154.301 – Short title.
154.301 Short title.—Sections 154.301-154.316 may be cited as “The Florida Health Care Responsibility Act.” History.—s. 2, ch. 77-455; s. 6, ch. 88-294; s. 2, ch. 98-191.
154.302 – Legislative intent.
154.302 Legislative intent.—The Legislature finds that certain hospitals provide a disproportionate share of charity care for persons who are indigent, not able to pay their medical bills, and not eligible for government-funded programs. The burden of absorbing the cost of this uncompensated charity care is borne by the hospital, the private pay patients, and, many times, […]
154.304 – Definitions.
154.304 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term: (1) “Agency” means the Agency for Health Care Administration. (2) “Certification determination procedures” means the process used by the county of residence or the agency to determine a person’s county of residence. (3) “Certified resident” means a United States citizen or lawfully admitted alien who has been certified as a resident […]
154.306 – Financial responsibility for certified residents who are qualified indigent patients treated at an out-of-county participating hospital or regional referral hospital.
154.306 Financial responsibility for certified residents who are qualified indigent patients treated at an out-of-county participating hospital or regional referral hospital.—Ultimate financial responsibility for treatment received at a participating hospital or a regional referral hospital by a qualified indigent patient who is a certified resident of a county in the State of Florida, but is not […]
154.308 – Determination of patient’s eligibility; spend-down program.
154.308 Determination of patient’s eligibility; spend-down program.— (1) The agency, pursuant to s. 154.3105, shall adopt rules which provide statewide eligibility determination procedures, forms, and criteria which shall be used by all counties for determining whether a person financially qualifies as indigent for the purposes of this part. (a) The criteria used to determine eligibility must be uniform […]
154.309 – Certification of county of residence.
154.309 Certification of county of residence.— (1) The agency, pursuant to s. 154.3105, shall adopt rules for certification determination procedures which provide criteria to be used for determining a qualified indigent’s county of residence. Such criteria must include, at a minimum, how and to what extent residency shall be verified and how a hospital shall be notified […]
154.31 – Obligation of participating hospital or regional referral hospital.
154.31 Obligation of participating hospital or regional referral hospital.—As a condition of participation, each participating hospital or regional referral hospital in Florida shall be obligated to admit for emergency treatment all Florida residents, without regard to county of residence, who meet the eligibility standards established pursuant to s. 154.308 and who meet the medical standards for […]
154.3105 – Rules.
154.3105 Rules.—Rules governing the Health Care Responsibility Act shall be developed by the agency based on recommendations of a work group consisting of equal representation by the agency, the hospital industry, and the counties. County representatives to this work group shall be appointed by the Florida Association of Counties. Hospital representatives to this work group shall […]
154.312 – Procedure for settlement of disputes.
154.312 Procedure for settlement of disputes.—All disputes among counties, the agency, a participating hospital, or a regional referral hospital shall be resolved as provided in ss. 120.569 and 120.57, except that the presiding officer’s order shall be final agency action. Cases filed under chapter 120 may combine all disputes between parties. Notwithstanding any other provisions of […]
154.314 – Certification of the State of Florida.
154.314 Certification of the State of Florida.— (1) In the event payment for the costs of services rendered by a participating hospital or a regional referral hospital is not received from the responsible county within 90 days of receipt of a statement for services rendered to a qualified indigent who is a certified resident of the county, […]
154.316 – Hospital’s responsibility to notify of admission of indigent patients.
154.316 Hospital’s responsibility to notify of admission of indigent patients.— (1) Any hospital admitting or treating any out-of-county patient who may qualify as indigent under this part shall, within 30 days after admitting or treating such patient, notify the county known or thought to be the county of residency of such admission, or such hospital forfeits its […]
154.331 – County health and mental health care special districts.
154.331 County health and mental health care special districts.—Each county may establish a dependent special district pursuant to the provisions of chapter 125 or, by ordinance, create an independent special district as defined in s. 200.001(8)(e) to provide funding for indigent and other health and mental health care services throughout the county in accordance with this […]