Justification
Governor's Recommendations 2023-24

The Governor's Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 includes $500,000 to allow the Bureau of Public Health
Laboratories (BPHL) to contract with a vendor to conduct a comprehensive review of BPHL's laboratory test costs, and fee
structures, to determine whether the current structure in place is consistent, objective, and encompasses all areas where
fees could be charged.  The purpose is to develop a long-term funding solution to resolve a deficit in the Planning and
Evaluation (P&E) Trust Fund.

BPHL consists of three (3) laboratories located in Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa.  The laboratories play a critical role
in protecting the health of Florida's citizens and visitors by performing health related laboratory services.  Programs
in the BPHL are mostly funded through a combination of General Revenue (16%), Federal Grants (15%) and revenues deposited
into the P&E Trust Fund (69%).  Programs funded from the P&E Trust Fund are State Laboratories, Newborn Screenings, and
Vital Statistics.  Fees collected and deposited into the P&E Trust Fund related to the State Laboratories are not
sufficient to support the appropriations made from the Trust Fund.  The State Laboratories have the authorization to bill
for the lab tests they perform.  However, there are several limitations which prevent billing for 100% of services
provided.  A few examples of non-billable situations are:

1)  Performing epidemiological investigations and surveillance provided at the direction of the Department of Health
(DOH);
2)  Performing test on underinsured or uninsured clients served by the County Health Departments;
3)  Performing tests for core public health programs, including rabies and sentinel chicken;
4)  Performing tests for new and emerging pathogens and disorders.

Funding this issue will assure that the state laboratories can develop a long-term funding solution to resolve a deficit
in the P&E Trust Fund.