SB 742 Summary: Surgical First Assistants

• Establishes licensure requirements for certified surgical first assistants in Florida, requiring applicants to be at least 18 years old and hold current certification from the National Surgical Assistant Association, American Board of Surgical Assistants, or Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist.

• Application fee capped at $750 and biennial renewal fee capped at $1,000; licensed assistants must complete 40 hours of continuing medical education biennially or maintain current certification from recognized certifying agencies.

• Certified surgical first assistants must work under direct physician supervision in hospitals, clinics, or ambulatory surgical centers and cannot practice medicine or nursing.

• Unlicensed individuals falsely representing themselves as licensed certified surgical first assistants commit a third degree felony.

• Amends insurance law to require health insurance policies covering surgical first assisting to provide reimbursement to certified surgical first assistants performing services assigned by supervising physicians, if an assisting physician would be covered.