CS/CS/HB 119

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to health care; amending s. 83.42, F.S.,
3establishing that s. 400.0255, F.S., provides exclusive
4procedures for resident transfer and discharge; amending
5s. 112.0455, F.S., relating to the Drug-Free Workplace
6Act; deleting an obsolete provision; deleting a
7requirement that a laboratory that conducts drug tests
8submit certain reports to the Agency for Health Care
9Administration; amending s. 318.21, F.S.; revising
10distribution of funds from civil penalties imposed for
11traffic infractions by county courts; repealing s.
12383.325, F.S., relating to confidentiality of inspection
13reports of licensed birth center facilities; amending s.
14395.002, F.S.; revising and deleting definitions
15applicable to regulation of hospitals and other licensed
16facilities; conforming a cross-reference; amending s.
17395.003, F.S.; deleting an obsolete provision; conforming
18a cross-reference; amending s. 395.0161, F.S.; deleting a
19provision requiring licensure inspection fees for
20hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and mobile
21surgical facilities to be paid at the time of the
22inspection; amending s. 395.0193, F.S.; requiring a
23licensed facility to report certain peer review
24information and final disciplinary actions to the Division
25of Medical Quality Assurance of the Department of Health
26rather than the Division of Health Quality Assurance of
27the Agency for Health Care Administration; amending s.
28395.1023, F.S.; providing for the Department of Children
29and Family Services rather than the Department of Health
30to perform certain functions with respect to child
31protection cases; requiring certain hospitals to notify
32the Department of Children and Family Services of
33compliance; amending s. 395.1041, F.S., relating to
34hospital emergency services and care; deleting obsolete
35provisions; repealing s. 395.1046, F.S., relating to
36complaint investigation procedures; amending s. 395.1055,
37F.S.; requiring additional housekeeping and sanitation
38procedures in licensed facilities for infection control
39purposes; requiring licensed facility beds to conform to
40standards specified by the Agency for Health Care
41Administration, the Florida Building Code, and the Florida
42Fire Prevention Code; amending s. 395.10972, F.S.;
43revising a reference to the Florida Society of Healthcare
44Risk Management to conform to the current designation;
45amending s. 395.2050, F.S.; revising a reference to the
46federal Health Care Financing Administration to conform to
47the current designation; amending s. 395.3036, F.S.;
48correcting a reference; repealing s. 395.3037, F.S.,
49relating to redundant definitions; amending ss. 154.11,
50394.741, 395.3038, 400.925, 400.9935, 408.05, 440.13,
51627.645, 627.668, 627.669, 627.736, 641.495, and 766.1015,
52F.S.; revising references to the Joint Commission on
53Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Commission
54on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and the
55Council on Accreditation to conform to their current
56designations; amending s. 395.4025, F.S.; authorizing the
57Department of Health to grant additional extensions for
58trauma center applicants under certain circumstances;
59amending s. 395.602, F.S.; revising the definition of the
60term "rural hospital" to delete an obsolete provision;
61amending s. 400.021, F.S.; revising the definition of the
62term "geriatric outpatient clinic" to include additional
63staff; revising the term "resident care plan"; removing a
64provision that requires certain signatures on the plan;
65amending s. 400.0255, F.S.; correcting an obsolete cross-
66reference to administrative rules; amending s. 400.063,
67F.S.; deleting an obsolete provision; amending ss. 400.071
68and 400.0712, F.S.; revising applicability of general
69licensure requirements under part II of ch. 408, F.S., the
70Health Care Licensing Procedures Act, to applications for
71nursing home licensure; revising provisions governing
72inactive licenses; amending s. 400.111, F.S.; providing
73for disclosure of controlling interest of a nursing home
74facility upon request by the Agency for Health Care
75Administration; amending s. 400.1183, F.S.; revising
76grievance record maintenance and reporting requirements
77for nursing homes; amending s. 400.141, F.S.; providing
78criteria for the provision of respite services by nursing
79homes; requiring a written plan of care; requiring a
80contract for services; requiring resident release to
81caregivers to be designated in writing; providing an
82exemption to the application of discharge planning rules;
83providing for residents' rights; providing for use of
84personal medications; providing terms of respite stay;
85providing for communication of patient information;
86requiring a physician's order for care and proof of a
87physical examination; providing for services for respite
88patients and duties of facilities with respect to such
89patients; conforming a cross-reference; requiring
90facilities to maintain clinical records that meet
91specified standards; providing a fine relating to an
92admissions moratorium; deleting requirement for facilities
93to submit certain information related to management
94companies to the agency; deleting a requirement for
95facilities to notify the agency of certain bankruptcy
96filings to conform to changes made by the act; providing a
97limit on fees charged by a facility for copies of patient
98records; amending s. 400.142, F.S.; deleting language
99relating to agency adoption of rules; repealing s.
100400.145, F.S., relating to records of care and treatment
101of residents; repealing ss. 400.0234 and 429.294, F.S.,
102relating to availability of facility records for
103investigation of resident's rights violations and
104defenses; amending 400.147, F.S.; removing a requirement
105for nursing homes and related health care facilities to
106notify the agency within a specified period of time after
107receipt of an adverse incident report; revising reporting
108requirements for licensed nursing home facilities relating
109to adverse incidents; repealing s. 400.148, F.S., relating
110to the Medicaid "Up-or-Out" Quality of Care Contract
111Management Program; amending s. 400.179, F.S.; deleting an
112obsolete provision; amending s. 400.19, F.S.; revising
113inspection requirements; amending s. 400.23, F.S.;
114deleting an obsolete provision; correcting a reference;
115directing the agency to adopt rules for minimum staffing
116standards in nursing homes that serve persons under 21
117years of age; providing minimum staffing standards;
118amending s. 400.275, F.S.; revising agency duties with
119regard to training nursing home surveyor teams; revising
120requirements for team members; amending s. 400.462, F.S.;
121revising the definition of the term "remuneration" as it
122applies to home health agencies; amending s. 400.484,
123F.S.; revising the schedule of home health agency
124inspection violations; amending s. 400.506, F.S.; deleting
125language relating to exemptions from penalties imposed on
126nurse registries if a nurse registry does not bill the
127Florida Medicaid Program; providing criteria for an
128administrator to manage a nurse registry; amending s.
129400.509, F.S.; revising the service providers exempt from
130licensure registration to include organizations that
131provide companion services only for persons with
132developmental disabilities; amending s. 400.606, F.S.;
133revising the content requirements of the plan accompanying
134an initial or change-of-ownership application for
135licensure of a hospice; revising requirements relating to
136certificates of need for certain hospice facilities;
137amending s. 400.607, F.S.; revising grounds for agency
138action against a hospice; amending s. 400.915, F.S.;
139correcting an obsolete cross-reference to administrative
140rules; amending s. 400.931, F.S.; deleting a requirement
141that an applicant for a home medical equipment provider
142license submit a surety bond to the agency; requiring
143applicants to submit documentation of accreditation within
144a specified period of time; amending s. 400.932, F.S.;
145revising grounds for the imposition of administrative
146penalties for certain violations by an employee of a home
147medical equipment provider; amending s. 400.967, F.S.;
148revising the schedule of inspection violations for
149intermediate care facilities for the developmentally
150disabled; providing a penalty for certain violations;
151amending s. 400.9905, F.S.; revising the definitions of
152the terms "clinic" and "portable equipment provider";
153providing that part X of ch. 400, F.S., the Health Care
154Clinic Act, does not apply to certain clinical facilities,
155an entity owned by a corporation with a specified amount
156of annual sales of health care services under certain
157circumstances, an entity owned or controlled by a publicly
158traded entity with a specified amount of annual revenues,
159or an entity that employs a specified number of licensed
160health care practitioners under certain conditions;
161amending s. 400.991, F.S.; conforming terminology;
162revising application requirements relating to
163documentation of financial ability to operate a mobile
164clinic; amending s. 408.033, F.S.; permitting fees
165assessed on certain health care facilities to be collected
166prospectively at the time of licensure renewal and
167prorated for the licensure period; amending s. 408.034,
168F.S.; revising agency authority relating to licensing of
169intermediate care facilities for the developmentally
170disabled; amending s. 408.036, F.S.; deleting an exemption
171from certain certificate-of-need review requirements for a
172hospice or a hospice inpatient facility; deleting a
173requirement that the agency submit a report regarding
174requests for exemption; amending s. 408.037, F.S.;
175revising certificate-of-need requirements for general
176hospital applicants to evaluate the applicant's parent
177corporation if audited financial statements of the
178applicant do not exist; amending s. 408.043, F.S.;
179revising requirements for certain freestanding inpatient
180hospice care facilities to obtain a certificate of need;
181amending s. 408.061, F.S.; revising health care facility
182data reporting requirements; amending s. 408.10, F.S.;
183removing agency authority to investigate certain consumer
184complaints; amending s. 408.802, F.S.; removing
185applicability of part II of ch. 408, F.S., relating to
186general licensure requirements, to private review agents;
187amending s. 408.804, F.S.; providing penalties for
188altering, defacing, or falsifying a license certificate
189issued by the agency or displaying such an altered,
190defaced, or falsified certificate; amending s. 408.806,
191F.S.; revising agency responsibilities for notification of
192licensees of impending expiration of a license; requiring
193payment of a late fee for a license application to be
194considered complete under certain circumstances; amending
195s. 408.8065, F.S.; requiring home health agencies, home
196medical equipment providers, and health care clinics to
197submit projected financial statements; amending s.
