Florida lawmakers aim to improve access to rural emergency health care

Andrew Powell The Center Square If signed into law, two bills in the Florida Legislature could help rural communities in the Sunshine State have better access to emergency health care. Senate Bill 644 is sponsored by state Sen. Corey Simon, R-Quincy, and specifies eligibility requirements for rural emergency hospitals to be licensed, authorizes rural hospitals to enter into contracts required for federal reimbursement and requires individual and group health insurance policies and health maintenance contracts performed under certain circumstances in rural hospitals. Mary Mayhew, the President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, told The Center Square that her organization sup