NEWS / Florida fast-tracks hospice death certificates

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new bill making it easier for hospice staff to file death certificates into law. The bill, which takes effect July 1, will allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to complete a death certificate application stating time and cause of death.

The law, which had been sponsored by Republican Representative Dana Trabulsy and Republican Senator Alexis Calatayud, replace current legislation, which only allows doctors to determine the cause of death. The change is aimed at facilitating palliative care, where there is currently a shortage of physicians, which has resulted in dayslong waits for families waiting to receive the death certificates of their loved ones.

Florida had previously allowed nurses to state the time of death, but only allowed doctors to sign off on that.

“I’d like to praise the recognition by lawmakers that end-of-life care is a nonpartisan issue, and to thank members of the Legislature and the Governor for recognizing the operational efficiencies of bringing members of the hospice team in to fill practical needs, and frees up hospice physicians to focus on delivering care,” Paul Ledford, President and CEO of Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association, was quoted by Florida Politics as stating.