Florida’s First Responders Get More Accessible Healthcare

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There is widespread debate in the country as a whole about healthcare’s accessibility. As of October 1, 2024, Senate Bill 808 makes healthcare a little more accessible for Florida’s officers and firefighters.

This new law amends Florida’s statute 112.18 to allow firefighters and law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers to get “medical treatment for a compensable presumptive condition” by a medical specialist of the individual’s choosing. This law specifically covers “tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension” only. 

Florida’s chapter 458 and 459, along with the text of this law, clarify that the “medical specialist” must be a legally licensed physician with “board certification in a medical specialty inclusive of care and treatment of tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension”.

Once a firefighter or officer has chosen a medical specialist, he or she must give written notice of the choice to his or her “workers’ compensation carrier, self-insured employer, or third-party administrator” prior to starting treatment unless in the situation of a medical emergency.

The workers’ compensation carrier, self-insured employer, or third-party administrator is required to authorize either the chosen specialist or an alternate one of equal or greater qualifications. From there, an appointment must be scheduled within five business days of the receipt of the written notice.

In the event that an alternate specialist is not authorized within those five days, then the original, chosen specialist is authorized. Regardless, treatment must be scheduled within 30 days of the receipt of the written notice.

According to the law, reasonable and necessary treatment and continued care for the condition has to be covered. However, the firefighter or officer can be reimbursed “at no more than 200 percent of the Medicare rate for a selected medical specialist”.

Senate Bill 808 was originally prepared by the Criminal Justice Committee, filed on December 8, 2023; and voted through unanimously in the Senate and House with votes of 38-0 and 112-0, respectively. It was presented to Governor DeSantis on May 21, 2024, and he approved it on May 29, 2024.

For complete details on this new law, click here to read all 3 pages of Senate Bill 808. For the official summary, click here.

Article by Ema Tibbetts