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Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced his Freedom First budget recommendations which provides the state’s health systems with resources needed to continue improving the health outcomes of millions of Floridians. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) strives to make Florida the healthiest place to live, work, and play. As Florida has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, DOH has continued to take a comprehensive approach, focusing on all public health issues to protect Floridians.

“The Florida Department of Health is eager to continue building a healthy Florida,” said State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. “The Department appreciates Governor DeSantis’ recommendation of critical investments in Floridians’ health and wellbeing for the coming year.”

Some key investments in critical public health areas in Governor DeSantis’ Freedom First budget are listed below.

Improving Children’s Wellbeing                                       

• $2.8 million for Infant Mortality and Prevention to address the leading causes of preventable child death in Florida.
• $575,000 for Medical Foster Care Recruitment Campaign to recruit additional candidates to foster medically complex children.
• $800,000 for Reducing Infant and Maternal Morbidity and Mortality to implement the Self-Designated and Verified Maternal and Newborn Hospital Level of Care Program, developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This funding will assist Florida delivery hospitals with providing the best care for mother and babies and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.

Improving Health Outcomes

• $350,000 for the Florida Poison Information Center Network to maintain current operations and to expand existing services to address emergency care, public health threat mitigation/surveillance, and provide disaster support.

Improving the Quality of Care

• $37.7 million in additional funding to enhance Florida’s competitiveness in cancer research to ensure that Floridians have access to the highest quality of care.
• $10 million in additional funding to expand research for Alzheimer’s disease.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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