Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As your FMA District E Representative, I’d like to share with you some of the highlights from our most recent Board of Governors’ meeting.
Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) Program (FRAME)
The FMA has successfully advocated for the expansion of the FRAME program, which provides loan repayment funding for primary care physicians working in health professional shortage areas. For 2025, $46 million was appropriated– meaning that almost everyone who meets eligibility requirements and applies will likely receive an award.
- SB 7016 restructures the program to award an eligible practitioner 25% of his or her principal loan balance for each year of service for up to four years, up to $150,000 for physicians. The FMA was able to amend the bill to clarify that the four years do not have to be served consecutively.
- For more information about eligibility requirements, please read the FRAME Program segment from our 2024 Legislative Report. FMA members who need help navigating these updates or have any other questions regarding the FRAME Program can contact us at (850) 224-6496 or email. If you would like to contact the Department of Health directly, please call (850) 841-8540 email framesupport@flhealth.gov.
Medical Disaster Relief Fund
The FMA applied for and received a $100,000 grant from the AMA to help medical offices affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton and are in the process of reviewing applications and disseminating funds.
FMA Delegation to the AMA
The FMA sent a delegation to the AMA interim meeting in November and will attend the annual meeting in June. Medicare payment and reforming administrative burdens like prior authorization remain the FMA’s top focus. The Board approved the FMA delegation to present 3 resolutions to the AMA focused on Medicare payment reform, prior authorization burdens, and costs associated with pharmacy benefit managers.
Legislative Priorities
This year, the FMA will be working legislatively to protect physicians from increased malpractice damage limits and to block CRNA, mental health nurse practitioner, and naturopath scope expansion. We will be focusing on bills to stop electronic insurance payment fees from insurers, to prevent retroactive insurance denials, and to increase oversight of managed care prior authorizations and denials. We will also look to expand the ‘slots for docs’ physician residency program funding and to continue loan repayment through the FRAME program.
FMA PAC
Currently, there are almost 70,000 licensed physicians in Florida, and just 21,536 are FMA members. Of those, just 1,033 are members of the FMA Political Action Committee (PAC). Despite such small numbers, the PAC raised $2 million dollars to support pro-medicine candidates – but we are way behind organizations like the insurance lobby and trial attorneys.
We need your help to ensure that physician voices are represented and to fight for the issues that are important to doctors and patients! For just $250 per election cycle, you can be a member of the PAC – imagine what a difference we could make if every physician made that small investment. Further, for just $1.37 per day, you could be a member of the PAC $1,000+ club. I urge you to please join the FMA and contribute to your PAC at whatever level you can.
Thank you for your support – please reach out to me with questions, comments, or suggestions!
Rebekah Bernard MD
Gulf Coast Direct Primary Care
17595 S Tamiami Tr #204
Fort Myers FL 33908
239-322-3860 (phone)
239-437-4548 (fax)
RebekahBernard.com
