This bill amends Florida Statutes concerning child welfare, particularly regarding the administration of psychotropic medication to children in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the provision of postsecondary education services for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. It specifies that a new medical report for psychotropic medication is only necessary when there is a change in dosage, type, administration method, or prescribing physician/nurse. Additionally, the bill raises the maximum age for eligibility for postsecondary education services from 23 to 26 years and mandates the inclusion of specific metrics for evaluating these services in an annual report.

Moreover, the bill introduces changes to the Medicaid program to enhance oversight and management of services for beneficiaries, focusing on reducing unnecessary institutional care and high-cost services. It requires providers to adopt cost-effective practices and allows the agency to implement prior authorization for certain drugs. A key provision is the requirement for express and informed consent from a child's parent or legal guardian before prescribing psychotropic medication, which must be documented in the child's medical record and provided to the pharmacy with the prescription, replacing the previous signed attestation requirement. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 560 Filed: 409.912
S 560 c1: 39.407, 409.912