Florida Statutes 381.96 – Pregnancy support and wellness services
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) DEFINITIONS.–As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Department” means the Department of Health.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 381.96
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- minor: includes any person who has not attained the age of 18 years. See Florida Statutes 1.01
- person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
(b) “Eligible client” means any of the following:
1. A pregnant woman or a woman who suspects she is pregnant, and the family of such woman, who voluntarily seeks pregnancy support services and any woman who voluntarily seeks wellness services.
2. A woman who has given birth in the previous 12 months and her family.
3. A parent or parents or a legal guardian or legal guardians, and the families of such parents and legal guardians, for up to 12 months after the birth of a child or the adoption of a child younger than 3 years of age.
(c) “Florida Pregnancy Care Network, Inc.,” or “network” means the not-for-profit statewide alliance of pregnancy support organizations that provide pregnancy support and wellness services through a comprehensive system of care to women and their families.
(d) “Pregnancy and parenting support services” means services that promote and encourage childbirth, including, but not limited to:
1. Direct client services, such as pregnancy testing, counseling, referral, training, and education for pregnant women and their families.
2. Nonmedical material assistance that improves the pregnancy or parenting situation of families, including, but not limited to, clothing, car seats, cribs, formula, and diapers.
3. Counseling or mentoring, education materials, and classes regarding pregnancy, parenting, adoption, life skills, and employment readiness.
4. Network awareness activities, including a promotional campaign to educate the public about the pregnancy support services offered by the network and a website that provides information on the location of providers in the user’s area and other available community resources.
5. Communication activities, including the operation and maintenance of a hotline or call center with a single statewide toll-free number that is available 24 hours a day for an eligible client to obtain the location and contact information for a pregnancy center located in the client’s area.
(e) “Wellness services” means services or activities intended to maintain and improve health or prevent illness and injury, including, but not limited to, high blood pressure screening, anemia testing, thyroid screening, cholesterol screening, diabetes screening, and assistance with smoking cessation.
(2) DEPARTMENT DUTIES.–The department shall contract with the network for the management and delivery of pregnancy and parenting support services and wellness services to eligible clients.
(3) CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.–The department contract shall specify the contract deliverables, including financial reports and other reports due to the department, timeframes for achieving contractual obligations, and any other requirements the department determines are necessary, such as staffing and location requirements. The contract shall require the network to:
(a) Establish, implement, and monitor a comprehensive system of care through subcontractors to meet the pregnancy and parenting support and wellness needs of eligible clients.
(b) Establish and manage subcontracts with a sufficient number of providers to ensure the availability of pregnancy and parenting support services and wellness services for eligible clients, and maintain and manage the delivery of such services throughout the contract period.
(c) Spend at least 85 percent of the contract funds on pregnancy and parenting support services, excluding services specified in subparagraph (1)(d)4., and wellness services.
(d) Offer wellness services through vouchers or other appropriate arrangements that allow the purchase of services from qualified health care providers.
(e) Require a background screening under s. 943.0542 for all paid staff and volunteers of a subcontractor if such staff or volunteers provide direct client services to an eligible client who is a minor or an elderly person or who has a disability.
(f) Annually monitor its subcontractors and specify the sanctions that shall be imposed for noncompliance with the terms of a subcontract.
(g) Subcontract only with providers that exclusively promote and support childbirth.
(h) Ensure that informational materials provided to an eligible client by a provider are current and accurate and cite the reference source of any medical statement included in such materials.
(i) Ensure that the department is provided with all information necessary for the report required under subsection (5).
(4) SERVICES.–Services provided pursuant to this section must be provided in a noncoercive manner and may not include any religious content.
(5) REPORT.–By July 1, 2024, and each year thereafter, the department shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the amount and types of services provided by the network; the expenditures for such services; and the number of, and demographic information for, women, parents, and families served by the network.