198408.809, F.S., relating to background screening of
199specified employees of health care providers; revising
200provisions for required rescreening; removing provisions
201authorizing the agency to adopt rules establishing a
202rescreening schedule; establishing a rescreening schedule;
203amending s. 408.810, F.S.; requiring disclosure of
204information by a controlling interest of certain court
205actions relating to financial instability within a
206specified time period; amending s. 408.813, F.S.;
207authorizing the agency to impose fines for unclassified
208violations of part II of ch. 408, F.S.; amending s.
209408.815, F.S.; providing for certain mitigating
210circumstances to be considered for any application subject
211to denial; authorizing the agency to extend a license
212expiration date under certain circumstances; amending s.
213409.91196, F.S.; revising components of a Medicaid
214prescribed-drug spending-control program; conforming a
215cross-reference; amending s. 409.912, F.S.; revising
216procedures for implementation of a Medicaid prescribed-
217drug spending-control program; amending s. 429.07, F.S.;
218deleting the requirement for an assisted living facility
219to obtain an additional license in order to provide
220limited nursing services; deleting the requirement for the
221agency to conduct quarterly monitoring visits of
222facilities that hold a license to provide extended
223congregate care services; deleting the requirement for the
224department to report annually on the status of and
225recommendations related to extended congregate care;
226deleting the requirement for the agency to conduct
227monitoring visits at least twice a year to facilities
228providing limited nursing services; eliminating the
229license fee for the limited nursing services license;
230transferring from another provision of law the requirement
231that the standard survey of an assisted living facility
232include specific actions to determine whether the facility
233is adequately protecting residents' rights; providing that
234under specified conditions an assisted living facility
235that has a class I or class II violation is subject to
236periodic unannounced monitoring; requiring a registered
237nurse to participate in certain monitoring visits;
238amending s. 429.11, F.S.; revising licensure application
239requirements for assisted living facilities to eliminate
240provisional licenses; amending s. 429.12, F.S.; deleting a
241requirement that a transferor of an assisted living
242facility advise the transferee to submit a plan for
243correction of certain deficiencies to the Agency for
244Health Care Administration before ownership of the
245facility is transferred; amending s. 429.14, F.S.;
246clarifying provisions relating to a facility's request for
247a hearing under certain circumstances; amending s. 429.17,
248F.S.; deleting provisions relating to the limited nursing
249services license; revising agency responsibilities
250regarding the issuance of conditional licenses; amending
251s. 429.195, F.S.; revising the list of entities prohibited
252from providing rebates; providing exceptions to prohibited
253patient brokering for assisted living facilities; amending
254s. 429.23, F.S.; deleting reporting requirements for
255assisted living facilities relating to liability claims;
256amending s. 429.255, F.S.; eliminating provisions
257authorizing the use of volunteers to provide certain
258health-care-related services in assisted living
259facilities; authorizing assisted living facilities to
260provide limited nursing services; requiring an assisted
261living facility to be responsible for certain
262recordkeeping and staff to be trained to monitor residents
263receiving certain health-care-related services; amending
264s. 429.28, F.S.; deleting a requirement for a biennial
265survey of an assisted living facility, to conform to
266changes made by the act; conforming a cross-reference;
267amending s. 429.41, F.S., relating to rulemaking;
268conforming provisions to changes made by the act; deleting
269the requirement for the Department of Elderly Affairs to
270submit a copy of proposed rules to the Legislature;
271amending s. 429.53, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
272consultation by the agency; revising a definition;
273amending s. 429.71, F.S.; revising schedule of inspection
274violations for adult family-care homes; amending s.
275429.915, F.S.; revising agency responsibilities regarding
276the issuance of conditional licenses; amending s. 440.102,
277F.S.; deleting the requirement for laboratories to submit
278a monthly report to the agency with statistical
279information regarding the testing of employees and job
280applicants; amending s. 456.053, F.S.; revising the
281definition of the term "group practice" as it relates to
282financial arrangements of referring health care providers
283and providers of health care services to include group
284practices that provide radiation therapy services under
285certain circumstances; amending s. 483.035, F.S.;
286requiring certain clinical laboratories operated by one or
287more practitioners licensed under part I of ch. 464, F.S.,
288the Nurse Practice Act, to be licensed under part I of ch.
289483, F.S., the Florida Clinical Laboratory Law; amending
290s. 483.051, F.S.; establishing qualifications necessary
291for clinical laboratory licensure; amending s. 483.294,
292F.S.; revising frequency of agency inspections of
293multiphasic health testing centers; amending s. 499.003,
294F.S.; removing the requirement for certain prescription
295drug purchasers to maintain a separate inventory of
296certain prescription drugs; amending s. 633.081, F.S.;
297limiting State Fire Marshal inspections of nursing homes
298to once a year; providing for additional inspections based
299on complaints and violations identified in the course of
300orientation or training activities; amending s. 766.202,
301F.S.; adding persons licensed under part XIV of ch. 468,
302F.S., relating to orthotics, prosthetics, and pedorthics,
303to the definition of "health care provider"; amending s.
304817.505, F.S.; creating an exception to the patient
305brokering prohibition for assisted living facilities;
306amending ss. 394.4787, 400.0239, 408.07, 430.80, and
307651.118, F.S.; conforming terminology and references to
308changes made by the act; revising a reference;
309establishing that assisted living facility licensure fees
310have been adjusted by Consumer Price Index since 1998 and
311are not intended to be reset by this act; providing an
312effective date.
313
314Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
315
316     Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 83.42, Florida
317Statutes, is amended to read:
318     83.42  Exclusions from application of part.-This part does
319not apply to:
320     (1)  Residency or detention in a facility, whether public
321or private, when residence or detention is incidental to the
322provision of medical, geriatric, educational, counseling,
323religious, or similar services. For residents of a facility
324licensed under part II of chapter 400, the provisions of s.
325400.0255 are the exclusive procedures for all transfers and
326discharges.
327     Section 2.  Paragraphs (f) through (k) of subsection (10)
328of section 112.0455, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
329paragraphs (e) through (j), respectively, paragraph (e) of
330subsection (12) is redesignated as paragraph (d), and present
331paragraph (e) of subsection (10), present paragraph (d) of
332subsection (12), and paragraph (e) of subsection (14) of that
333section are amended to read:
334     112.0455  Drug-Free Workplace Act.-
335     (10)  EMPLOYER PROTECTION.-
336     (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to operate
337retroactively, and nothing in this section shall abrogate the
338right of an employer under state law to conduct drug tests prior
339to January 1, 1990. A drug test conducted by an employer prior
340to January 1, 1990, is not subject to this section.
