FloridaPolk County would cap payments for inmate care and transport
Health care providers and emergency transport companies without county contracts would face Medicare-based payment limits for services to inmates in Polk County detention centers.
What it does
Health care providers without a Polk County contract could receive no more than 110% of the Medicare allowable rate for inmate medical services. A higher 125% limit applies to providers reporting a prior-year negative operating margin.
Emergency transport companies without a Polk County contract could receive no more than 110% of the Medicare allowable rate for moving inmates by ground, water, or air.
Argument forMedicare-based limits could make Polk County's payments for inmate care and emergency transport more predictable when no county contract exists.
Argument againstPayment limits could reduce what some outside providers receive for inmate services, especially when their costs exceed the Medicare-based amount.
More detail
The act limits payment for inmate medical services to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate when the provider has no Polk County contract. Covered providers include hospitals, licensed physicians and related clinicians, health plans, surgery centers, certain same-day medical facilities, and their professional associations; facilities primarily performing pregnancy terminations are excluded from the definition. A provider may receive up to 125% of the Medicare allowable rate if it has no county contract and reported a negative operating margin for the previous year through hospital-audited financial data submitted to the state health care agency. The limit does not apply to medical services provided at a hospital operated by Polk County. This limit applies when the act becomes law and covers services for inmates housed in a Polk County detention center.
The act limits payment for emergency medical transportation services to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate when the transport company has no Polk County contract. Covered services include ground or water ambulance transportation and air ambulance transportation for inmates in Polk County detention centers. The company must lack a contract with Polk County to provide inmate emergency medical transportation services. The limit does not apply to charges for medical services provided at a hospital operated by Polk County. This limit applies when the act becomes law and covers transportation for inmates housed in a Polk County detention center.
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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. 2026-211Latest
- 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 106, NAYS 8Passed 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 12Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 5FiledIntroduced
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