HIMSS Florida Chapters Lead Health IT Advocacy Day at Florida State Capitol

Members of the HIMSS Central and North Florida Chapter and leadership from the HIMSS South Florida Chapter united April 2 for the 2025 Florida Health IT Day at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee.

The HIMSS Florida delegation articulated the chapters’ stance on pertinent 2025 Florida legislature bills poised to influence healthcare and healthcare technology policy for Floridians.

HIMSS members had direct engagement with several state representatives, namely former HIMSS National Legislator of the Year, State Senator Gayle Harrel. Throughout these engagements, attendees underscored HIMSS's national advocacy priorities, advocating for:

• Enhanced cybersecurity measures: Emphasizing the need for dedicated funding toward prevention, risk management, workforce education and robust mitigation strategies
• Responsible AI implementation in healthcare: Highlighting the critical need for policy guardrails, thorough feasibility testing, proactive equity bias mitigation, fostering clinician and consumer trust, ensuring consistent human oversight and promoting seamless data harmonization
• Advancement of digital health transformation: Stressing the importance of strategic funding and equitable technology distribution to bolster telehealth services, expand remote patient monitoring capabilities, ensure widespread broadband access and facilitate the adoption of prescription digital therapies
• Modernization of public health data and systems: Advocating for appropriate funding allocations and workforce development initiatives to establish public health as an equally valued partner within the broader healthcare ecosystem

This impactful event brought together healthcare technology professionals in a concerted effort to actively engage with policymakers, championing key priorities that will shape the future trajectory of health information and technology across Florida.

South Florida HIMSS Member and 2019 HIMSS Chapter Advocate of the Year recipient Kendall Brown reflected on another successful advocacy day.

“Being passionate about health IT requires the use of your voice to make a difference,” Brown said. “Florida HIMSS Health IT Day brings attention to health IT priorities and advances HIMSS priorities with Florida policymakers. Our advocacy efforts truly make a difference in Florida healthcare!”

Member actions:

• Learn about the Chapter Advocacy Task Force
• Get Involved with HIMSS Public Policy