Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
Miami, Florida – Today, Highlighting significant investments in both pediatric and cancer care, Governor Ron DeSantis signed three bills (Senate Bill 1582, Senate Bill 7072 and House Bill 885) that will advance healthcare innovation, medical research and patient care in Florida.
“With these robust investments in both pediatric and cancer care and the bill signed into law today, Florida will significantly strengthen its efforts to expand quality health care and innovation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
“I am thrilled to join the Governor today in signing a bill that will advance medical research and treatment for Floridians, especially the pediatric and cancer patients in our state,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “By fostering innovation, encouraging data sharing and collaboration, and expanding cancer-related resources, Florida will take the fight against cancer to a whole new level.”
Senate Bill 1582 You will:
- Creates the Andrew John Anderson Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program to provide grants to advance research and treatment of rare childhood diseases.
- It would create a new job, environmental health technician, and allow people to inspect septic tanks without a four-year degree.
- Clarify responsibilities for conducting newborn screening and submitting newborn screening cards.
- The bill would also add genetic counselors to the list of health care providers who may receive state test results.
- Standardize health and hearing screening for newborns, infants, and young children and ensure proper diagnosis of illnesses.
Senate Bill 7072 You will:
- Strengthening the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program and creating additional accountability measures for the program, including promoting high-quality, innovative care for people undergoing cancer treatment in Florida.
- Codifies the Cancer Connect Collaborative and provides for the creation of this collaborative within the Department of Health (DOH) to advise the Florida Department of Health and the Legislature on the development of a comprehensive approach to the state’s efforts to fund cancer research, facilities, and treatment. In addition, this collaborative must:
- Advise the Department of Health on the awarding of grants issued through the Cancer Innovation Fund.
- Provides recommendations on bills, regulations, best practices, data collection and reporting, grant issuance, and other state policy proposals related to cancer research and treatment.
- Develop a long-range comprehensive plan for the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program by December 1, 2024.
- Revises the number of members on the Florida Cancer Control Research Advisory Committee from 15 to 16 members and requires that one member be a representative of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
House Bill 885 You will:
- Requires the State Department of Group Health Insurance and allows Florida Medicaid to cover biomarker testing to diagnose, treat, manage, or continually monitor a disease or condition, and to guide treatment decisions when medical and scientific evidence demonstrates clinical utility.
“These investments, made by the Legislature and championed by Governor DeSantis, will help ensure that Floridians continue to have as many opportunities as possible to achieve their health goals,” said Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Public Health Director of the Florida Department of Health. “These investments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to prioritizing the health of all Floridians.”
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Budget Focused on Florida’s Future, which represents a massive $116.5 billion investment in Florida. This critical investment includes continued investments in Florida’s Health and Human Services.
- $456.5 million invested to support the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and children.
- More than $232 million for cancer research, including $60 million for the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (a 200 percent increase) and $127.5 million for the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program.
- $3 million to support childhood cancer research and grants in next year’s budget.
- Spending $138 million over the past two years to raise Medicaid fees for pediatricians, including the increases provided in this year’s budget.
- Approximately $85 million for inpatient and outpatient care policy coordinators at specialized pediatric hospitals that provide acute care services to children.
- $255,000 to help Nicklaus Children’s Hospital provide specialized care to patients through CMS
