H1603: Comprehensive Health Care for Residents

Legislative Summary

Provides eligibility of all state residents for Florida Health Plan; authorizes plan enrollees to choose health care providers; authorizes enrollees to see health care specialists without referral; prohibits cost-sharing requirements from being imposed on enrollees; requires board to secure repeals & waivers of certain provisions of federal law; provides that plan's responsibility for providing health care is secondary to existing Federal Government programs; requires plan to collect health care costs from collateral sources under certain circumstance; prohibits eligibility for health care benefits from being impaired by defaults, underpayments, & late payments; requires Secretary of Health Care Administration to designate health planning regions; provides applicability of Code of Ethics for Public Officers & Employees; creates Conflict-of-Interest Committee, Ombudsman Office for Patient Advocacy, & position of plan auditor; provides that plan policies & procedures are exempt from Administrative Procedure Act; provides timeline for operation of plan; prohibits certain health insurance policies & contracts from being sold in this state on & after specified date.