341     (12)  DRUG-TESTING STANDARDS; LABORATORIES.-
342     (d)  The laboratory shall submit to the Agency for Health
343Care Administration a monthly report with statistical
344information regarding the testing of employees and job
345applicants. The reports shall include information on the methods
346of analyses conducted, the drugs tested for, the number of
347positive and negative results for both initial and confirmation
348tests, and any other information deemed appropriate by the
349Agency for Health Care Administration. No monthly report shall
350identify specific employees or job applicants.
351     (14)  DISCIPLINE REMEDIES.-
352     (e)  Upon resolving an appeal filed pursuant to paragraph
353(c), and finding a violation of this section, the commission may
354order the following relief:
355     1.  Rescind the disciplinary action, expunge related
356records from the personnel file of the employee or job applicant
357and reinstate the employee.
358     2.  Order compliance with paragraph (10)(f)(g).
359     3.  Award back pay and benefits.
360     4.  Award the prevailing employee or job applicant the
361necessary costs of the appeal, reasonable attorney's fees, and
362expert witness fees.
363     Section 3.  Paragraph (n) of subsection (1) of section
364154.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
365     154.11  Powers of board of trustees.-
366     (1)  The board of trustees of each public health trust
367shall be deemed to exercise a public and essential governmental
368function of both the state and the county and in furtherance
369thereof it shall, subject to limitation by the governing body of
370the county in which such board is located, have all of the
371powers necessary or convenient to carry out the operation and
372governance of designated health care facilities, including, but
373without limiting the generality of, the foregoing:
374     (n)  To appoint originally the staff of physicians to
375practice in any designated facility owned or operated by the
376board and to approve the bylaws and rules to be adopted by the
377medical staff of any designated facility owned and operated by
378the board, such governing regulations to be in accordance with
379the standards of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of
380Hospitals which provide, among other things, for the method of
381appointing additional staff members and for the removal of staff
382members.
383     Section 4.  Subsection (15) of section 318.21, Florida
384Statutes, is amended to read:
385     318.21  Disposition of civil penalties by county courts.-
386All civil penalties received by a county court pursuant to the
387provisions of this chapter shall be distributed and paid monthly
388as follows:
389     (15)  Of the additional fine assessed under s. 318.18(3)(e)
390for a violation of s. 316.1893, 50 percent of the moneys
391received from the fines shall be remitted to the Department of
392Revenue and deposited into the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury
393Trust Fund of Department of Health and shall be appropriated to
394the Department of Health Agency for Health Care Administration
395as general revenue to provide an enhanced Medicaid payment to
396nursing homes that serve Medicaid recipients with brain and
397spinal cord injuries that are medically complex and who are
398technologically and respiratory dependent. The remaining 50
399percent of the moneys received from the enhanced fine imposed
400under s. 318.18(3)(e) shall be remitted to the Department of
401Revenue and deposited into the Department of Health Emergency
402Medical Services Trust Fund to provide financial support to
403certified trauma centers in the counties where enhanced penalty
404zones are established to ensure the availability and
405accessibility of trauma services. Funds deposited into the
406Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund under this subsection
407shall be allocated as follows:
408     (a)  Fifty percent shall be allocated equally among all
409Level I, Level II, and pediatric trauma centers in recognition
410of readiness costs for maintaining trauma services.
411     (b)  Fifty percent shall be allocated among Level I, Level
412II, and pediatric trauma centers based on each center's relative
413volume of trauma cases as reported in the Department of Health
414Trauma Registry.
415     Section 5.  Section 383.325, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
416     Section 6.  Subsection (7) of section 394.4787, Florida
417Statutes, is amended to read:
418     394.4787  Definitions; ss. 394.4786, 394.4787, 394.4788,
419and 394.4789.-As used in this section and ss. 394.4786,
420394.4788, and 394.4789:
421     (7)  "Specialty psychiatric hospital" means a hospital
422licensed by the agency pursuant to s. 395.002(26)(28) and part
423II of chapter 408 as a specialty psychiatric hospital.
424     Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 394.741, Florida
425Statutes, is amended to read:
426     394.741  Accreditation requirements for providers of
427behavioral health care services.-
428     (2)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary,
429accreditation shall be accepted by the agency and department in
430lieu of the agency's and department's facility licensure onsite
431review requirements and shall be accepted as a substitute for
432the department's administrative and program monitoring
433requirements, except as required by subsections (3) and (4),
434for:
435     (a)  Any organization from which the department purchases
436behavioral health care services that is accredited by the Joint
437Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or the
438Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, or
439has those services that are being purchased by the department
440accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
441Facilities CARF-the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission.
442     (b)  Any mental health facility licensed by the agency or
443any substance abuse component licensed by the department that is
444accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
445Healthcare Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of
446Rehabilitation Facilities CARF-the Rehabilitation Accreditation
447Commission, or the Council on Accreditation of Children and
448Family Services.
449     (c)  Any network of providers from which the department or
450the agency purchases behavioral health care services accredited
451by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
452Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
453Facilities CARF-the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission, the
454Council on Accreditation of Children and Family Services, or the
455National Committee for Quality Assurance. A provider
456organization, which is part of an accredited network, is
457afforded the same rights under this part.
458     Section 8.  Present subsections (15) through (32) of
459section 395.002, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections
460(14) through (28), respectively, and present subsections (1),
461(14), (24), (30), and (31) and paragraph (c) of present
462subsection (28) of that section are amended to read:
463     395.002  Definitions.-As used in this chapter:
464     (1)  "Accrediting organizations" means nationally
465recognized or approved accrediting organizations whose standards
466incorporate comparable licensure requirements as determined by
467the agency the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
468Organizations, the American Osteopathic Association, the
469Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, and
470the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.
471     (14)  "Initial denial determination" means a determination
472by a private review agent that the health care services
473furnished or proposed to be furnished to a patient are
474inappropriate, not medically necessary, or not reasonable.
475     (24)  "Private review agent" means any person or entity
476which performs utilization review services for third-party
477payors on a contractual basis for outpatient or inpatient
478services. However, the term shall not include full-time
479employees, personnel, or staff of health insurers, health
480maintenance organizations, or hospitals, or wholly owned
481subsidiaries thereof or affiliates under common ownership, when
482performing utilization review for their respective hospitals,
483health maintenance organizations, or insureds of the same
484insurance group. For this purpose, health insurers, health
485maintenance organizations, and hospitals, or wholly owned
486subsidiaries thereof or affiliates under common ownership,
487include such entities engaged as administrators of self-
488insurance as defined in s. 624.031.
489     (26)(28)  "Specialty hospital" means any facility which
490meets the provisions of subsection (12), and which regularly
491makes available either:
492     (c)  Intensive residential treatment programs for children
493and adolescents as defined in subsection (14) (15).
494     (30)  "Utilization review" means a system for reviewing the
495medical necessity or appropriateness in the allocation of health
496care resources of hospital services given or proposed to be
497given to a patient or group of patients.
498     (31)  "Utilization review plan" means a description of the
499policies and procedures governing utilization review activities
500performed by a private review agent.
501     Section 9.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and paragraph
502(b) of subsection (2) of section 395.003, Florida Statutes, are
503amended to read:
504     395.003  Licensure; denial, suspension, and revocation.-
505     (1)
506     (c)  Until July 1, 2006, additional emergency departments
507located off the premises of licensed hospitals may not be
508authorized by the agency.
509     (2)
510     (b)  The agency shall, at the request of a licensee that is
511a teaching hospital as defined in s. 408.07(45), issue a single
512license to a licensee for facilities that have been previously
513licensed as separate premises, provided such separately licensed
514facilities, taken together, constitute the same premises as
515defined in s. 395.002(22)(23). Such license for the single
516premises shall include all of the beds, services, and programs
517that were previously included on the licenses for the separate
518premises. The granting of a single license under this paragraph
519shall not in any manner reduce the number of beds, services, or
520programs operated by the licensee.
521     Section 10.  Subsection (3) of section 395.0161, Florida
522Statutes, is amended to read:
523     395.0161  Licensure inspection.-
524     (3)  In accordance with s. 408.805, an applicant or
525licensee shall pay a fee for each license application submitted
526under this part, part II of chapter 408, and applicable rules.
