FRA is the partner, supporter and major contributor to the Florida Renal Coalition (FRC) and coordinates the fund drive to annually collect over $70,000 in contributions from the renal community to assist in Florida lobbying efforts.

1996

• Secured Florida Medicaid Reimbursement for outpatient dialysis services in 1996.

• Secured Reimbursement from Florida Medicaid for EPO.

2000

• Convinced AHCA in 2004 and in 2006 that ESRD facilities should be exempt from the Florida Health Care Clinic Licensure Act.

• Collaborative effort with pharmaceutical industry in 2002 to prevent implementation of least cost alternative of IV Vitamin D therapy by Florida Medicare Fiscal Intermediary.

• Increased dialysis outpatient treatment rate from $85 to $125/tx in 2005.

• Established the CKD/ESRD Advisory Committee with AHCA in 2008. Meetings held three times per year.

• Secured direct reimbursement to free standing facilities for IV pharmaceuticals in 2008.

• 2009 collaborative study with USF to answer legislatively required questions on the social and financial impact of mandating Medi-gap insurance for Medicare beneficiaries under 65.

• Successfully passed HB 675 and SB 1022 in 2009 providing Medi-gap coverage for ALL Medicare beneficiaries under 65.

• Supported passage of SB 1122 Health Insurance Direct Reimbursement to Providers.

2010

• 2011 Collaboration with AHCA to improve awareness of Peritoneal Dialysis for Florida Medicaid ESRD patients.

• Successfully repealed AHCA clinic licensure and recouped over 90% of paid clinic fees.

• Won repeal of managed care requirement for persons eligible for Medically needy program to enroll in managed care plans and pay a monthly premium of an amount equal to their share of cost calculated under the medically needy program.

• Medicaid Managed Care Act amended to permit prior authorizations to be electronically filed.

• Removed cap on number of Pharmacy Techs a pharmacists could supervise and restructured Board of Pharmacy. – HB 323

• Worked with AHCA officials regarding Managed Care Transportation Problems. Our efforts led to a seven-page AHCA transportation directive that clearly states provider requirements.

• Stopped AHCA from implementing a new roll out for general institutional claims which stated, “If the primary pays 80% of Medicaid allowable rates, Medicaid will consider the claim as paid in full.”

• Successfully passed an amendment to SB 1604/HB 1211 that saved over $325,000 in unnecessary permit fees relating to the transfer of certain drugs between commonly owned dialysis facilities.

• Supported passage of ARNP’s and PA’s prescribing controlled substances. – HB 423

• Helped pass the Nurse Licensure Compact bill. – HB 1061

• Supported passage of the clinical social worker – year intern limit. – HB 373

• Protected Medi-Gap risk pool changes in the Alonzo Mourning Act.

• Argued against legislation and rules prohibiting indirect 3rd party payment of insurance premiums.

• Ensured continuation of budget proviso language protecting dialysis drugs, focus on peritoneal dialysis and minimum Medicaid reimbursement.

• Supported passage of Medicaid Alternative Transportation services. – HB 411

• Supported passage of Tele-Health licensure and regulation. – HB 23

• Successfully amended SB 732, an office surgery regulation bill, to protect vascular access.

2020

• Supported passage of the Prescription Drug Donation Repository Program. – HB 177

• Supported Student Loan Forgiveness for Healthcare Practitioners. – HB 713

• Supported Non-discrimination in Organ Transplant Procedures. – HB 1179

• Supported passage of the COVID-19 Liability Protection Act and its application to healthcare providers. – SB 72

• Supported the Dialysis Facility Emergency Planning bill. – HB 1329

• Encouraged Governor DeSantis Proclamation for Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness Day, May 1, 2022.

• Passed the 2022 Living Organ Donor Protection Act. – HB 1099