FL S1518

Creates the Pediatric Cardiac Advisory Council appointed by the State Surgeon General to advise on delivery of cardiac services to children, with no more than 13 voting members including pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons from eight designated Florida hospitals.

Establishes council duties including recommending standards for cardiac personnel and facilities, analyzing periodic reviews, making recommendations on approvals and reinspection intervals, and providing advisory opinions on certificates of need for children's cardiac services.

Authorizes the State Surgeon General to designate facilities meeting council-approved standards as "Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Centers of Excellence," with automatic withdrawal of designation if standards are no longer met.

Requires the council to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature beginning January 1, 2017, including data on surgical morbidity and mortality for pediatric cardiac facilities in the Children's Medical Services Network.

Expands rulemaking criteria for hospital licensure performing percutaneous cardiac intervention procedures by requiring nursing and technical staff to have demonstrated experience in dedicated cardiac interventional laboratories, with specific volume and success rate thresholds.