined 453 
categories based on the current focus area lis t. The department 454 
shall publicize the availability of loans under the program to 455 
stakeholders, education or training providers, and others. 456 
 2.  Upon receipt of an application, the department shall 457 
determine whether the application is complete and the appl icant 458 
has demonstrated the ability to repay the loan. Within 30 days 459 
after the close of the application period, the department shall 460 
forward all completed applications to the council for 461 
consideration. 462 
 3.  The council shall review applications for loans u nder 463 
the criteria and pursuant to the processes and format adopted by 464 
the department. The council shall submit to the department for 465 
approval lists of applicants that it recommends for funding, 466 
arranged in order of priority and as required for the 467 
application period. 468 
 4.  A loan applicant must demonstrate plans to use the 469 
funds to implement one or more innovative technologies, 470 
workforce pathways, service delivery models, or other solutions 471 
in order to fill a demonstrated need; obtain or upgrade 472 
necessary equipment, hardware, and materials; adopt new 473 
technologies or systems; or a combination thereof which will 474 
improve the quality and delivery of health care in measurable 475     
 
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and sustainable ways and which will lower costs and allow 476 
savings to be passed on to heal th care consumers. 477 
 (d)  Awards.— 478 
 1.  The amount of each loan must be based upon demonstrated 479 
need and availability of funds. The department may not award 480 
more than 10 percent of the total allocated funds for the fiscal 481 
year to a single loan applicant. 482 
 2.  The interest rate for each loan may not exceed 1 483 
percent. 484 
 3.  The term of each loan is up to 10 years. 485 
 4.  In order to equitably distribute limited state funding, 486 
applicants may apply for and be awarded only one loan per fiscal 487 
year. If a loan recipie nt has one or more outstanding loans at 488 
any time, the recipient may apply for funding for a new loan if 489 
the current loans are in good standing. 490 
 (e)  Written agreement.— 491 
 1.  Each loan recipient must enter into a written agreement 492 
with the department to re ceive the loan. At a minimum, the 493 
agreement with the applicant must specify all of the following: 494 
 a.  The total amount of the award. 495 
 b.  The performance conditions that must be met, based upon 496 
the submitted proposal and the defined category or focus area , 497 
as applicable. 498 
 c.  The information to be reported on actual implementation 499 
costs, including the share from nonstate resources. 500     
 
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 d.  The schedule for payment. 501 
 e.  The data and progress reporting requirements and 502 
schedule. 503 
 f.  Any sanctions that would a pply for failure to meet 504 
performance conditions. 505 
 2.  The department shall develop uniform data reporting 506 
requirements for loan recipients to evaluate the performance of 507 
the implemented proposals. Such data must be shared with the 508 
council. 509 
 3.  If requested, the department shall provide technical 510 
assistance to loan recipients under the program. 511 
 (f)  Loan repayment.—Loans become due and payable in 512 
accordance with the terms of the written agreement. All 513 
repayments of principal received by the departm ent in a fiscal 514 
year shall be returned to the revolving loan fund and made 515 
available for loans to other applicants. 516 
 (g)  Revolving loan fund. —The department shall create and 517 
maintain a separate account in the Grants and Donations Trust 518 
Fund within the department as a fund for the program. All 519 
repayments of principal must be returned to the revolving loan 520 
fund and made available as provided in this section. 521 
Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the revolving 522 
loan program are not subject to reve rsion. The department may 523 
contract with a third -party administrator to administer the 524 
program, including loan servicing, and manage the revolving loan 525     
 
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fund. A contract for a third -party administrator which includes 526 
management of the revolving loan fund mus t, at a minimum, 527 
require maintenance of the revolving loan fund to ensure that 528 
the program may operate in a revolving manner. 529 
 (8)  REPORTING.—The department shall publish on its website 530 
information related to loan recipients, including the written 531 
agreements, performance conditions and their status, and the 532 
total amount of loan funds disbursed to date. The department 533 
shall update the information annually on the award date. The 534 
department shall, beginning on September 1, 2025, and annually 535 
thereafter, post on its website a report on this section for the 536 
previous fiscal year which must include all of the following 537 
information: 538 
 (a)  A summary of the adoption and implementation of 539 
recommendations of the council during the previous fiscal year. 540 
 (b)  An evaluation of actions and related activities to 541 
meet the purposes set forth in this section. 542 
 (c)  Consolidated data based upon the uniform data 543 
reporting by funding recipients and an evaluation of how the 544 
provision of the loans has met the purposes set forth in this 545 
section. 546 
 (d)  The number of applications for loans, the types of 547 
proposals received, and an analysis on the relationship between 548 
the proposals and the purposes of this section. 549 
 (e)  The amount of funds allocated and awarded for each 550     
 
