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Department of Health outlines FRAME payments, telehealth maternity gains and voucher demand; pharmacists can offer HIV PEP under HB159
Summary
The Department of Health reported FRAME loan‑repayment and dental program awards, nearly 10,000 enrollees in the Telehealth Maternity Care program with reduced ER visits, and high demand for swimming‑lesson vouchers; DOH also described implementation steps for HB159 enabling pharmacists to dispense HIV post‑exposure prophylaxis under agreements.
The Florida Department of Health updated the Senate Health Policy Committee on multiple health programs enacted in the 2024–25 session, reporting measurable early results in several areas and outlining next steps for broader uptake.
Assistant Deputy Secretary Melissa Jordan said the FRAME (Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education) program issued loan payments in FY24–25 to nearly 1,300 medical professionals and that FRAME dental payments covered dozens of dentists and dental hygienists. Emra Spencer of DOH reported the department received 123 dental applications and funded 71 dentists and 15 dental hygienists in the most recent cycle.
Jordan described expansion of the Telehealth Maternity Care program to 13 regional hospital providers and said the program enrolled nearly 10,000 women in FY24–25, exceeding a goal of 5,077. The program supplied home monitoring devices, identified more than 400 cases of gestational diabetes and nearly 2,000 cases of hypertension, and was associated with an overall decrease in emergency‑department visits among participants. “In fiscal year 20 four‑twenty 5, nearly 10,000 women enrolled in the Telehealth maternity care program,” Jordan said.
The department also briefed members on the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, which launched an online portal and initially received more than 18,000 applications. With supplemental federal and local funds DOH issued 4,945 vouchers in the first round; the agency said increased appropriations will expand the number of vouchers available. Senators raised concerns about provider capacity and funding to meet demand.
On House Bill 159 — which allows certified pharmacists to order and dispense HIV post‑exposure prophylaxis drugs under a written collaborative agreement — DOH said certification courses and access‑to‑care plans were in place and that the Board of Pharmacy is coordinating certification content with medical boards. Jennifer Wenhold of DOH’s Medical Quality Assurance division said uptake is unknown and that DOH will engage pharmacy stakeholders to understand barriers to utilization.
Committee members asked for further breakdowns — for example, how many FRAME awards recruited new providers into shortage areas versus supported existing clinicians, and clarified that voucher capacity remains constrained by both funding and available lesson providers.
What’s next: DOH will finalize an October rulemaking schedule for several programs, publish TEACH/FRAME reports and provide the committee with requested breakdowns for FRAME and telehealth outcomes in upcoming legislative reports.
