Florida to award $100M to hospitals for BH teaching programs

Abstract

To bolster the health care workforce and improve access to mental health treatment, the Florida legislature last year agreed to establish behavioral health teaching hospitals and appropriated $100 million in the state fiscal year 2024–25 budget for grants to fortify their efforts, Florida Phoenix reported Feb. 12. An Agency for HealthCare Administration (AHCA) official told Senate Health Policy Committee members last week that Tampa General Hospital, University of Floria (UF) Health Shands Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, and Jackson Memorial Hospital, which submitted grant applications for $100 million in behavioral health teaching funds, should soon about learn how much money to expect. The grant funds can be used for operations and expenses and for “fixed capital outlay,” such as facility renovation and upgrades. AHCA Deputy Secretary Health Quality Assurance Kim Smoak said that AHCA will make its recommendations to legislative leaders on how the money should be awarded by March 1.