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loan application period, as well as any funds not awarded in 551 
that period. 552 
 (f)  The amount of funds paid out during the fiscal year 553 
and any funds repaid or unused. 554 
 (g)  The number of persons assisted and outcomes of any 555 
technical assistance requested for loans and any fe deral, state, 556 
or private funding opportunities. 557 
 (9)  EVALUATION.— 558 
 (a)  Beginning October 1, 2029, and every 5 years 559 
thereafter, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research 560 
(EDR) shall develop and present to the Governor, the President 561 
of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a 562 
comprehensive financial and economic evaluation of the 563 
innovative solutions undertaken by the revolving loan program 564 
administered under this section. The evaluation must include, 565 
but need not be limited to, separate calculations of the state's 566 
return and the economic value to residents of this state, as 567 
well as the identification of any cost savings to patients or 568 
the state and the impact on the state's health care workforce. 569 
 (b)  Beginning October 1, 2030, and every 5 years 570 
thereafter, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government 571 
Accountability (OPPAGA) shall develop and present to the 572 
Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 573 
House of Representatives an evaluation of the adminis tration and 574 
efficiency of the revolving loan program administered under this 575     
 
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section. The evaluation must include, but need not be limited 576 
to, the degree to which the collective proposals increased 577 
efficiency in the health care system in this state, improv ed 578 
patient outcomes, increased public access to health care, and 579 
achieved the cost savings identified in paragraph (a) without 580 
reducing the quality of patient care. 581 
 (c)  Both the EDR and OPPAGA shall include recommendations 582 
for consideration by the Legisl ature. The EDR and OPPAGA must be 583 
given access to all data necessary to complete the evaluation, 584 
including any confidential data. The offices may collaborate on 585 
data collection and analysis. 586 
 (10)  RULES.—The department shall adopt rules to implement 587 
this section. 588 
 (11)  EXPIRATION.—This section expires July 1, 2043. 589 
 Section 2.  The Department of Health shall, and all 590 
conditions are deemed met to, adopt emergency rules pursuant to 591 
s. 120.54(4), Florida Statutes, for the purpose of implementing 592 
s. 381.4015, Florida Statutes. Notwithstanding any other law, 593 
emergency rules adopted pursuant to this section are effective 594 
for 6 months after adoption and may be renewed during the 595 
pendency of the procedure to adopt permanent rules addressing 596 
the subject of the em ergency rules. 597 
 Section 3.  (1)  For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the sum of 598 
$250,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is 599 
appropriated to the Department of Health to implement and 600     
 
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administer the Health Care Innovation Council under s. 38 1.4015, 601 
Florida Statutes. 602 
 (2)  For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the sum of $1 million 603 
in recurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund 604 
to the Department of Health to implement and administer the 605 
Health Care Innovation Council under s. 381.40 15, Florida 606 
Statutes. 607 
 (3)  By August 1 of each year, beginning in the 2024 -2025 608 
fiscal year through the 2033 -2034 fiscal year, the Chief 609 
Financial Officer shall transfer the sum of $50 million in 610 
nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Gra nts 611 
and Donations Trust Fund within the Department of Health. Each 612 
year, beginning in the 2024 -2025 fiscal year through the 2033 -613 
2034 fiscal year, the sum of $50 million in nonrecurring funds 614 
is appropriated from the Grants and Donations Trust Fund to the 615 
Department of Health for the revolving loan fund created in s. 616 
381.4015, Florida Statutes. The department may use up to 3 617 
percent of the appropriated funds for administrative costs to 618 
implement the revolving loan program. 619 
 Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 620