FL S1676

Authorizes nursing homes to use paid feeding assistants who complete a minimum 12-hour training program covering feeding techniques, safety procedures, infection control, and residents' rights

Allows home health aides and certified nursing assistants to administer certain prescription medications (oral, topical, inhaled, etc.) after completing 6 hours of initial training and demonstrating competency, with annual 2-hour inservice training required; excludes Schedule II-IV controlled substances

Creates the Excellence in Home Health Program to award designations to home health agencies and nurse registries meeting quality standards including patient satisfaction, employee retention, and training quality metrics

Establishes the Physician Student Loan Repayment Program providing up to $50,000 annually per physician for up to 5 years to those serving Medicaid and low-income patients in medically underserved areas, limited to 10 new awards and 50 total participants per fiscal year

Creates Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Independent Practitioner (APRN-IP) registration allowing APRNs with 2,000+ supervised practice hours to provide primary care without physician supervision in health professional shortage areas for the first 3 years, then statewide thereafter; requires $100,000/$300,000 malpractice insurance and establishes Council on APRN Independent Practice for oversight