FL S0676

Repeals Florida's Certificate of Need (CON) program, eliminating the requirement for health care providers to obtain state approval before building, expanding, or purchasing major equipment for hospitals, nursing homes, and other health facilities.

Establishes local health councils in 11 health service planning districts appointed by county commissions to advise on health care issues, develop district health plans, and collect health care data, with funding through annual fees assessed on licensed health care facilities ($2 per hospital/nursing home bed up to $500 annually; $1 per assisted living facility bed up to $150; $150 for other facilities).

Transfers health care planning responsibilities from the Agency for Health Care Administration to the Department of Health, which must develop a comprehensive health care database and contract with local health councils for planning services.

Removes rural hospital licensing restrictions including requirements for emergency care hospitals, rural primary care hospitals, and essential access community hospitals, while authorizing inactive licenses for hospitals undergoing construction or renovation.

Modifies hospice licensing requirements to mandate national accreditation for facilities licensed after July 1, 2017, and require freestanding hospice facilities engaged in inpatient care, while removing Certificate of Need requirements for hospices.