527With the exception of state-operated licensed facilities, each
528facility licensed under this part shall pay to the agency, at
529the time of inspection, the following fees:
530     (a)  Inspection for licensure.-A fee shall be paid which is
531not less than $8 per hospital bed, nor more than $12 per
532hospital bed, except that the minimum fee shall be $400 per
533facility.
534     (b)  Inspection for lifesafety only.-A fee shall be paid
535which is not less than 75 cents per hospital bed, nor more than
536$1.50 per hospital bed, except that the minimum fee shall be $40
537per facility.
538     Section 11.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) and subsection
539(4) of section 395.0193, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
540     395.0193  Licensed facilities; peer review; disciplinary
541powers; agency or partnership with physicians.-
542     (2)  Each licensed facility, as a condition of licensure,
543shall provide for peer review of physicians who deliver health
544care services at the facility. Each licensed facility shall
545develop written, binding procedures by which such peer review
546shall be conducted. Such procedures shall include:
547     (e)  Recording of agendas and minutes which do not contain
548confidential material, for review by the Division of Medical
549Quality Assurance of the department Health Quality Assurance of
550the agency.
551     (4)  Pursuant to ss. 458.337 and 459.016, any disciplinary
552actions taken under subsection (3) shall be reported in writing
553to the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the department
554Health Quality Assurance of the agency within 30 working days
555after its initial occurrence, regardless of the pendency of
556appeals to the governing board of the hospital. The notification
557shall identify the disciplined practitioner, the action taken,
558and the reason for such action. All final disciplinary actions
559taken under subsection (3), if different from those which were
560reported to the department agency within 30 days after the
561initial occurrence, shall be reported within 10 working days to
562the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the department
563Health Quality Assurance of the agency in writing and shall
564specify the disciplinary action taken and the specific grounds
565therefor. The division shall review each report and determine
566whether it potentially involved conduct by the licensee that is
567subject to disciplinary action, in which case s. 456.073 shall
568apply. The reports are not subject to inspection under s.
569119.07(1) even if the division's investigation results in a
570finding of probable cause.
571     Section 12.  Section 395.1023, Florida Statutes, is amended
572to read:
573     395.1023  Child abuse and neglect cases; duties.-Each
574licensed facility shall adopt a protocol that, at a minimum,
575requires the facility to:
576     (1)  Incorporate a facility policy that every staff member
577has an affirmative duty to report, pursuant to chapter 39, any
578actual or suspected case of child abuse, abandonment, or
579neglect; and
580     (2)  In any case involving suspected child abuse,
581abandonment, or neglect, designate, at the request of the
582Department of Children and Family Services, a staff physician to
583act as a liaison between the hospital and the Department of
584Children and Family Services office which is investigating the
585suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and the child
586protection team, as defined in s. 39.01, when the case is
587referred to such a team.
588
589Each general hospital and appropriate specialty hospital shall
590comply with the provisions of this section and shall notify the
591agency and the Department of Children and Family Services of its
592compliance by sending a copy of its policy to the agency and the
593Department of Children and Family Services as required by rule.
594The failure by a general hospital or appropriate specialty
595hospital to comply shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
596$1,000, to be fixed, imposed, and collected by the agency. Each
597day in violation is considered a separate offense.
598     Section 13.  Subsection (2) and paragraph (d) of subsection
599(3) of section 395.1041, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
600     395.1041  Access to emergency services and care.-
601     (2)  INVENTORY OF HOSPITAL EMERGENCY SERVICES.-The agency
602shall establish and maintain an inventory of hospitals with
603emergency services. The inventory shall list all services within
604the service capability of the hospital, and such services shall
605appear on the face of the hospital license. Each hospital having
606emergency services shall notify the agency of its service
607capability in the manner and form prescribed by the agency. The
608agency shall use the inventory to assist emergency medical
609services providers and others in locating appropriate emergency
610medical care. The inventory shall also be made available to the
611general public. On or before August 1, 1992, the agency shall
612request that each hospital identify the services which are
613within its service capability. On or before November 1, 1992,
614the agency shall notify each hospital of the service capability
615to be included in the inventory. The hospital has 15 days from
616the date of receipt to respond to the notice. By December 1,
6171992, the agency shall publish a final inventory. Each hospital
618shall reaffirm its service capability when its license is
619renewed and shall notify the agency of the addition of a new
620service or the termination of a service prior to a change in its
621service capability.
622     (3)  EMERGENCY SERVICES; DISCRIMINATION; LIABILITY OF
623FACILITY OR HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL.-
624     (d)1.  Every hospital shall ensure the provision of
625services within the service capability of the hospital, at all
626times, either directly or indirectly through an arrangement with
627another hospital, through an arrangement with one or more
628physicians, or as otherwise made through prior arrangements. A
629hospital may enter into an agreement with another hospital for
630purposes of meeting its service capability requirement, and
631appropriate compensation or other reasonable conditions may be
632negotiated for these backup services.
633     2.  If any arrangement requires the provision of emergency
634medical transportation, such arrangement must be made in
635consultation with the applicable provider and may not require
636the emergency medical service provider to provide transportation
637that is outside the routine service area of that provider or in
638a manner that impairs the ability of the emergency medical
639service provider to timely respond to prehospital emergency
640calls.
641     3.  A hospital shall not be required to ensure service
642capability at all times as required in subparagraph 1. if, prior
643to the receiving of any patient needing such service capability,
644such hospital has demonstrated to the agency that it lacks the
645ability to ensure such capability and it has exhausted all
646reasonable efforts to ensure such capability through backup
647arrangements. In reviewing a hospital's demonstration of lack of
648ability to ensure service capability, the agency shall consider
649factors relevant to the particular case, including the
650following:
651     a.  Number and proximity of hospitals with the same service
652capability.
653     b.  Number, type, credentials, and privileges of
654specialists.
655     c.  Frequency of procedures.
656     d.  Size of hospital.
657     4.  The agency shall publish proposed rules implementing a
658reasonable exemption procedure by November 1, 1992. Subparagraph
6591. shall become effective upon the effective date of said rules
660or January 31, 1993, whichever is earlier. For a period not to
661exceed 1 year from the effective date of subparagraph 1., a
662hospital requesting an exemption shall be deemed to be exempt
663from offering the service until the agency initially acts to
664deny or grant the original request. The agency has 45 days after
665from the date of receipt of the request to approve or deny the
666request. After the first year from the effective date of
667subparagraph 1., If the agency fails to initially act within
668that the time period, the hospital is deemed to be exempt from
669offering the service until the agency initially acts to deny the
670request.
671     Section 14.  Section 395.1046, Florida Statutes, is
672repealed.
673     Section 15.  Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (1) of
674section 395.1055, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
675     395.1055  Rules and enforcement.-
676     (1)  The agency shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
677120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this part,
678which shall include reasonable and fair minimum standards for
679ensuring that:
680     (b)  Infection control, housekeeping, sanitary conditions,
681and medical record procedures that will adequately protect
682patient care and safety are established and implemented. These
683procedures shall require housekeeping and sanitation staff to
684wear masks and gloves when cleaning patient rooms and
685disinfecting environmental surfaces in patient rooms in
686accordance with the time instructions on the label of the
687disinfectant used by the hospital. The agency may impose an
688administrative fine for each day that a violation of this
689paragraph occurs.
690     (e)  Licensed facility beds conform to minimum space,
691equipment, and furnishings standards as specified by the agency,
692the Florida Building Code, and the Florida Fire Prevention Code
693department.
694     Section 16.  Subsection (1) of section 395.10972, Florida
695Statutes, is amended to read:
696     395.10972  Health Care Risk Manager Advisory Council.-The
697Secretary of Health Care Administration may appoint a seven-
698member advisory council to advise the agency on matters
699pertaining to health care risk managers. The members of the
700council shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The
701council shall designate a chair. The council shall meet at the
702call of the secretary or at those times as may be required by
703rule of the agency. The members of the advisory council shall
704receive no compensation for their services, but shall be
705reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. The
706council shall consist of individuals representing the following
707areas:
708     (1)  Two shall be active health care risk managers,
709including one risk manager who is recommended by and a member of
710the Florida Society for of Healthcare Risk Management and
711Patient Safety.
