FL S0062

Creates the Pediatric Cardiac Care Advisory Council within the Department of Health with up to 15 voting members appointed by the State Surgeon General for staggered 4-year terms, including pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons from specified children's hospitals and other qualified facilities.

Requires the State Surgeon General to designate facilities that meet state and national professional standards as Pediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Centers of Excellence based on council recommendations, with automatic withdrawal of designation if standards are no longer met.

Assigns council duties including recommending standards for cardiac care personnel and facilities, analyzing compliance with established standards, inspecting hospitals upon request, and providing advisory opinions to the Agency for Health Care Administration on certificate of need applications for pediatric cardiac services.

Mandates the council submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and State Surgeon General beginning January 1, 2019, including surgical morbidity and mortality data for participating pediatric cardiac facilities and recommendations for policy improvements.

Directs the Department of Health to develop rules in coordination with the Agency for Health Care Administration establishing standards for personnel training, credentialing, minimum case volumes, and data reporting requirements that meet or exceed standards established in October 2012.