Fla. Stat. § 381.9855 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 381 / Section 381.9855
381.9855 Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program; portal.
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The Department of Health shall implement the Dr. and Mrs. Alfonse and Kathleen Cinotti Health Care Screening and Services Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to expand access to no-cost health care screenings or services for the general public facilitated by nonprofit entities. The department shall do all of the following: 1. Publicize the availability of funds and enlist the aid of county health departments for outreach to potential applicants at the local level. 2. Establish an application process for submitting a grant proposal and criteria an applicant must meet to be eligible. 3. Develop guidelines a grant recipient must follow for the expenditure of grant funds and uniform data reporting requirements for the purpose of evaluating the performance of grant recipients. The guidelines must require grant funds to be spent on screenings, including referrals for treatment, if appropriate, or related services for one or more of the following: a. Hearing. b. Vision. c. Dental. d. Cancer. e. Diabetes. f. Renal disease. g. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. h. Hypertension. i. Heart disease. j. Stroke. k. Scoliosis. l. Autism. (b) A nonprofit entity may apply for grant funds in order to implement new health care screening or services programs that the entity has not previously implemented. (c) A nonprofit entity that has previously implemented a specific health care screening or services program at one or more specific locations may apply for grant funds in order to provide the same or similar screenings or services at new locations or through a mobile health clinic or mobile unit in order to expand the program’s delivery capabilities. (d) An entity that receives a grant under this section must: 1. Follow Department of Health guidelines for reporting on expenditure of grant funds and measures to evaluate the effectiveness of the entity’s health care screening or services program. 2. Publicize to the general public and encourage the use of the health care screening portal created under subsection (2). (e) The Department of Health may adopt rules for the implementation of this subsection.

(2)(a) The Department of Health shall create and maintain an Internet-based portal to direct the general public to events, organizations, and venues in this state from which health screenings or services may be obtained at no cost or at a reduced cost and for the purpose of directing licensed health care practitioners to opportunities for volunteering their services to conduct, administer, or facilitate such health screenings or services. The department may contract with a third-party vendor for the creation or maintenance of the portal. (b) The portal must be easily accessible by the public, not require a sign-up or login, and include the ability for a member of the public to enter his or her address and obtain localized and current data on opportunities for screenings and services and volunteer opportunities for health care practitioners. The portal must include, but need not be limited to, all statutorily created screening programs, other than newborn screenings established under chapter 383, which are funded and operational under the department’s authority. The department shall coordinate with county health departments so that the portal includes information on such health screenings and services provided by county health departments or by nonprofit entities in partnership with county health departments. (c) The department shall include a clear and conspicuous link to the portal on the homepage of its website. The department shall publicize the portal to, and encourage the use of the portal by, the general public and shall enlist the aid of county health departments for such outreach.

History: s. 4, ch. 2024-15; s. 1, ch. 2025-95.