712     Section 17.  Subsection (3) of section 395.2050, Florida
713Statutes, is amended to read:
714     395.2050  Routine inquiry for organ and tissue donation;
715certification for procurement activities; death records review.-
716     (3)  Each organ procurement organization designated by the
717federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Care
718Financing Administration and licensed by the state shall conduct
719an annual death records review in the organ procurement
720organization's affiliated donor hospitals. The organ procurement
721organization shall enlist the services of every Florida licensed
722tissue bank and eye bank affiliated with or providing service to
723the donor hospital and operating in the same service area to
724participate in the death records review.
725     Section 18.  Subsection (2) of section 395.3036, Florida
726Statutes, is amended to read:
727     395.3036  Confidentiality of records and meetings of
728corporations that lease public hospitals or other public health
729care facilities.-The records of a private corporation that
730leases a public hospital or other public health care facility
731are confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1)
732and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, and the meetings
733of the governing board of a private corporation are exempt from
734s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution when
735the public lessor complies with the public finance
736accountability provisions of s. 155.40(5) with respect to the
737transfer of any public funds to the private lessee and when the
738private lessee meets at least three of the five following
739criteria:
740     (2)  The public lessor and the private lessee do not
741commingle any of their funds in any account maintained by either
742of them, other than the payment of the rent and administrative
743fees or the transfer of funds pursuant to s. 155.40 subsection
744(2).
745     Section 19.  Section 395.3037, Florida Statutes, is
746repealed.
747     Section 20.  Subsections (1), (4), and (5) of section
748395.3038, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
749     395.3038  State-listed primary stroke centers and
750comprehensive stroke centers; notification of hospitals.-
751     (1)  The agency shall make available on its website and to
752the department a list of the name and address of each hospital
753that meets the criteria for a primary stroke center and the name
754and address of each hospital that meets the criteria for a
755comprehensive stroke center. The list of primary and
756comprehensive stroke centers shall include only those hospitals
757that attest in an affidavit submitted to the agency that the
758hospital meets the named criteria, or those hospitals that
759attest in an affidavit submitted to the agency that the hospital
760is certified as a primary or a comprehensive stroke center by
761the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
762Organizations.
763     (4)  The agency shall adopt by rule criteria for a primary
764stroke center which are substantially similar to the
765certification standards for primary stroke centers of the Joint
766Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
767     (5)  The agency shall adopt by rule criteria for a
768comprehensive stroke center. However, if the Joint Commission on
769Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations establishes criteria
770for a comprehensive stroke center, the agency shall establish
771criteria for a comprehensive stroke center which are
772substantially similar to those criteria established by the Joint
773Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
774     Section 21.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
775395.4025, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
776     395.4025  Trauma centers; selection; quality assurance;
777records.-
778     (2)
779     (d)1.  Notwithstanding other provisions in this section,
780the department may grant up to an additional 18 months to a
781hospital applicant that is unable to meet all requirements as
782provided in paragraph (c) at the time of application if the
783number of applicants in the service area in which the applicant
784is located is equal to or less than the service area allocation,
785as provided by rule of the department. An applicant that is
786granted additional time pursuant to this paragraph shall submit
787a plan for departmental approval which includes timelines and
788activities that the applicant proposes to complete in order to
789meet application requirements. Any applicant that demonstrates
790an ongoing effort to complete the activities within the
791timelines outlined in the plan shall be included in the number
792of trauma centers at such time that the department has conducted
793a provisional review of the application and has determined that
794the application is complete and that the hospital has the
795critical elements required for a trauma center. An applicant
796that has received an additional 18 months pursuant to this
797paragraph shall be granted up to two additional 6-month
798extensions to meet all requirements as provided in paragraph
799(c), if construction related to a critical element is delayed as
800a result of governmental action or inaction with respect to
801regulations or permitting, and the applicant has made a good
802faith effort to comply with the applicable regulations or obtain
803the required permits.
804     2.  Timeframes provided in subsections (1)-(8) shall be
805stayed until the department determines that the application is
806complete and that the hospital has the critical elements
807required for a trauma center.
808     Section 22.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
809395.602, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
810     395.602  Rural hospitals.-
811     (2)  DEFINITIONS.-As used in this part:
812     (e)  "Rural hospital" means an acute care hospital licensed
813under this chapter, having 100 or fewer licensed beds and an
814emergency room, which is:
815     1.  The sole provider within a county with a population
816density of no greater than 100 persons per square mile;
817     2.  An acute care hospital, in a county with a population
818density of no greater than 100 persons per square mile, which is
819at least 30 minutes of travel time, on normally traveled roads
820under normal traffic conditions, from any other acute care
821hospital within the same county;
822     3.  A hospital supported by a tax district or subdistrict
823whose boundaries encompass a population of 100 persons or fewer
824per square mile;
825     4.  A hospital in a constitutional charter county with a
826population of over 1 million persons that has imposed a local
827option health service tax pursuant to law and in an area that
828was directly impacted by a catastrophic event on August 24,
8291992, for which the Governor of Florida declared a state of
830emergency pursuant to chapter 125, and has 120 beds or less that
831serves an agricultural community with an emergency room
832utilization of no less than 20,000 visits and a Medicaid
833inpatient utilization rate greater than 15 percent;
834     4.5.  A hospital with a service area that has a population
835of 100 persons or fewer per square mile. As used in this
836subparagraph, the term "service area" means the fewest number of
837zip codes that account for 75 percent of the hospital's
838discharges for the most recent 5-year period, based on
839information available from the hospital inpatient discharge
840database in the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy
841Analysis at the Agency for Health Care Administration; or
842     5.6.  A hospital designated as a critical access hospital,
843as defined in s. 408.07(15).
844
845Population densities used in this paragraph must be based upon
846the most recently completed United States census. A hospital
847that received funds under s. 409.9116 for a quarter beginning no
848later than July 1, 2002, is deemed to have been and shall
849continue to be a rural hospital from that date through June 30,
8502015, if the hospital continues to have 100 or fewer licensed
851beds and an emergency room, or meets the criteria of
852subparagraph 4. An acute care hospital that has not previously
853been designated as a rural hospital and that meets the criteria
854of this paragraph shall be granted such designation upon
855application, including supporting documentation to the Agency
856for Health Care Administration.
857     Section 23.  Subsections (8) and (16) of section 400.021,
858Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
859     400.021  Definitions.-When used in this part, unless the
860context otherwise requires, the term:
861     (8)  "Geriatric outpatient clinic" means a site for
862providing outpatient health care to persons 60 years of age or
863older, which is staffed by a registered nurse or a physician
864assistant, or a licensed practical nurse under the direct
865supervision of a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse
866practitioner, physician assistant, or physician.
867     (16)  "Resident care plan" means a written plan developed,
868maintained, and reviewed not less than quarterly by a registered
869nurse, with participation from other facility staff and the
870resident or his or her designee or legal representative, which
871includes a comprehensive assessment of the needs of an
872individual resident; the type and frequency of services required
873to provide the necessary care for the resident to attain or
874maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and
875psychosocial well-being; a listing of services provided within
876or outside the facility to meet those needs; and an explanation
877of service goals. The resident care plan must be signed by the
878director of nursing or another registered nurse employed by the
879facility to whom institutional responsibilities have been
880delegated and by the resident, the resident's designee, or the
881resident's legal representative. The facility may not use an
882agency or temporary registered nurse to satisfy the foregoing
883requirement and must document the institutional responsibilities
884that have been delegated to the registered nurse.
885     Section 24.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section
886400.0239, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
887     400.0239  Quality of Long-Term Care Facility Improvement
888Trust Fund.-
889     (2)  Expenditures from the trust fund shall be allowable
890for direct support of the following:
891     (g)  Other initiatives authorized by the Centers for
892Medicare and Medicaid Services for the use of federal civil
893monetary penalties, including projects recommended through the
894Medicaid "Up-or-Out" Quality of Care Contract Management Program
895pursuant to s. 400.148.
