The Florida House on Monday passed a bill that would create a process for public hospital districts to convert to nonprofit organizations and require districts to study the financial feasibility of converting to nonprofits or selling to for-profit companies.
The House voted 82-31 to approve the bill (HB 1421), sponsored by Health & Human Services Chair Randy Fine, R-Brevard County.
But with the annual legislative session scheduled to end Friday, it appears unlikely the bill will pass the Senate. A Senate version (SB 1700) has not moved through committees.
Under current law, districts can sell or lease hospitals to other entities. But Fine has said they cannot convert to non-profit organizations.
The House bill would allow districts, if they choose, to go through a conversion process. Also, it would require all hospital districts to hire consultants to do financial evaluations of possible conversions or sales.
