Nursing Education Programs

Removed all provisions related to health care reimbursement, rural access grants, stroke/cardiac grants, mobile dental units, and dental therapy licensing.

Added requirements that nursing program directors and at least 50% of faculty must have advanced nursing degrees (master's or higher for professional nursing, bachelor's or higher for practical nursing).

Added requirement that nursing programs must include at least 50% clinical training conducted in the United States.

Modified application requirements to include documentation of disciplinary history and accreditation status.

Added authority for the Board of Nursing to deny applications, revoke approvals, and conduct onsite evaluations of nursing education programs.

Updated bill version identifier from 'hb1427-01-c1' to 'hb1427 -02-e1' to reflect the engrossed version.

Added 'Engrossed 1' label to indicate this is the first engrossed version of the bill.

Bill purpose changed from rural communities and economic development to health care access and dental therapy expansion.

Removed provisions creating the Office of Rural Prosperity and regional rural community liaison centers.

Created new grant programs for rural access to primary care and for stroke, cardiac, and obstetric response education.

Established new eligibility requirements for the Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program.

Added requirements for health care practitioners to notify patients in writing when referring to certain providers and confirm network status.

Authorized dental therapists to administer local anesthesia and perform certain duties under dentist supervision.

Changed Medicaid reimbursement rules to allow payment for dental services in mobile dental units.

Created new definitions for dental therapist and dental therapy, and established a Council on Dental Therapy.