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Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Health highlighted its major accomplishments from 2025, emphasizing advances in access to health care for Florida families, public safety preparedness and response efforts, investments in the workforce and resources, and health outcomes for Floridians. The Department delivered significant results statewide which improved lives, strengthened programs, and positioned Florida as a national leader in public health access, care, and innovation.

“From Florida’s rural communities to large cities statewide, the investments by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have allowed the Department of Health to continue improving the everyday lives of Floridians,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. “The Department and our dedicated employees across Florida’s 67 counties have made incredible strides throughout the past year. As we reflect on accomplishments, the unwavering commitment to investing in the health and wellbeing of Floridians is evident.”

Leading Health and Medical Freedom

The Department supported the wellbeing and personal responsibility of Floridians throughout the year with a focus on key initiatives:

• After community water additives were banned through legislation which became law in July, Florida became the second state in the nation to have a statewide ban on fluoridation. With an estimated 70% of Florida’s community water systems impacted, the Department worked closely with municipalities to ensure they stopped fluoridating, thereby reinforcing the Department’s stance on informed consent and ethical public health.
• The Department initiated rulemaking to remove mandates on childhood immunizations in September. These changes will enhance patient and family engagement in decision making with health care providers and attenuate the harmful effects of coercion inherent in existing mandates. The Department continues to work through this process.

Expanding Access to Care for Florida Families

Florida’s integrated public health system allows the Department to deliver services locally while maintaining statewide coordination. With a state health office in Tallahassee, 67 county health departments, eight Children’s Medical Services area offices, 12 Medical Quality Assurance regional offices, nine Disability Determinations regional offices, and three public health laboratories, the Department expanded services and preventive care for Florida families in 2025:

• The Early Steps Program served more than 62,000 infants and toddlers, with most participants showing measurable improvements in development, communication, and health.
• The Telehealth Maternity Care Program provided no-cost prenatal and postpartum services to more than 9,000 women, with a focus on high-risk pregnancies.
• The Newborn Screening Program launched screenings for genetic deficiencies, assisting more than 175,000 babies and enabling earlier treatment to prevent long-term complications.
• The Child Care Food Program delivered more than 148 million nutritious meals, supporting 297,000 children daily and providing more than $363 million to Florida’s childcare providers.
• Since its inception in Fall 2024, the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program awarded 4,945 vouchers, which is the equivalent of nearly 40,000 lessons to eligible children four years of age and younger.

Fortifying Emergency Response and Trauma Care

Florida’s emergency and trauma systems were enhanced through historic investments and innovation:

• An academic partnership between the Department and the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, was established to create the Florida Center for Emergency Medical Services. The partnership is the first of its kind in the nation and is dedicated to advancing the EMS field through research, education, and innovation, which will enhance the state’s EMS system to improve the health, safety, and welfare of Floridians.
• An investment of $10 million in capital improvements benefitted 22 rural hospitals, expanding access to quality health care in underserved communities.
• Florida designated its eleventh Level I Trauma Center and enhanced the statewide trauma registry to influence continuous improvements in health care.
• The Resuscitate Florida initiative expanded throughout the state, with 18 hospitals recognized as Resuscitation Centers of Excellence.
• The Department bolstered lifesaving emergency services by investing $4.9 million toward local EMS agencies.
• Emergency readiness efforts were improved for public health emergencies, including developing Integrated Preparedness Plans and conducting exercises for incident triage and treatment, hospital surge training, and expanded infectious disease control transport capabilities, ensuring communities are prepared.

Guiding Innovation in Research and Prevention

Florida advanced research, data collection, and disease control efforts:

• The Florida Cancer Innovation Fund invested nearly $60 million in 65 innovative projects at 28 health care institutions throughout the state.
• The Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator launched with an investment of $30 million, funding pediatric cancer research to four children’s cancer specialty hospitals for innovative research and treatment options.
• In its inaugural year, the Florida Health Care Innovation Council launched the $50 million Health Care Innovation Revolving Loan Program, creating a foundation for funding new health care projects, improving access and outcomes, and reducing costs.
• A new State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) data dashboard was introduced, providing timely access to health indicators for communities and policy makers.

Safeguarding Public Health and Environmental Safety

The Department continued to protect Floridians from public health and environmental threats:

• Poison Control Centers effectively managed more than 110,000 exposure cases, resolving 86% of these cases without hospital visits, which reduced strain on emergency departments.
• The Bureau of Radiation Control conducted 6,000 inspections, responded to 132 incidents, and supported public safety efforts at major events throughout the state.

Investing in Florida’s Health Care Workforce and Training Resources

The Department bolstered Florida’s health care workforce and access to resources throughout the year while maintaining consumer satisfaction and protections.

• The Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement (MOBILE) Act was implemented, creating a universal licensure by endorsement pathway for health care practitioners, expanding licensure mobility with interstate compacts and improving access to quality health care across state lines. These efforts support a more flexible, responsive health care system and ensure access to care.
• A record 1.57 million licensed health care practitioners are available throughout the state to serve Floridians and visitors.
• Nearly 155,000 initial licenses were processed throughout the year, with enhanced technology drastically reducing wait times for some professions. 127,000 new licenses were issued and an all-time high of 644,000 renewal licenses were issued.
• More than 8,000 regulatory enforcement investigations were completed to protect public health and safety.
• The Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education (FRAME) Program continued to provide health care access, awarding $46 million to nearly 1,300 health care professionals and expanding eligibility for mental health professions. Additionally, the FRAME Dental Program distributed $3.1 million to support nearly 100 dentists and dental hygienists statewide.

A Look Ahead

As the Department looks ahead to the new year, advancing health and medical freedom will continue. Focusing on achievable steps toward better health for Floridians, including movement, nutrition, wellness, and prevention over treatment, will reaffirm Florida’s position as a leader in health and health care.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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