Legislative Advocacy 

The Florida Association of Children’s Hospitals (FACH) members share a common vision: to embrace short- and long-term strategies that will lead to exemplary health care for Florida’s children. We believe promoting children’s health is essential for improving the population’s health, and policies to prevent and/or treat children’s health problems are wise investments. Our members partner with policymakers in Florida to develop and implement such policies and programs that improve child health outcomes, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
We will support strategies to:

  • Equity for Medicaid Reimbursement for all providers as well as services not currently reimbursed;
  • Support statewide regionalization and strategic alignment and funding for Child Protection Teams;
  • Support efforts to stabilize and expand the pediatric health care workforce; and
  • Address the current pediatric mental, emotional and behavioral health crisis in cooperation with the ongoing efforts of the Governor and his administration as well as community partners.

We continue to closely coordinate with the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida, as well as collaborate with the Florida Hospital Association, the Pediatric Society, the Florida Medical Association and others as appropriate.

FACH 2026 Advocacy Priorities

Advocacy: Pediatric Health Care Workforce

FACH will continue working with partners (FCAAP, SNHA and FHA) to advance solutions to pediatric workforce shortages in Florida, with an emphasis on: Pediatric Genetics, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Rehabilitation, Pediatric Mental Health Providers, Child Protection Teams, and Overall Pediatric Physician Extenders.

Ongoing Advocacy Issues

  • Support collaboration among children’s hospitals in the state in the areas of research, shared services and pediatric education programs.
  • Support childhood cancer funding to include cost-effective pharmaceutical resources.
  • Advocate for full funding for KidCare, revised benefit plan, improved outreach, and enrollment.
  • Ensure DRG reimbursements reflect the cost of children’s health care services.
  • Continue to build and fund statewide telemedicine services and equitable reimbursement.
  • Increase funding, expansion, and collaboration for statewide pediatric genetics centers to reduce the backlog and respond to increased demand for testing and treatment. Seek enhanced funding for genome sequencing capability in coordination with genetic testing centers. Develop a statewide assessment and request funding for gene sequencing program for Florida.

Advocacy: Medicaid Reimbursement Equity for all Children and for all Children’s Hospitals

FACH will continue to advocate for equity in Medicaid reimbursement for services provided to all children and to all of Florida’s children’s hospitals through increases to certain levels of policy adjusters for Medicaid reimbursement and to ensure that DRG reimbursements reflect the cost of children’s health care services.

Partner Advocacy: Pediatric Mental, Emotional and Behavioral Health Crisis

FACH recommends that the Florida Commission on Mental and Behavioral Health prioritize mental/behavioral health for children in Florida by developing basis for sound policymaking, systemic improvements and appropriations in the future.