Overview
The Legislature found that there is a critical shortage of behavioral health professionals and recognizes the urgent need to expand the existing behavioral health workforce, prepare for an aging workforce, incentivize entry into behavioral health professions and train a modernized workforce in innovative integrated care. In response to this finding, the Legislature found it important to identify and designate behavioral health teaching hospitals that work to provide the necessary research, education, and services to enhance the state’s behavioral health workforce and make that workforce and system of care the national standard.
Hospitals may be designated as a Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital if they are in compliance with s. 395.902, Florida Statutes (F.S.) The criteria include:
• Operate as a teaching hospital as defined in s. 408.07.
• Offer a psychiatric residency program accredited through the Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and offer, or have filed an application for approval to establish, an accredited postdoctoral clinical psychology fellowship program.
• Provide behavioral health services.
• Establish and maintain an affiliation with a university in this state with one of the accredited Florida-based medical schools listed under s. 458.3145(1)(i)1.-6., 8., or 10. A university may affiliate with only one hospital.
• Develop a plan to create and maintain integrated workforce development programs with the affiliated university’s colleges or schools and to supervise clinical care provided by students participating in such programs.
Letters of Intent
Hospitals desiring to apply for designation in the next fiscal year (FY) shall submit letters of intent to the Agency on or before January 1, 2026.
Hospitals that have submitted their letter of intent for FY 25-26 may submit an application for consideration for the designation on July 1, 2025. An application can be found at: HCPO Applications for Licensure | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration
Reporting
By December 1 of each year, a designated behavioral health teaching hospital must submit a report to the agency and the department on the designated behavioral health teaching hospital program, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) The number of psychiatric residents.
(b) The number of postdoctoral clinical psychology fellows.
(c) The status and details of the consultation agreement with the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce within the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.
(d) The implementation status of the plan required by paragraph (2)(e).
(e) Activities, agreements, and accomplishments of the collaboration required by paragraph (3)(b).
(f) The number of any facility beds and patients served under paragraph (3)(c).
Grant Program
The Legislature also established the Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital grant program that may be used for:
• Operations and expenses and
• Fixed capital outlay, including but not limited to facility renovation and upgrades.
The grant application period for hospitals with the behavioral health teaching hospital designation shall open beginning October 1 for a 30-day period. The grant application and supporting documentation must be submitted during the 30-day open application period.
Grant Application –
AHCA Form 3180-5007
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92.9 kB
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• Qualified hospitals may submit the application, a detailed spending plan and supporting documentation during the open application period as specified in 395.903, F.S.
• Grant Funding may be used for fixed capital outlay, including, but not limited to, facility renovations and upgrades
Funding Agreement -
Grant Agreement Sample
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1.2 MB
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• The grant funding agreement would require execution if awarded a grant.