896     Section 25.  Subsection (15) of section 400.0255, Florida
897Statutes, is amended to read
898     400.0255  Resident transfer or discharge; requirements and
899procedures; hearings.-
900     (15)(a)  The department's Office of Appeals Hearings shall
901conduct hearings under this section. The office shall notify the
902facility of a resident's request for a hearing.
903     (b)  The department shall, by rule, establish procedures to
904be used for fair hearings requested by residents. These
905procedures shall be equivalent to the procedures used for fair
906hearings for other Medicaid cases appearing in s. 409.285 and
907applicable rules, chapter 10-2, part VI, Florida Administrative
908Code. The burden of proof must be clear and convincing evidence.
909A hearing decision must be rendered within 90 days after receipt
910of the request for hearing.
911     (c)  If the hearing decision is favorable to the resident
912who has been transferred or discharged, the resident must be
913readmitted to the facility's first available bed.
914     (d)  The decision of the hearing officer shall be final.
915Any aggrieved party may appeal the decision to the district
916court of appeal in the appellate district where the facility is
917located. Review procedures shall be conducted in accordance with
918the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure.
919     Section 26.  Subsection (2) of section 400.063, Florida
920Statutes, is amended to read:
921     400.063  Resident protection.-
922     (2)  The agency is authorized to establish for each
923facility, subject to intervention by the agency, a separate bank
924account for the deposit to the credit of the agency of any
925moneys received from the Health Care Trust Fund or any other
926moneys received for the maintenance and care of residents in the
927facility, and the agency is authorized to disburse moneys from
928such account to pay obligations incurred for the purposes of
929this section. The agency is authorized to requisition moneys
930from the Health Care Trust Fund in advance of an actual need for
931cash on the basis of an estimate by the agency of moneys to be
932spent under the authority of this section. Any bank account
933established under this section need not be approved in advance
934of its creation as required by s. 17.58, but shall be secured by
935depository insurance equal to or greater than the balance of
936such account or by the pledge of collateral security in
937conformance with criteria established in s. 18.11. The agency
938shall notify the Chief Financial Officer of any such account so
939established and shall make a quarterly accounting to the Chief
940Financial Officer for all moneys deposited in such account.
941     Section 27.  Subsections (1) and (5) of section 400.071,
942Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
943     400.071  Application for license.-
944     (1)  In addition to the requirements of part II of chapter
945408, the application for a license shall be under oath and must
946contain the following:
947     (a)  The location of the facility for which a license is
948sought and an indication, as in the original application, that
949such location conforms to the local zoning ordinances.
950     (b)  A signed affidavit disclosing any financial or
951ownership interest that a controlling interest as defined in
952part II of chapter 408 has held in the last 5 years in any
953entity licensed by this state or any other state to provide
954health or residential care which has closed voluntarily or
955involuntarily; has filed for bankruptcy; has had a receiver
956appointed; has had a license denied, suspended, or revoked; or
957has had an injunction issued against it which was initiated by a
958regulatory agency. The affidavit must disclose the reason any
959such entity was closed, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
960     (c)  The total number of beds and the total number of
961Medicare and Medicaid certified beds.
962     (b)(d)  Information relating to the applicant and employees
963which the agency requires by rule. The applicant must
964demonstrate that sufficient numbers of qualified staff, by
965training or experience, will be employed to properly care for
966the type and number of residents who will reside in the
967facility.
968     (e)  Copies of any civil verdict or judgment involving the
969applicant rendered within the 10 years preceding the
970application, relating to medical negligence, violation of
971residents' rights, or wrongful death. As a condition of
972licensure, the licensee agrees to provide to the agency copies
973of any new verdict or judgment involving the applicant, relating
974to such matters, within 30 days after filing with the clerk of
975the court. The information required in this paragraph shall be
976maintained in the facility's licensure file and in an agency
977database which is available as a public record.
978     (5)  As a condition of licensure, each facility must
979establish and submit with its application a plan for quality
980assurance and for conducting risk management.
981     Section 28.  Section 400.0712, Florida Statutes, is amended
982to read:
983     400.0712  Application for inactive license.-
984     (1)  As specified in this section, the agency may issue an
985inactive license to a nursing home facility for all or a portion
986of its beds. Any request by a licensee that a nursing home or
987portion of a nursing home become inactive must be submitted to
988the agency in the approved format. The facility may not initiate
989any suspension of services, notify residents, or initiate
990inactivity before receiving approval from the agency; and a
991licensee that violates this provision may not be issued an
992inactive license.
993     (1)(2)  In addition to the powers granted under part II of
994chapter 408, the agency may issue an inactive license for a
995portion of the total beds to a nursing home that chooses to use
996an unoccupied contiguous portion of the facility for an
997alternative use to meet the needs of elderly persons through the
998use of less restrictive, less institutional services.
999     (a)  An inactive license issued under this subsection may
1000be granted for a period not to exceed the current licensure
1001expiration date but may be renewed by the agency at the time of
1002licensure renewal.
1003     (b)  A request to extend the inactive license must be
1004submitted to the agency in the approved format and approved by
1005the agency in writing.
1006     (c)  Nursing homes that receive an inactive license to
1007provide alternative services shall not receive preference for
1008participation in the Assisted Living for the Elderly Medicaid
1009waiver.
1010     (2)(3)  The agency shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
1011120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to implement this section.
1012     Section 29.  Section 400.111, Florida Statutes, is amended
1013to read:
1014     400.111  Disclosure of controlling interest.-In addition to
1015the requirements of part II of chapter 408, when requested by
1016the agency, the licensee shall submit a signed affidavit
1017disclosing any financial or ownership interest that a
1018controlling interest has held within the last 5 years in any
1019entity licensed by the state or any other state to provide
1020health or residential care which entity has closed voluntarily
1021or involuntarily; has filed for bankruptcy; has had a receiver
1022appointed; has had a license denied, suspended, or revoked; or
1023has had an injunction issued against it which was initiated by a
1024regulatory agency. The affidavit must disclose the reason such
1025entity was closed, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
1026     Section 30.  Subsection (2) of section 400.1183, Florida
1027Statutes, is amended to read:
1028     400.1183  Resident grievance procedures.-
1029     (2)  Each facility shall maintain records of all grievances
1030and shall retain a log for agency inspection of report to the
1031agency at the time of relicensure the total number of grievances
1032handled during the prior licensure period, a categorization of
1033the cases underlying the grievances, and the final disposition
1034of the grievances.
1035     Section 31.  Section 400.141, Florida Statutes, is amended
1036to read:
1037     400.141  Administration and management of nursing home
1038facilities.-
1039     (1)  Every licensed facility shall comply with all
1040applicable standards and rules of the agency and shall:
1041     (a)  Be under the administrative direction and charge of a
1042licensed administrator.
1043     (b)  Appoint a medical director licensed pursuant to
1044chapter 458 or chapter 459. The agency may establish by rule
1045more specific criteria for the appointment of a medical
1046director.
1047     (c)  Have available the regular, consultative, and
1048emergency services of physicians licensed by the state.
1049     (d)  Provide for resident use of a community pharmacy as
1050specified in s. 400.022(1)(q). Any other law to the contrary
1051notwithstanding, a registered pharmacist licensed in Florida,
1052that is under contract with a facility licensed under this
1053chapter or chapter 429, shall repackage a nursing facility
1054resident's bulk prescription medication which has been packaged
1055by another pharmacist licensed in any state in the United States
1056into a unit dose system compatible with the system used by the
1057nursing facility, if the pharmacist is requested to offer such
1058service. In order to be eligible for the repackaging, a resident
1059or the resident's spouse must receive prescription medication
1060benefits provided through a former employer as part of his or
1061her retirement benefits, a qualified pension plan as specified
1062in s. 4972 of the Internal Revenue Code, a federal retirement
1063program as specified under 5 C.F.R. s. 831, or a long-term care
1064policy as defined in s. 627.9404(1). A pharmacist who correctly
1065repackages and relabels the medication and the nursing facility
1066which correctly administers such repackaged medication under
1067this paragraph may not be held liable in any civil or
1068administrative action arising from the repackaging. In order to
1069be eligible for the repackaging, a nursing facility resident for
1070whom the medication is to be repackaged shall sign an informed
1071consent form provided by the facility which includes an
1072explanation of the repackaging process and which notifies the
1073resident of the immunities from liability provided in this
1074paragraph. A pharmacist who repackages and relabels prescription
1075medications, as authorized under this paragraph, may charge a
1076reasonable fee for costs resulting from the implementation of
1077this provision.
