FL S0058

Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to establish a technical advisory panel with 11 members (1 at-large expert plus 1 pediatric cardiologist/surgeon each from 10 specified Florida children's hospitals) to develop procedures and standards for measuring outcomes of pediatric cardiac catheterization and open-heart surgery programs.

Directs the agency to adopt rules for pediatric cardiac programs based on panel recommendations, including risk adjustment procedures, outcome standards (in-hospital mortality, infection rates, myocardial infarctions, postoperative bleeds, returns to surgery), and corrective action steps for facilities failing to meet standards.

Establishes additional staffing requirements for adult cardiovascular Level I programs, requiring nursing and technical staff to have demonstrated experience in percutaneous cardiac intervention in dedicated cardiac interventional laboratories, with specific volume and performance benchmarks for qualifying experience.

Appropriates $95,620 from the Health Care Trust Fund to the Agency for Health Care Administration for fiscal year 2017-2018 to implement the pediatric cardiac program requirements.

Takes effect July 1, 2017.