Department of Health reports rules, licensing and new programs from 2024 session

Jennifer Wenhold, director of the Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) at the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Melissa Jordan of the Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management, and Shay Holloway, director of community health promotion, briefed the Senate Health Policy Committee on DOH implementation of 2024 laws.

Wenhold described licensing-stream changes that aim to expand workforce mobility. She said the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) went live in late December and that MQA began receiving IMLC applications on Dec. 26. She also summarized the Mobile Act (House/Senate testimony referred to Senate Bill 1600) which created a universal endorsement application for qualified practitioners; the department created a universal application and reported more than 4,500 Mobile Act applications and over 1,300 licenses issued to date across professions such as registered nurses and mental health counselors.

Wenhold summarized other MQA work: rulemaking and application updates to implement Senate Bill 7016 pathway changes (including pathways for foreign-trained entrants and a graduate assistant physician pathway), expanded background screening requirements (effective July 1, 2025), new massage-therapy inspection and suspension authorities under House Bill 197, financial-responsibility requirements tied to liposuction and gluteal fat grafting under House Bill 1561, and new authority for chiropractic dry needling.

Jordan detailed DOH operation of several grant and workforce programs derived from 2024 legislation. She said FRAME and the Dental FRAME programs, implemented by DOH, have updated their application portal and modules and that the first FRAME annual report was submitted 07/01/2024. Jordan provided program figures for the prior fiscal year: 1,157 awards for FRAME totaling $16,000,000 and 38 dental awards totaling $1,800,000.

Jordan said the new Doctor Alphonse and Kathleen Sanati Healthcare Screening and Grant Program received 54 applications representing 56 of Florida's 67 counties and a variety of screening types (diabetes, hypertension, vision, dental). The department has also launched an online portal for screening events and volunteer opportunities tied to loan‑repayment programs.

DOH described changes to the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program (statute 381.915 cited in testimony), noting the Cancer Innovation Fund was placed into statute and funding rose from $20,000,000 to $60,000,000 for the most recent fiscal year. Jordan said the Cancer Connect Collaborative submitted a long‑range plan in December 2024 and a funding opportunity announcement was released Oct. 2024.

Wenhold and Jordan also summarized the newly created Health Innovation Council and a $50,000,000 revolving loan program. Jordan said the council met in November 2024 and identified four priority areas; the department is developing a loan-application portal and expects to accept applications in the coming quarter.

Holloway reviewed public‑health and community programs enacted in 2024. She said the Telehealth Maternity Care Program — begun as a pilot in 2021 — is expanding statewide under 2024 law and contract negotiations for statewide rollout are near completion. Holloway cited program outcomes from the pilot: a 94 percent lower emergency‑department visit rate and 82 percent lower hospitalization rate for participating women compared with typical state rates, with an estimated $41,000,000 in cost savings reported by DOH.

She also announced the launch of the consolidated pregnancy and parenting resource website StrongFloridaMoms.com, described implementation of congenital CMV screening requirements for NICU and newborns (Senate Bill 168 cited in testimony), and reported progress on the sickle cell registry and grants required by House Bill 7085. Holloway said the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program site launched in September and that nearly 10,000 voucher applications had been submitted for 3,500 slots, with 100 vendors enrolled.

Committee members asked DOH staff follow‑up questions about recruitment for FRAME/Dental FRAME, expected licensure approvals under new pathways, grant review procedures and timing for rule promulgation. DOH officials told senators they will provide additional detail as applications and rulemaking progress.