Florida house bills to provide veterans behavioral health care, homelessness assistance Mansur Shaheen | Jan 25, 2021
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Several bills filed this month in the House could have significant impacts on Florida’s health care system, including one that would authorize the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to establish the Florida Veterans’ Care Coordination Program. If established, the program will provide veterans and their families with behavioral health services.
The bill, HB 231, was filed by Rep. Ardian Zika on Jan.13. The bill was then referred to the House Local Administration and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee on Jan. 22.
The bill will allow the department to contract nonprofits that enter into agreements with the Florida 211 program. The program provides free phone service, 24-hour, phone service where Floridians can call in and be referred to a medical provider. Contracted services will use the 2