FL H1311

Establishes licensure and regulation of certified surgical first assistants by the Board of Medicine, requiring applicants to be at least 18 years old and hold certification from recognized agencies (National Surgical Assistant Association, Liaison Council on Certification for the Surgical Technologist, or American Board of Surgical Assistants).

Requires application fee not to exceed $750 and biennial renewal fee not to exceed $1,000, with licensed assistants completing 40 hours of continuing medical education biennially or maintaining current certification.

Limits certified surgical first assistants to performing surgical assisting duties under direct physician supervision in hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, or similar medical institutions.

Establishes that supervising physicians may be held liable for acts or omissions of certified surgical first assistants, and makes unlicensed individuals falsely claiming to be licensed certified surgical first assistants subject to third-degree felony charges.

Amends insurance law to require health insurance policies to provide payment for certified surgical first assistants performing surgical first assisting services when they substitute for assisting physicians, unless the facility directly pays the assistant.