Renaming Interns and Intern Telehealth in Private Practice Settings

FMHCA sent a delegation of Government Relations Committee (GRC) members to Tallahassee to meet with legislators in support of SB 122 and HB 361, the bill that, if passed, would rename registered interns as registered "associates" as well as redact a line in the statute that requires interns in "private practice" settings to have a licensed mental health professional on the premises when providing clinical services (a requirement that effectively eliminates the option of such interns providing telehealth from home offices, even when they have electronic access to their supervisors).  This bill did not make it past it's first committee in the Senate (the Health Policy Committee).  We met with Senator Colleen Burton, the Chair of that committee, who conveyed that she now has a greater understanding of the importance of the bill but also stated that it is likely not going to make it to the agenda this legislative session, encouraging us to try again next year.  Currently, the House co-sponsors of the bill and FMHCA's lobbyist are trying to identify a health-related bill that is making good traction that could be amended to include our bill's language.  If that strategy is unsuccessful, we'll try to get a new bill in September for next legislative session.

SB 1842 and Referrals to Other Providers

FMHCA sent a call to action to it's members to voice opposition to SB 1842, which, if passed, would obligate all licensed healthcare providers in Florida (including 491 Board licensees) to verify whether a provider is in network with a client's insurance, communicate those findings to the client, and document those actions.  We think this is a very burdensome requirement that would absorb resources in private practices, community mental health agencies, and, essentially, all healthcare environments, and we're worried that an unintended consequence of the law would include a reduction in providers referring to other providers (i.e., less integrated care).  Click here to read that announcement and learn how to voice your opposition to the act. 

How to Read a Summary or Watch FMHCA's Government Relations Committee Meeting from 4/16/25

Want to watch a video recording of yesterday's 1-hour FMHCA GRC meeting, read an AI-generated summary of the meeting, or view the transcripts from that meeting?  Click here.