Business Impact Estimate Ordinance #2026-51
Proposed ordinance’s Ordinance Number and Short Title: Amending Ordinance Number 2022-18, titled “The Osceola County Local Provider Participation Fund.” Amended Ordinance Number is 26-51.
Business Impact Estimate Ordinance #2026-51.pdf(PDF, 200KB)
ORDINANCE #2026-51
AN ORDINANCE OF THE OSCEOLA COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AMENDING THE OSCEOLA COUNTY CODE OF ORDINANCES, CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE III “LOCAL PROVIDER PARTICIPATION FUND”; PROVIDING FOR APPLICABILITY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTING ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Business Impact Estimate is provided in accordance with section 125.66(3), Florida Statutes. If one or more boxes are checked below, this means the County is of the view that a business impact estimate is not required by state law[1] for the proposed ordinance, but the County is, nevertheless, providing this Business Impact Estimate as a courtesy and to avoid any procedural issues that could impact the enactment of the proposed ordinance. This Business Impact Estimate may be revised following its initial posting.
☒ The proposed ordinance is required for compliance with Federal or State law or regulation;
☐ The proposed ordinance relates to the issuance or refinancing of debt;
☐ The proposed ordinance relates to the adoption of budgets or budget amendments, including revenue sources necessary to fund the budget;
☐ The proposed ordinance is required to implement a contract or an agreement, including, but not limited to, any Federal, State, local, or private grant or other financial assistance accepted by the county government;
☐ The proposed ordinance is an emergency ordinance;
☐ The ordinance relates to procurement; or
☐ The proposed ordinance is enacted to implement the following:
a. Development orders and development permits, as those terms are defined in s. 163.3164, and, development agreements, as authorized by the Florida Local Government Development Agreement Act under ss. 163.3220-163.3243;
b. Comprehensive Plan amendments and land development regulation amendments initiated by an application by a private party other than the county;
c. Sections 190.005 and 190.046, Florida Statutes, regarding community development districts;
d. Section 553.73, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Building Code; or
e. Section 633.202, Florida Statutes, relating to the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
In accordance with the provisions of controlling law, even notwithstanding the fact that an exemption noted above may apply, the County hereby publishes the following information:
1. Summary of the proposed ordinance (must include a statement of the public purpose, such as serving the public health, safety, morals and welfare):
The proposed ordinance amends the Osceola County Local Provider Participation Fund (LPPF) ordinance. Changes would authorize the County to levy and collect hospital-supported special assessments from non-exempt private for-profit or not-for-profit hospitals that provide inpatient services within the County.
By enabling additional federal funding through intergovernmental transfers (IGTs), the special assessment allows access to federal matching funds. Greater reimbursement will enhance the financial stability of hospitals, ensuring that they can continue providing essential healthcare services to Medicaid recipients. Furthermore, the initiative will continue to support the growth, maintenance, and improvement of hospital facilities in line with the County's population growth.
2. An estimate of the direct economic impact of the proposed ordinance on private, for-profit businesses in the County, if any:
(a) An estimate of direct compliance costs that businesses may reasonably incur;
Each year, the County will assess hospitals to fund the nonfederal share need for Medicaid payments. The local dollars generated from the hospital assessment will facilitate additional reimbursement.
Each facility’s financial impact will vary based on factors including Medicaid utilization. The assessment imposed will comport with applicable federal rules and will be set at a rate to generate the non-federal share need to draw down available federal match.
(b) Any new charge or fee imposed by the proposed ordinance or for which businesses will be financially responsible; and
Assessed hospitals are responsible for the full cost of the assessment and are prohibited by the Amended Ordinance from passing along any costs associated with the assessment to their patients.
(c) An estimate of the County’s regulatory costs, including estimated revenues from any new charges or fees to cover such costs.
The County’s administrative costs up to $150,000 annually will continue to be reimbursed from the assessments collected. Any reasonable expenses the County incurs to collect delinquent assessments or defense of claims that arise in the event the objectives and procedures of this article are challenged, including any attorney’s fees incurred as a result of contracting with an attorney to represent the county in seeking and enforcing the collection of delinquent assessments or in defense of such claims, are not subject to the annual limitation on administrative costs.
3. Good faith estimate of the number of businesses likely to be impacted by the proposed ordinance
This Amended Ordinance will apply to certain non-exempt hospitals operating in Osceola County.
If the proposed Amended Ordinance is enacted, it is important to recognize that numerous businesses will continue to be positively affected, both within the healthcare sector and across various industries that rely on these hospitals for revenue and workforce engagement.
Key areas of continued positive economic impact across Osceola County include:
- Job Creation & Employment Stability
- Osceola County hospitals rank among the largest employers in our community, providing stable, high-quality jobs across various skill levels.
- Healthcare employment supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs in fields such as medical technology, administration, and facility operations.
- Local Business Growth & Vendor Support
- Hospitals in Osceola County sustain numerous local businesses, including medical supply companies, pharmaceutical providers, food service vendors, and maintenance contractors.
- Many small and mid-sized businesses depend on hospital contracts for revenue, fostering local economic resilience.
- Attracting Investment & Development
- A strong healthcare infrastructure encourages business investments, attracts skilled professionals, and enhances regional competitiveness.
- Improved healthcare access encourages population growth and increases demand for housing, retail, and other services across the county.
[1] See Section 125.66(3)(c), Florida Statutes.