Florida Statutes 641.401 – Declaration of legislative intent, findings, and purposes
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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(1) Faced with the continuation of mounting health care costs, coupled with the interest of the state in high-quality care, the Legislature has determined that there is a need to explore intermediate or limited levels of delivery of prepaid health care services, with a view toward achieving greater efficiency and economy in the provision of these services.
(2) Prepaid health clinics, referred to in this part as “clinics,” are developing rapidly in communities in the state. Through these organizations, structured in various forms, basic services are provided directly to groups of people who make regular premium payments as a condition upon their participation. These plans, when properly operated, emphasize effective cost and quality controls.
(3) It is the purpose of this part to:
(a) Minimize legal barriers to the organization, promotion, and expansion of prepaid health clinics.
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 641.401
- Basic services: includes any of the following: emergency care, physician care other than hospital inpatient physician services, ambulatory diagnostic treatment, and preventive health care services. See Florida Statutes 641.402
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Prepaid health clinic: means any organization authorized under this part which provides, either directly or through arrangements with other persons, basic services to persons enrolled with such organization, on a prepaid per capita or prepaid aggregate fixed-sum basis, including those basic services which subscribers might reasonably require to maintain good health. See Florida Statutes 641.402
- Subscriber: means an individual who has contracted, or on whose behalf a contract has been entered into, with a prepaid health clinic for health care services. See Florida Statutes 641.402
(b) Recognize an exemption for prepaid health clinics, when operating under a subsisting certificate of authority issued pursuant to this part, from the operation of the Florida Insurance Code, as defined in s. 624.01, except in the manner and to the extent set forth in this part.
(4) Although it is the intent of this part to provide an opportunity for the development of prepaid health clinics, there is no intent to impair the present system for the delivery of health services.
(5) The Legislature has determined that the operation of a prepaid health clinic, or the issuance, delivery, or renewal of a prepaid health clinic contract, without a subsisting certificate of authority constitutes a danger to the citizens of this state and exposes a subscriber to immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage.