The Home Care Association of Florida (HCAF) is proud to announce a major legislative victory for the state’s home health provider community: Governor Ron DeSantis has officially signed House Bill 1353 into law. This transformative measure, championed by HCAF, will go into effect on July 1, 2025, ushering in long-overdue reforms to strengthen agency operations, reduce administrative burdens, and improve access to care across Florida.

Passed unanimously by the Florida House and Senate, HB 1353 received broad support from providers statewide and addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing the industry today.

Key Provisions of the New Law

• Streamlined Administration Across Locations: The law allows a single administrator to oversee multiple home health agencies under the same ownership, regardless of geographic location. This change reduces overhead and expands operational flexibility, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
• Expanded Workforce Flexibility: Agencies may now utilize qualified contracted clinicians — not just direct employees — to conduct admission, evaluation, and discharge visits. This provision is designed to help providers manage staffing shortages and admit patients more quickly, including after-hours.
• Modernized Excellence in Home Health Program: The law requires the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to revamp its recognition program to reflect the diversity of agency types and payer mixes. The goal is to make the program more accessible, inclusive, and representative of the full home care spectrum.

A United Advocacy Effort

This success reflects months of tireless advocacy by HCAF and its members, from one-on-one meetings with lawmakers during Home Care Day at the Capitol to more than 100 advocates using HCAF’s Legislative Action Center to contact their legislators in support of the bill.

HCAF extends its deep appreciation to Senator Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) and Representative Gallop Franklin (D-Tallahassee) for sponsoring and championing this legislation. Their leadership secured unanimous, bipartisan approval in every committee and on the floor, making HB 1353 one of the most significant home care reform bills in recent Florida history.

What’s Next

HCAF will now collaborate with AHCA to shape the rulemaking process and ensure providers have the tools and guidance they need to comply. Members can expect educational sessions and compliance resources in the weeks ahead.

Help Us Keep the Momentum

This legislative win was made possible through our members' support, advocacy, and contributions to the Home Care Political Action Committee (PAC). To help fuel future victories, consider making a PAC contribution today and continue driving home care policy forward.

Click here to contribute to the PAC.

Thank you for being part of the movement to strengthen Florida home care.

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