Recent decisions by the Florida Board of Medicine and state lawmakers are bringing changes to how physicians are trained, licensed, and supervised in Florida.
During its February meeting, the Board of Medicine addressed whether physician assistants (PAs) with an area of critical need (ACN) license can prescribe medication. The Board noted that under Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S., prescriptive authority can only be delegated to a fully licensed PA. Current rules define “fully licensed” as those who have passed specific exams and do not hold a temporary license. This rule did not originally reference Section 458.315, which pertains to ACN licenses, because PAs were only recently included through a legislative change in 2024.
Concerns were raised after noticing that many ACN applicants came from Puerto Rico, where PAs are not given prescriptive authority or training in pharmacology. On June 13, the Board proposed a rule clarifying that ACN-licensed PAs cannot be delegated prescriptive authority. Meanwhile, the Legislature passed HB 1299 to require that ACN licenses be issued only to PAs with valid licenses from any U.S. state, rather than any jurisdiction.
At its April and June meetings, the Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee reviewed repeated deficiencies found during office surgery inspections—such as incomplete crash cart supplies—that persisted even after previous corrections. These recurring issues led to questions about accountability and regulatory enforcement effectiveness. The committee suggested holding a joint meeting with the Board of Osteopathic Medicine for consistent regulations across disciplines and considered adopting an enforcement policy similar to that used by the Board of Pharmacy: filing an administrative complaint automatically if repeat deficiencies occur.
The Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement (MOBILE) Act was designed to simplify licensure for health professionals moving into Florida but ended up making it harder for qualified individuals—including newly licensed residents—to practice in the state by removing profession-specific endorsement statutes. The Act initially barred new residents from practicing for three years, impacting physician recruitment efforts in Florida. Following advocacy efforts by organizations such as the Florida Medical Association (FMA), amendments were made through HB 1299 to restore residency training as qualifying active practice and reduce this waiting period from three years to two.
On March 28, AHCA convened its Graduate Medical Education (GME) Committee’s first meeting—a group formed under SB 7016 legislation—to evaluate how state investments affect Florida’s physician workforce. The committee discussed GME programs’ structure and challenges such as an anticipated drop in obstetricians over two years and difficulties sustaining statewide GME initiatives due to costs and faculty needs. Despite progress on compiling their annual report due July 1, the Legislature eliminated this committee soon after; it is unclear if AHCA will release any reports prepared.
The Physician Workforce Advisory Council met on March 13 for a panel discussion featuring Dr. Chris Cogle from Medicaid and representatives from the Council of Florida Medical School Deans (CFMSD). Panelists evaluated GME program performance and offered recommendations for improving physician recruitment pipelines in Florida—highlighting successes like significant expansion via Slots for Docs program funding as well as loan repayment support through FRAME program initiatives led by FMA advocacy efforts.
Panelists also discussed barriers including financial burdens tied to faculty development, oversight requirements, salaries, and rising living costs—factors that may discourage physicians from working or training in certain parts of Florida.
For more information about these regulatory updates or assistance regarding medical practice issues in Florida, FMA members may contact legal@flmedical.org or call (850) 224-6496.
“Both the Slots for Docs and FRAME programs were created and funded through successful FMA legislative advocacy.”
Mary Thomas is executive director of CFMSD; she previously served more than ten years as assistant general counsel at FMA and continues representing FMA before regulatory boards.
