Legislative Update - Important Member Information

By Amy J. Young, FSP Legislative Consultant

We are completing week three of the Florida Legislative Session and this has been a very active time for FSP. Many bills have been filed impacting your practice of pathology. Most importantly, legislation was filed which would have capped pathology reimbursement at 200% of the Medicare rate. The FSP Executive Committee was alerted to this legislation, HB 1317 and SB 1790, the day it was filed and your FSP President addressed this in his update several weeks ago. We have been working diligently to eliminate the language of concern as follows:

4. For inpatient services other than emergency services and care, 200 percent of the Medicare Part A prospective payment applicable to the specific licensed facility providing hte inpatient services. 

5. For outpatient services other than emergency services and care, percent of the Medicare Part A Ambulatory Payment Classification applicable to the specific licensed facility providing the outpatient services.

So far, we have managed to kill this language altogether in the Senate and have the commitments to do the same when the bill is heard in the House. Immediate Past President Dr. Tony Martinez and FSP Legislative Chair Dr. Brett Cantrell immediately were called into action to prevent this language from going any further and consulted with our billing experts, specifically David Smith with MedReceivables, to assist me with alternative language. 

We have also been monitoring and discussing other issues including telehealth and the impact this may have on digital pathology. Your FSP Board of Directors had extensive discussions on this issue at our Board meeting last month. We will continue to keep you apprised of legislation as it moves through the process until “Sine Die” adjournment on May 3^rd!

In the meantime, please see the list of bills we are monitoring on behalf of the FSP

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