Passidomo sets an upcoming session goal to focus on health care innovation, workforce

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, set an upcoming goal for the legislative session, focusing on the health care system.

Specifically, Passidomo said in a memo that a focus during the 2024 Legislative Session will be growing Florida’s health care workforce, increasing access and incentivizing innovation for Floridians to have “more options and opportunities to live healthy.”

On Nov. 14, at 4 p.m., Chair Colleen Burton, R-Lakeland, of the Health Policy Committee will hold a workshop to begin a process of “fine tuning ideas, putting pen to paper, and of course, hearing more input from stakeholders.”

Passidomo said no other meetings are scheduled during this block, so every senator has the opportunity to watch or attend the workshop.

In a memo sent out by Passidomo, she pointed out the growing population of Florida, which estimates that over the next five years the population will grow by almost 300,000 new residents each year.

She said there will be a need for more maternity rooms, more services for elders to “live our their golden years safely,” and more primary care providers who play a “vital role as the main point of contact in the
health care system for families and seniors.”

“It is clear to me that we have work to do to make sure Florida’s health care workforce is growing – just like the rest of our state,” Passidomo said.

Passidomo said meetings with stakeholders and staff have been taking place to collect input and suggestions, led by Allie Cleary, senior policy advisor on health care. She noted many senators have held similar meetings of their own.

“There are so many great ideas. Now it is the time to narrow down all of the ideas and put forward patient-focused innovations that improve access and options so more Floridians can live healthy,” she said.

Passidomo noted that access to health care is “important at every phase of life” and insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare, does not guarantee access.

When it comes to insurance, Passidomo said even Floridians with “great insurance face barriers to care.”

The memo said the number of physicians in Florida in 2019 was 3,835 fewer than needed to meet demand, citing a 2021 IHS Markit study. Estimates suggest a potential shortage of nearly 18,000 physicians by 2035.

“That means our available physician workforce would meet only 77% of Florida’s health care needs,” the memo said.

Additionally, Florida’s physician licensure data suggests that in 2022 there were 58,062 full-time physicians actively practicing in Florida. Their average age is 53 and about 33% are over 60 years old.