Health
Increasing access to primary care in underserved parts of Florida
Challenges
In 2023, more than 1 in 3 Floridians (over 7.5 million) lived in an area with a shortage of primary care physicians. This leads to a lack of critical preventative care and an overreliance on expensive emergency room treatment.
This is a higher rate than that experienced by many of the states we compete with economically.
Percentage of Population Living in Underserved Areas
As a result of this shortage, nearly a quarter of Floridians report not having a primary care provider—7th worst in the country.
Adults Without a Primary Care Provider
Opportunities
Addressing illnesses or chronic conditions that might not have required hospitalization if better managed through primary care costs Floridians an estimated $3.5 billion annually.
Increasing access to primary care in underserved parts of Florida
could help the state improve the health of its population and reduce its spending on Medicaid services, which compose about one-third of the state budget.
The state has a robust set of Community Health Centers
(or Federally Qualified Health Centers) possessing a desire to help fill this need and a statutory mandate to provide care for all in the underserved areas where they live, work, and worship, regardless of their ability to pay.
Research has found that having a regular source of care is an even stronger predictor of positive health outcomes than having insurance.
Over the past two years, the Governor and Legislature have created and funded several initiatives recommended by the Florida Council of 100 to increase access to primary care in underserved parts of Florida, including:
Creating a new medical loan repayment program for clinicians in underserved areas;
Increasing the number of primary care and Teaching Health Center residency seats in Florida;
Creating a new state program that helps Community Health Centers cover the cost of mentoring the next generation of clinicians;
Creating a public campaign to increase patient awareness of Community Health Centers; and,
Providing funding for community health workers to increase connection to a primary care provider and reduce unnecessary emergency room visits
Several of these initiatives recommended by the Council of 100 were implemented this past Session as part of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s “Live Healthy” legislation package.
$69 million in new recurring funding will go toward Council of 100 initiatives to increase access to primary care in underserved areas.
