FloridaIndian River County sets payment limits for inmate medical care
Indian River County would use Medicare-based limits to pay medical and emergency transport providers serving county detention-center inmates, with specified exceptions.
What it does
Medical providers without county contracts would generally receive no more than 110% of the Medicare allowable rate for treating inmates. Providers with a reported prior-year loss could receive up to 125%.
A designated trauma hospital without a county contract would receive 175% of the Medicare allowable rate when treating an inmate who is a trauma alert victim.
Emergency transport providers without county contracts would generally receive no more than 110% of the Medicare allowable rate for transporting inmates by land, water, or air.
Argument forSet payment rules could make the amount owed more predictable for the county and providers, while allowing higher payment for trauma care and reported losses.
Argument againstPayment limits could make some providers less willing to treat or transport inmates, especially when their costs exceed the allowed Medicare-based amount.
More detail
The act limits payment to a health care provider without a county contract to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate. This covers medical services for an inmate housed in an Indian River County detention center and the listed hospitals, clinicians, health plans, surgery centers, diagnostic facilities, and professional associations. The provider must not have a contract with Indian River County to provide inmate medical services. A provider may receive up to 125% of the Medicare allowable rate if it also reported a negative operating margin for the previous year through hospital-audited financial data. This provision takes effect when the act becomes law.
The act requires payment to an eligible trauma hospital at 175% of the Medicare allowable rate. This covers a hospital designated as a trauma center that treats an inmate identified as a trauma alert victim. The hospital must not have a contract with Indian River County to provide inmate medical services. The inmate must meet the definition of a trauma alert victim under Florida law. This provision takes effect when the act becomes law.
The act limits payment for emergency medical transportation to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate. This covers entities transporting an inmate housed in an Indian River County detention center by land, water, or air. The entity must not have a contract with Indian River County to provide inmate emergency medical transportation services. This provision takes effect when the act becomes law.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 1Chapter No. 2026-202Latest
- Apr 14Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Mar 31Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Local Bills, Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11In Messages
- Mar 11Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 9Placed on Local Calendar, 03/11/26
- Feb 18ReceivedMinor
- Feb 12Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 12In Messages
- Feb 11Passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 1Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 5Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/11/2026)
- Feb 3Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 3Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 3Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 30Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Jan 28Now in State Affairs Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Criminal Justice Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable by Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 20Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 20Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 20Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 15Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 5Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 5Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 5Referred to Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 5Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- 2025
- Dec 17FiledIntroduced
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