CS/HB 59 - Cardiac Programs Summary

• Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to adopt licensing rules for pediatric cardiac catheterization and pediatric open-heart surgery programs, including accreditation by nationally recognized organizations and specific staffing and equipment requirements.

• Mandates hospitals with pediatric cardiac catheterization programs to participate in the clinical outcome reporting system operated by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

• Establishes a pediatric cardiac technical advisory panel with voting members from 10 specified Florida children's hospitals plus an at-large member, and nonvoting members from state health officials and professional organizations.

• Grants an exception from volume requirements for diagnostic cardiac catheterization and ischemic heart disease diagnoses for hospitals located more than 100 road miles from the nearest Level II adult cardiovascular services program.

• Requires the Agency to contract with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons to publish pediatric cardiac catheterization program data on its website for consumer comparison.

• Effective date: July 1, 2017.