Florida Senate - 2014 CS for SB 1580
By the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and Senator Hays
597-03580-14 20141580c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the Workers’ Compensation Cost Task
3 Force; amending s. 440.13, F.S.; creating the Workers’
4 Compensation Cost Task Force; providing for
5 membership; providing duties; requiring the task force
6 to submit a report to the Governor, the President of
7 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
8 Representatives by a specified date; providing an
9 expiration date; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Subsection (17) is added to section 440.13,
14 Florida Statutes, to read:
15 440.13 Medical services and supplies; penalty for
16 violations; limitations.—
17 (17) WORKERS’ COMPENSATION COST TASK FORCE.—
18 (a) The Workers’ Compensation Cost Task Force is created.
19 The Department of Financial Services shall provide
20 administrative and staff support services relating to the
21 functions of the task force. The task force shall organize by
22 July 1, 2014. The task force shall be composed of the following
23 18 members:
24 1. The Chief Financial Officer, or his or her designee, who
25 shall serve as chair of the task force.
26 2. Three members of the task force who shall be the
27 president or chief executive officer, or his or her designee, of
28 the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Associated Industries of
29 Florida, and the Florida Hospital Association.
30 3. The Secretary of the Department of Health, or his or her
31 designee.
32 4. One member of the three-member panel, created under
33 subsection (12).
34 5. One member that represents a critical access hospital,
35 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
36 6. One member who represents a rural hospital, appointed by
37 the President of the Senate.
38 7. Five members appointed by the President of the Senate
39 and five members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
40 Representatives which must each include:
41 a. A member of the Legislature;
42 b. An owner or representative of a hospital system that has
43 over 2,000 beds and provides services to a significant number of
44 workers’ compensation claims;
45 c. An owner or representative of a business that employs
46 more than 500 employees;
47 d. An owner or representative of a business that employs
48 less than 25 employees; and
49 e. A representative from an insurance company that provides
50 workers’ compensation insurance.
51 (b) Members of the task force shall serve without
52 compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem and
53 travel expenses pursuant to s. 112.061.
54 (c) The purpose of the task force is to analyze workers’
55 compensation costs. The task force shall review and analyze the
56 recommendations of the Three-Member Panel 2013 Biennial Report
57 in the context of reducing workers’ compensation costs. The task
58 force shall develop a report that includes its findings and
59 recommendations for legislative action regarding a new payment
60 methodology for hospital inpatient and outpatient reimbursements
61 in workers’ compensation cases which will reward efficiency,
62 quality, and outcomes. The task force must address other factors
63 related to workers’ compensation costs, including, but not
64 limited to, the volume of inpatient and outpatient services, the
65 number of accidents and workers compensation claims, fraud, the
66 cost per claim and treatment, and tort costs related to workers
67 compensation care. The task force shall submit the report to the
68 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
69 House of Representatives by January 15, 2015.
70 (d) This subsection shall be repealed June 30, 2015.
71 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.