Florida banned specialty hospitals aimed at a single condition and eliminated its certificate-of-need law for new adult open-heart surgery and angioplasty programs at general hospitals. The law, signed yesterday by Gov. Jeb Bush, also exempts from CON the addition of beds to existing structures, but a CON is still required for new structures. In contrast to an 18-month national moratorium on new physician investment in specialty hospitals, the Florida ban prohibits the licensure of any specialty hospital, regardless of physician investment. The law immediately opens the door to new open-heart programs at about a half-dozen hospitals, while several other hospitals are expected to add angioplasty services.