This bill establishes a new chapter, Chapter 396, in the Florida Statutes, titled "Ambulatory Surgical Centers," which includes sections 396.201 to 396.225. The legislation aims to enhance public health and safety by regulating the establishment, construction, maintenance, and operation of ambulatory surgical centers through a licensing system. It outlines the requirements for obtaining and maintaining a license, including application fees, clinical and diagnostic results, and mandates inspections by the Agency for Health Care Administration. The bill also specifies the responsibilities of licensed facilities, including maintaining inspection records, adhering to design and construction standards, and implementing internal risk management programs. Additionally, it introduces provisions related to patient safety, financial transparency, and the handling of medical records, while prohibiting unethical practices such as kickbacks for patient referrals.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that each licensed facility must adopt a patient safety plan, appoint a patient safety officer, and conduct biennial safety culture surveys. It establishes protocols for reporting suspected child abuse and outlines the responsibilities of risk managers in investigating allegations of misconduct. The bill also emphasizes price transparency, requiring facilities to provide itemized billing statements and detailed information about patient charges on their websites. It includes penalties for operating without a license and for fraudulent alterations of medical records, while ensuring confidentiality of patient treatment records. Overall, the legislation aims to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for ambulatory surgical centers in Florida, enhancing patient safety, accountability, and transparency in healthcare services.

Statutes affected:
S 1370 Filed: 383.145, 383.50, 385.211, 390.011, 394.4787, 395.001, 395.10973, 395.3025, 395.607, 400.518, 400.93, 400.9935, 401.272, 408.07, 408.802, 408.820, 409.905, 409.906, 409.975, 456.041, 456.053, 456.056, 458.3145, 458.320, 458.351, 459.0085, 459.026, 465.0125, 468.505, 627.351, 627.357, 627.6056, 627.6405, 627.64194, 627.6616, 627.736, 627.912, 765.101, 766.101, 766.110, 766.1115, 766.202, 766.316, 812.014, 945.6041, 985.6441