Overview
- SB 158 now bars the state group health plan from charging copays or deductibles for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams for state employees, with the Division of State Group Insurance estimating about $3.6 million in added annual claims costs.
- SB 1808 requires providers and facilities to refund identified patient overpayments within 30 days, with $500 penalties for facilities that fail to comply and potential disciplinary action for practitioners.
- HB 655 regulates pet insurance as property insurance, mandating clear disclosures on coverage and claim calculations, allowing 30‑day policy cancellations, and preventing wellness program bundling or misrepresentation as insurance.
- HB 255 (Dexter’s Law) directs FDLE to maintain a public, searchable online registry of people convicted or pleading guilty/no contest to specified animal cruelty offenses, with the database launching on the agency’s website.
- State agencies and insurers are updating rules, consumer materials and systems to implement the new requirements, with operations and enforcement entering the initial rollout phase.