Recent changes by the Florida Board of Medicine and state lawmakers are impacting how physicians in Florida practice, train, and enter the workforce. Key updates include decisions on prescriptive authority for physician assistants (PAs), repeated deficiencies found during office surgery inspections, licensing modifications linked to the MOBILE Act, and the removal of the Agency for Health Care Administration’s (AHCA) Graduate Medical Education (GME) Committee. Highlights from a recent Physician Workforce Advisory Council meeting were also discussed.
During its February meeting, the Board of Medicine considered whether PAs with an area of critical need (ACN) license could prescribe medication under Florida law. Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S., allows supervising physicians to delegate prescriptive authority only to fully licensed PAs. The relevant board rule defines “fully licensed” as those who have passed certain examinations and do not hold a temporary license. This definition did not previously reference Section 458.315, F.S., which concerns ACN licenses—a change that came after a 2024 legislative update included PAs in this provision for the first time.
The Board and its PA Council noted that many ACN applicants were from Puerto Rico, where PAs are not granted prescriptive authority or trained in pharmacology. On June 13, the Board proposed a rule clarifying that ACN-licensed PAs may not be delegated prescriptive authority. At the same time, lawmakers passed HB 1299 to require that ACN licenses can only be issued to PAs with valid licenses from any U.S. state, narrowing eligibility from previous language.
At its April and June meetings, the Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee reviewed recurring issues identified during office surgery inspections—such as incomplete crash cart supplies—that were corrected but cited again in later visits. These repeat deficiencies led to questions about accountability and enforcement effectiveness. The committee suggested coordinating with the Board of Osteopathic Medicine for regulatory consistency and is considering adopting an enforcement policy similar to one used by the Board of Pharmacy: if an entity fails inspection for the same issue more than once, an administrative complaint would be filed automatically.
Licensure requirements also changed due to passage of the Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement (MOBILE) Act. While intended to streamline licensure endorsement for health professionals moving between states, it eliminated tailored statutes for each profession and prevented some qualified practitioners from working in Florida. Of particular concern was a provision barring newly licensed residents from practicing in Florida for three years—a potential obstacle to recruiting new physicians into the state workforce. In response, amendments made through HB 1299 restored residency training as qualifying active practice and reduced this waiting period from three years to two.
On March 28, AHCA convened its first GME Committee meeting following creation by SB 7016—the Live Healthy Legislation—in 2024. The committee was tasked with evaluating state investments in shaping Florida’s physician workforce and producing an annual report by July 1, 2025; discussions covered GME program structure and concerns about a projected drop in obstetricians over two years. However, despite initial progress—including drafting sections of their required report—the Legislature eliminated this committee later in 2025; it remains unclear if any reports will be released.
The Physician Workforce Advisory Council met on March 13 with panelists including Dr. Chris Cogle of Medicaid and representatives from the Council of Florida Medical School Deans (CFMSD). Panelists assessed current GME programs’ performance and recommended ways to improve physician recruitment pipelines statewide.
According to CFMSD representatives: “Both Slots for Docs and FRAME programs were created and funded through successful FMA legislative advocacy.” They emphasized these initiatives—Slots for Docs expanded GME opportunities while FRAME provides loan repayment assistance—as essential tools encouraging medical trainees to remain practicing within Florida.
Panelists also discussed challenges such as high costs associated with developing GME programs—including faculty development expenses—and rising living costs that may deter physicians from working or training in certain regions across Florida.
For further information about regulatory activities affecting medical practice in Florida, FMA members can contact legal@flmedical.org or call (850) 224-6496.
Mary Thomas serves as executive director at CFMSD; she previously worked over ten years as assistant general counsel at FMA representing them before state regulatory boards.
