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HB 4001

Jefferson County

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Allison Tant

HB 4001 caps payments to non-contracted inmate health-care and EMS providers at 110% of Medicare rates (125% if negative margin), excluding county hospitals.

Approved by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 4001

HB 4001 — Jefferson County (Tant) — Summary

Status: Now in State Affairs Committee (Introduced March 6, 2025)
Sponsor: Rep. Tant
Subject: Local bill (Jefferson County)

Main purpose / intent

HB 4001 establishes limits on what Jefferson County must pay to non‑contracted health care and emergency transport providers for medical services furnished to inmates at the Jefferson County Detention Center. The stated intent is to constrain local jail medical costs by tying reimbursement caps to Medicare’s allowable rates, consistent with existing state law that applies to the Department of Corrections.

Key provisions

  • Caps reimbursement to health care providers (who DO NOT have a contract with Jefferson County to provide inmate medical services) at 110% of the Medicare allowable rate for services provided to inmates of a Jefferson County detention center.
    • Exception: If the provider reported a negative operating margin for the prior year to the Agency for Health Care Administration (via audited hospital financial data), the cap increases to 125% of the Medicare allowable rate.
  • Caps reimbursement to entities providing emergency medical transportation for inmates (if the entity does not have a contract with Jefferson County) at 110% of the Medicare allowable rate.
  • The caps do not apply to medical services provided at a hospital operated by Jefferson County.
  • The bill parallels existing general law that limits reimbursement for providers who are not contracted with the Department of Corrections (see s. 945.6041, F.S.).
  • Effective date: upon becoming law.

Who would be affected

  • Jefferson County (and specifically the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office / Jefferson County Detention Center): potentially lower or more predictable inmate medical expense exposure.
  • Health care providers and emergency medical transport providers who are called upon to treat inmates but do not have contracts with Jefferson County: potential reduction in reimbursements compared with current billed amounts.
  • Providers that can demonstrate a negative operating margin to AHCA receive a higher ceiling (125% Medicare).
  • Providers under active contract with Jefferson County or services delivered at a county‑operated hospital are not subject to these caps.

Fiscal / economic impact

  • Local government: May yield an indeterminate positive fiscal impact for Jefferson County by limiting uncontracted provider payments. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office budgeted roughly $265,000 for inmate medical costs in FY 2025‑26 and anticipated increases absent mitigation.
  • Private sector: May impose a negative economic impact on non‑contracted providers and ambulance/transport services that rely on higher out‑of‑network or billed rates for inmate care.
  • The analysis does not provide a precise dollar savings estimate; impact depends on actual use of non‑contracted providers and the gap between billed charges and the Medicare‑based caps.

Background / context

  • “Medicare allowable rate” refers to the reimbursement schedules established by CMS (Physician Fee Schedule and related fee schedules). Florida law already uses similar Medicare‑based caps to limit payments to non‑contracted providers when the Department of Corrections is involved.
  • The bill is a local special act; local bill publication and referendum requirements under the Florida Constitution and House local bill policies are noted in committee analyses.

Legislative timeline / procedure (selected)

  • Filed: March 6, 2025
  • Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee: Nov. 18, 2025
  • Favorable by Criminal Justice Subcommittee: Dec. 2, 2025
  • Current: Referred to / Now in State Affairs Committee
  • Becomes effective: upon becoming law

If you want, I can:
- Draft a one‑page explainer comparing typical billed amounts vs. 110% Medicare for common jail services, or
- Identify statutory text (section and proposed language) and produce a side‑by‑side redline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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