1078     (e)  Provide for the access of the facility residents to
1079dental and other health-related services, recreational services,
1080rehabilitative services, and social work services appropriate to
1081their needs and conditions and not directly furnished by the
1082licensee. When a geriatric outpatient nurse clinic is conducted
1083in accordance with rules adopted by the agency, outpatients
1084attending such clinic shall not be counted as part of the
1085general resident population of the nursing home facility, nor
1086shall the nursing staff of the geriatric outpatient clinic be
1087counted as part of the nursing staff of the facility, until the
1088outpatient clinic load exceeds 15 a day.
1089     (f)  Be allowed and encouraged by the agency to provide
1090other needed services under certain conditions. If the facility
1091has a standard licensure status, and has had no class I or class
1092II deficiencies during the past 2 years or has been awarded a
1093Gold Seal under the program established in s. 400.235, it may be
1094encouraged by the agency to provide services, including, but not
1095limited to, respite and adult day services, which enable
1096individuals to move in and out of the facility. A facility is
1097not subject to any additional licensure requirements for
1098providing these services, under the following conditions:.
1099     1.  Respite care may be offered to persons in need of
1100short-term or temporary nursing home services. For each person
1101admitted under the respite care program, the facility licensee
1102must:
1103     a.  Have a written abbreviated plan of care that, at a
1104minimum, includes nutritional requirements, medication orders,
1105physician orders, nursing assessments, and dietary preferences.
1106The nursing or physician assessments may take the place of all
1107other assessments required for full-time residents.
1108     b.  Have a contract that, at a minimum, specifies the
1109services to be provided to the respite resident, including
1110charges for services, activities, equipment, emergency medical
1111services, and the administration of medications. If multiple
1112respite admissions for a single person are anticipated, the
1113original contract is valid for 1 year after the date of
1114execution.
1115     c.  Ensure that each resident is released to his or her
1116caregiver or an individual designated in writing by the
1117caregiver.
1118     2.  A person admitted under the respite care program is:
1119     a.  Exempt from requirements in rule related to discharge
1120planning.
1121     b.  Covered by the residents' rights set forth in s.
1122400.022(1)(a)-(o) and (r)-(t). Funds or property of the resident
1123shall not be considered trust funds subject to the requirements
1124of s. 400.022(1)(h) until the resident has been in the facility
1125for more than 14 consecutive days.
1126     c.  Allowed to use his or her personal medications for the
1127respite stay if permitted by facility policy. The facility must
1128obtain a physician's order for the medications. The caregiver
1129may provide information regarding the medications as part of the
1130nursing assessment and that information must agree with the
1131physician's order. Medications shall be released with the
1132resident upon discharge in accordance with current physician's
1133orders.
1134     3.  A person receiving respite care is entitled to reside
1135in the facility for a total of 60 days within a contract year or
1136within a calendar year if the contract is for less than 12
1137months. However, each single stay may not exceed 14 days. If a
1138stay exceeds 14 consecutive days, the facility must comply with
1139all assessment and care planning requirements applicable to
1140nursing home residents.
1141     4.  A person receiving respite care must reside in a
1142licensed nursing home bed.
1143     5.  A prospective respite resident must provide medical
1144information from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse
1145practitioner and other information from the primary caregiver as
1146may be required by the facility before or at the time of
1147admission to receive respite care. The medical information must
1148include a physician's order for respite care and proof of a
1149physical examination by a licensed physician, physician
1150assistant, or nurse practitioner. The physician's order and
1151physical examination may be used to provide intermittent respite
1152care for up to 12 months after the date the order is written.
1153     6.  The facility must assume the duties of the primary
1154caregiver. To ensure continuity of care and services, the
1155resident is entitled to retain his or her personal physician and
1156must have access to medically necessary services such as
1157physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy, as
1158needed. The facility must arrange for transportation to these
1159services if necessary. Respite care must be provided in
1160accordance with this part and rules adopted by the agency.
1161However, the agency shall, by rule, adopt modified requirements
1162for resident assessment, resident care plans, resident
1163contracts, physician orders, and other provisions, as
1164appropriate, for short-term or temporary nursing home services.
1165     7.  The agency shall allow for shared programming and staff
1166in a facility which meets minimum standards and offers services
1167pursuant to this paragraph, but, if the facility is cited for
1168deficiencies in patient care, may require additional staff and
1169programs appropriate to the needs of service recipients. A
1170person who receives respite care may not be counted as a
1171resident of the facility for purposes of the facility's licensed
1172capacity unless that person receives 24-hour respite care. A
1173person receiving either respite care for 24 hours or longer or
1174adult day services must be included when calculating minimum
1175staffing for the facility. Any costs and revenues generated by a
1176nursing home facility from nonresidential programs or services
1177shall be excluded from the calculations of Medicaid per diems
1178for nursing home institutional care reimbursement.
1179     (g)  If the facility has a standard license or is a Gold
1180Seal facility, exceeds the minimum required hours of licensed
1181nursing and certified nursing assistant direct care per resident
1182per day, and is part of a continuing care facility licensed
1183under chapter 651 or a retirement community that offers other
1184services pursuant to part III of this chapter or part I or part
1185III of chapter 429 on a single campus, be allowed to share
1186programming and staff. At the time of inspection and in the
1187semiannual report required pursuant to paragraph (o), a
1188continuing care facility or retirement community that uses this
1189option must demonstrate through staffing records that minimum
1190staffing requirements for the facility were met. Licensed nurses
1191and certified nursing assistants who work in the nursing home
1192facility may be used to provide services elsewhere on campus if
1193the facility exceeds the minimum number of direct care hours
1194required per resident per day and the total number of residents
1195receiving direct care services from a licensed nurse or a
1196certified nursing assistant does not cause the facility to
1197violate the staffing ratios required under s. 400.23(3)(a).
1198Compliance with the minimum staffing ratios shall be based on
1199total number of residents receiving direct care services,
1200regardless of where they reside on campus. If the facility
1201receives a conditional license, it may not share staff until the
1202conditional license status ends. This paragraph does not
1203restrict the agency's authority under federal or state law to
1204require additional staff if a facility is cited for deficiencies
1205in care which are caused by an insufficient number of certified
1206nursing assistants or licensed nurses. The agency may adopt
1207rules for the documentation necessary to determine compliance
1208with this provision.
1209     (h)  Maintain the facility premises and equipment and
1210conduct its operations in a safe and sanitary manner.
1211     (i)  If the licensee furnishes food service, provide a
1212wholesome and nourishing diet sufficient to meet generally
1213accepted standards of proper nutrition for its residents and
1214provide such therapeutic diets as may be prescribed by attending
1215physicians. In making rules to implement this paragraph, the
1216agency shall be guided by standards recommended by nationally
1217recognized professional groups and associations with knowledge
1218of dietetics.
1219     (j)  Keep full records of resident admissions and
1220discharges; medical and general health status, including medical
1221records, personal and social history, and identity and address
1222of next of kin or other persons who may have responsibility for
1223the affairs of the residents; and individual resident care plans
1224including, but not limited to, prescribed services, service
1225frequency and duration, and service goals. The records shall be
1226open to inspection by the agency. The facility must maintain
1227clinical records on each resident in accordance with accepted
1228professional standards and practices that are complete,
1229accurately documented, readily accessible, and systematically
1230organized.
1231     (k)  Keep such fiscal records of its operations and
1232conditions as may be necessary to provide information pursuant
1233to this part.
1234     (l)  Furnish copies of personnel records for employees
1235affiliated with such facility, to any other facility licensed by
1236this state requesting this information pursuant to this part.
