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Get the latest coverage of the 2024 Florida legislative session in Tallahassee from our coverage partners and WUSF.

Legislature approves measure to set up behavioral health teaching hospitals

UF Health Shands in Gainesville is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Florida College of Medicine. Alachua County wants residents to take a survey that will provide information to update the Community Health Improvement Plan, an outline of goals and strategies to improve county health care access.
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UF Health Shands in Gainesville is one of four teaching hospitals listed in the bill. The hospitals would work with the universities on programs for students in colleges of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work and public health “related to the entire continuum of behavioral health care.

The bill would designate four behavioral health teaching hospitals linked to universities and provides them $100 million a year over the next three years.

Florida lawmakers Wednesday gave final approval Wednesday to a proposal to designate behavioral health teaching hospitals, as the state looks to bolster mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The bill (SB 330), which passed the Senate and House unanimously, would designate four behavioral health teaching hospitals linked to universities.

They would be Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida; UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and the University of Florida; UF Health Jacksonville and the University of Florida; and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and the University of Miami.

It also would allow the state Agency for Health Care Administration to designate additional behavioral health teaching hospitals as of July 1, 2025.

The bill would provide $100 million a year over the next three years to the teaching hospitals, with additional money provided for such things as residency positions for psychiatrists.

The bill would require the teaching hospitals to take steps such as working with the universities on programs for students in colleges of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work and public health “related to the entire continuum of behavioral health care, including, at a minimum, screening, therapeutic and supportive services, community outpatient care, crisis stabilization, short-term residential treatment and long-term care.”

Copyright 2024 Health News Florida

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