1. (1) An application for a Health Care Innovation Loan must be completed and submitted at www.healthcareinnovationloan.floridahealth.gov/LAP within the application period. Supporting documentation must be submitted in a text-searchable electronic format by upload at www.healthcareinnovationloan.floridahealth.gov/LAP or by email to healthinnovation@flhealth.gov within the application period.
2. (2) Each application period and the corresponding fiscal award year will be announced at least annually at www.innovation.floridahealth.gov.
3. (3) Applications must be received by the department by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing day of the application period to be considered.

4. (4) Applications will be reviewed upon receipt for documentation demonstrating how the proposed use of the Health Care Innovation Loan will meet the eligibility criteria listed below and will be awarded up to the indicated number of points.

   1. (a) Strategic Impact (30 points): The proposal aligns with statutory requirements to reduce costs, improve access, and scale statewide. Proposals designed to enhance patient outcomes and access (e.g., through innovative technologies or care delivery models) are prioritized over other focus areas (workforce, cost reduction, technology integration). Scalability and impact throughout the state through growth and replication of programs, innovations or advancements derived from the project will be considered.
   2. (b) Return on Investment (25 points): The proposal demonstrates cost savings, financial viability, and long-term benefits. Applicants must provide measurable objectives (e.g., reducing disease burden, obesity rates, or hospital admissions) to demonstrate economic and health system impact.
   3. (c) Strength of Implementation (20 points): The proposal demonstrates extensive subject matter expertise and includes a realistic timeline, budget, and collaboration plan. Timelines are assessed for feasibility based on scope, budget, and team capacity.
   4. (d) Patient Outcomes and Population Benefits (15 points): The proposal delivers measurable benefits to patients, workforce, and communities. Emphasis is placed on wellness and preventive interventions (e.g., diet, nutrition, mental health, cancer screening) to keep individuals healthy and reduce healthcare system reliance, supported by evidence from prior studies or implementations.
   5. (e) Geographic Priority (5 points): The proposal targets rural or underserved areas with demonstrated need and impact and are designated as a "medically underserved area or population" (MUA/P). A MUA/P is a geographic area or population group that lacks adequate access to primary healthcare services, as determined by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
   6. (f) Nonprofit - Medicaid Recipients (5 points): The proposal targets nonprofit entities that accept Medicaid recipients.

5. (5) The department will send to any applicant whose application has errors or omissions a single email describing the error or omission. The email describing the error or omission will be sent to the primary email address in the application not later than 5 business days after the closing day of the application period.

   1. (a) Within 5 business days of the applicant's receipt of the department's email describing the error or omission, the applicant may submit an amendment to healthinnovation@flhealth.gov to correct the error or omission or withdraw the application.
   2. (b) Applications for which the amendments to correct errors or omissions are not received within 5 business days of the applicant's receipt of the department's email describing the error or omission will be deemed incomplete.
   3. (c) Incomplete applications will be disqualified from current application period. Disqualified applications will not be provided to the Health Care Innovation Council during the current application period. Disqualified applications that are completed after the end of the current application period will be provided to the Health Care Innovation Council for review during the application period in which they are completed.
6. (6) The department will provide complete applications and the department’s preliminary recommendations to the Health Care Innovation Council for review. The Health Care Innovation Council will return reviewed applications to the department together with a list ranking the applications in the order in which the Council identifies as best fitting the priority areas of the Council, beginning with the best-fitting application first.
7. (7) Notice of the department's determination to approve or deny an application will be provided to each applicant by a single email sent to the primary email address in the application.

8. (8) Application determinations will be published at www.innovation.floridahealth.gov.

   

   

   

   

Rulemaking Authority 381.4015(7)(a), (10) FS. Law Implemented 381.4015 FS. History – New 10-1-25.