A wide-ranging health and human services measure advanced in the Florida House on Thursday after clearing its first committee stop.
The Florida House of Representatives Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee voted favorably on HB 693, sending the bill to the full Health & Human Services Committee for further consideration.
The legislation, if adopted, would make changes to Florida law governing Medicaid, food assistance, health care regulation and medical workforce licensing, largely to align state statutes with federal requirements adopted in 2025.
Among its most significant provisions, the bill would repeal Florida’s remaining Certificate of Need requirements for nursing homes, hospice providers and intermediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities. Supporters say the move would reduce regulatory barriers and expand access to long-term care services, while critics have historically argued the repeal could weaken oversight.
HB 693 also expands health care workforce flexibility. It would authorize autonomous practice for all advanced practice registered nurse specialties, remove statutory limits on how many physician assistants a doctor may supervise, and allow dentists to delegate additional duties to dental hygienists. The bill would further place Florida into interstate licensure compacts for physician assistants and emergency medical service providers, enabling practitioners to work across state lines without obtaining separate licenses.
The measure also codifies federal changes to public assistance programs. It narrows eligibility for Medicaid, KidCare and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program based on immigration status, expands work requirements for certain SNAP recipients, and directs the Department of Children and Families to reduce food assistance payment error rates to avoid federal penalties.
In addition, the bill requires insurers to credit certain out-of-network medical costs toward patients’ deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums and mandates written notice when patients are referred to out-of-network providers.
