THE BILL ITSELF
SB 736
Medicaid Coverage of Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 736 By Senator Burgess 23-00686A-26 2026736__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to Medicaid coverage of blood pressure
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monitoring devices; creating s. 409.9064, F.S.;
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defining the terms “blood pressure cuff” and
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“validated at-home blood pressure monitor”; requiring
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the Agency for Health Care Administration, subject to
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the availability of funds and certain limitations and
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directions, to provide coverage for validated at-home
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blood pressure monitors and blood pressure cuffs for
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certain Medicaid recipients; providing construction;
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providing requirements for Medicaid recipients to
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continue receiving coverage for their validated at
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home blood pressure monitors and blood pressure cuffs;
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requiring the agency to seek federal approval for
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implementation of the act, if needed; requiring the
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agency to include the rate impact of the act in
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certain rates that become effective on a specified
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date; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 409.9064, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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409.9064 Coverage of blood pressure monitoring devices for
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Medicaid recipients.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Blood pressure cuff” means a blood pressure
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measurement accessory that is used with a validated at-home
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blood pressure monitor to measure blood pressure levels and that
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is obtained independently of a validated at-home blood pressure
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monitor in order to ensure proper size and fit for the patient.
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(b) “Validated at-home blood pressure monitor” means a
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blood pressure measurement device that has been validated for
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accuracy and is listed in the United States Blood Pressure
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Validated Device Listing developed by the American Medical
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Association and is designed for the purpose of aiding in the
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treatment of hypertension by measuring blood pressure levels
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outside of the clinical setting.
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(2) Subject to the availability of funds and subject to any
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limitations or directions provided in the General Appropriations
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Act, the agency must provide coverage for validated at-home
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blood pressure monitors and blood pressure cuffs under the
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Medicaid pharmacy benefit for the treatment of a Medicaid
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recipient if:
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(a) The recipient has been diagnosed by his or her primary
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care physician, or another licensed health care practitioner
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authorized to make such diagnosis, with hypertension; and
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(b) A health care practitioner with the applicable
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prescribing authority has prescribed a validated at-home blood
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pressure monitor to assist the recipient and practitioner in
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managing the recipient’s condition.
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(3) Coverage under this section includes the cost of any
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necessary repairs or replacement parts for validated at-home
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blood pressure monitors and blood pressure cuffs.
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(4) To qualify for continued coverage under this section,
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the Medicaid recipient must participate in follow-up care with
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his or her treating health care practitioner, in person or
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through telehealth, at least once every 6 months during the
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first 18 months after the recipient’s first prescription for the
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validated at-home blood pressure monitor has been issued under
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this section, to assess the efficacy of using the monitor for
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treatment or management of his or her hypertension. After the
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first 18 months, such follow-up care must occur at least once
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every 12 months.
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(5) The agency shall seek federal approval, if needed, for
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the implementation of this section.
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Section 2. The Agency for Health Care Administration shall
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include the rate impact of this act in the Medicaid managed
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medical assistance program and long-term care managed care
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program rates, as applicable, which take effect on October 1,
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2026.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2026.