FL H0511

Creates section 381.825, Florida Statutes, establishing a Department of Health palliative care consumer and professional information and education program to provide comprehensive information to the public, healthcare practitioners, and facilities.

Requires the Department of Health to publish palliative care educational resources and referral materials on its website, including continuing education opportunities, delivery models, best practices, and consumer information about hospice care.

Establishes an 11-member Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Task Force with appointments by the Governor (5 members), President of the Senate (3 members), and Speaker of the House (3 members), with all appointments due by December 31, 2015.

Task force membership must include professionals with expertise in palliative care, designated representatives from the American Cancer Society, Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association, and Department of Veterans' Affairs, plus at least two board-certified hospice and palliative medicine physicians or nurses.

Task force must submit a preliminary report by January 15, 2017, and a followup report by December 31, 2018, detailing recommendations for palliative care initiatives and any recommended statutory changes; task force expires December 31, 2018.