1237Such information contained in the records may include, but is
1238not limited to, disciplinary matters and any reason for
1239termination. Any facility releasing such records pursuant to
1240this part shall be considered to be acting in good faith and may
1241not be held liable for information contained in such records,
1242absent a showing that the facility maliciously falsified such
1243records.
1244     (m)  Publicly display a poster provided by the agency
1245containing the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for the
1246state's abuse hotline, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, the
1247Agency for Health Care Administration consumer hotline, the
1248Advocacy Center for Persons with Disabilities, the Florida
1249Statewide Advocacy Council, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit,
1250with a clear description of the assistance to be expected from
1251each.
1252     (n)  Submit to the agency the information specified in s.
1253400.071(1)(b) for a management company within 30 days after the
1254effective date of the management agreement.
1255     (n)(o)1.  Submit semiannually to the agency, or more
1256frequently if requested by the agency, information regarding
1257facility staff-to-resident ratios, staff turnover, and staff
1258stability, including information regarding certified nursing
1259assistants, licensed nurses, the director of nursing, and the
1260facility administrator. For purposes of this reporting:
1261     a.  Staff-to-resident ratios must be reported in the
1262categories specified in s. 400.23(3)(a) and applicable rules.
1263The ratio must be reported as an average for the most recent
1264calendar quarter.
1265     b.  Staff turnover must be reported for the most recent 12-
1266month period ending on the last workday of the most recent
1267calendar quarter prior to the date the information is submitted.
1268The turnover rate must be computed quarterly, with the annual
1269rate being the cumulative sum of the quarterly rates. The
1270turnover rate is the total number of terminations or separations
1271experienced during the quarter, excluding any employee
1272terminated during a probationary period of 3 months or less,
1273divided by the total number of staff employed at the end of the
1274period for which the rate is computed, and expressed as a
1275percentage.
1276     c.  The formula for determining staff stability is the
1277total number of employees that have been employed for more than
127812 months, divided by the total number of employees employed at
1279the end of the most recent calendar quarter, and expressed as a
1280percentage.
1281     d.  A nursing facility that has failed to comply with state
1282minimum-staffing requirements for 2 consecutive days is
1283prohibited from accepting new admissions until the facility has
1284achieved the minimum-staffing requirements for a period of 6
1285consecutive days. For the purposes of this sub-subparagraph, any
1286person who was a resident of the facility and was absent from
1287the facility for the purpose of receiving medical care at a
1288separate location or was on a leave of absence is not considered
1289a new admission. Failure to impose such an admissions moratorium
1290is subject to a $1,000 fine constitutes a class II deficiency.
1291     2.e.  A nursing facility which does not have a conditional
1292license may be cited for failure to comply with the standards in
1293s. 400.23(3)(a)1.b. and c. only if it has failed to meet those
1294standards on 2 consecutive days or if it has failed to meet at
1295least 97 percent of those standards on any one day.
1296     3.f.  A facility which has a conditional license must be in
1297compliance with the standards in s. 400.23(3)(a) at all times.
1298     2.  This paragraph does not limit the agency's ability to
1299impose a deficiency or take other actions if a facility does not
1300have enough staff to meet the residents' needs.
1301     (o)(p)  Notify a licensed physician when a resident
1302exhibits signs of dementia or cognitive impairment or has a
1303change of condition in order to rule out the presence of an
1304underlying physiological condition that may be contributing to
1305such dementia or impairment. The notification must occur within
130630 days after the acknowledgment of such signs by facility
1307staff. If an underlying condition is determined to exist, the
1308facility shall arrange, with the appropriate health care
1309provider, the necessary care and services to treat the
1310condition.
1311     (p)(q)  If the facility implements a dining and hospitality
1312attendant program, ensure that the program is developed and
1313implemented under the supervision of the facility director of
1314nursing. A licensed nurse, licensed speech or occupational
1315therapist, or a registered dietitian must conduct training of
1316dining and hospitality attendants. A person employed by a
1317facility as a dining and hospitality attendant must perform
1318tasks under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.
1319     (r)  Report to the agency any filing for bankruptcy
1320protection by the facility or its parent corporation,
1321divestiture or spin-off of its assets, or corporate
1322reorganization within 30 days after the completion of such
1323activity.
1324     (q)(s)  Maintain general and professional liability
1325insurance coverage that is in force at all times. In lieu of
1326general and professional liability insurance coverage, a state-
1327designated teaching nursing home and its affiliated assisted
1328living facilities created under s. 430.80 may demonstrate proof
1329of financial responsibility as provided in s. 430.80(3)(g).
1330     (r)(t)  Maintain in the medical record for each resident a
1331daily chart of certified nursing assistant services provided to
1332the resident. The certified nursing assistant who is caring for
1333the resident must complete this record by the end of his or her
1334shift. This record must indicate assistance with activities of
1335daily living, assistance with eating, and assistance with
1336drinking, and must record each offering of nutrition and
1337hydration for those residents whose plan of care or assessment
1338indicates a risk for malnutrition or dehydration.
1339     (s)(u)  Before November 30 of each year, subject to the
1340availability of an adequate supply of the necessary vaccine,
1341provide for immunizations against influenza viruses to all its
1342consenting residents in accordance with the recommendations of
1343the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
1344subject to exemptions for medical contraindications and
1345religious or personal beliefs. Subject to these exemptions, any
1346consenting person who becomes a resident of the facility after
1347November 30 but before March 31 of the following year must be
1348immunized within 5 working days after becoming a resident.
1349Immunization shall not be provided to any resident who provides
1350documentation that he or she has been immunized as required by
1351this paragraph. This paragraph does not prohibit a resident from
1352receiving the immunization from his or her personal physician if
1353he or she so chooses. A resident who chooses to receive the
1354immunization from his or her personal physician shall provide
1355proof of immunization to the facility. The agency may adopt and
1356enforce any rules necessary to comply with or implement this
1357paragraph.
1358     (t)(v)  Assess all residents for eligibility for
1359pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (PPV) and vaccinate
1360residents when indicated within 60 days after the effective date
1361of this act in accordance with the recommendations of the United
1362States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, subject to
1363exemptions for medical contraindications and religious or
1364personal beliefs. Residents admitted after the effective date of
1365this act shall be assessed within 5 working days of admission
1366and, when indicated, vaccinated within 60 days in accordance
1367with the recommendations of the United States Centers for
1368Disease Control and Prevention, subject to exemptions for
1369medical contraindications and religious or personal beliefs.
1370Immunization shall not be provided to any resident who provides
1371documentation that he or she has been immunized as required by
1372this paragraph. This paragraph does not prohibit a resident from
1373receiving the immunization from his or her personal physician if
1374he or she so chooses. A resident who chooses to receive the
1375immunization from his or her personal physician shall provide
1376proof of immunization to the facility. The agency may adopt and
1377enforce any rules necessary to comply with or implement this
1378paragraph.
1379     (u)(w)  Annually encourage and promote to its employees the
1380benefits associated with immunizations against influenza viruses
1381in accordance with the recommendations of the United States
1382Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency may adopt
1383and enforce any rules necessary to comply with or implement this
1384paragraph.
1385
1386This subsection does not limit the agency's ability to impose a
1387deficiency or take other actions if a facility does not have
1388enough staff to meet the residents' needs.
1389     (2)  Facilities that have been awarded a Gold Seal under
1390the program established in s. 400.235 may develop a plan to
1391provide certified nursing assistant training as prescribed by
1392federal regulations and state rules and may apply to the agency
1393for approval of their program.
1394     (3)  A facility may charge a reasonable fee for the copying
1395of resident records. The fee may not exceed $1 per page for the
1396first 25 pages and 25 cents per page for each page in excess of
139725 pages.
1398     Section 32.  Subsection (3) of section 400.142, Florida
1399Statutes, is amended to read:
1400     400.142  Emergency medication kits; orders not to
1401resuscitate.-
1402     (3)  Facility staff may withhold or withdraw
1403cardiopulmonary resuscitation if presented with an order not to
1404resuscitate executed pursuant to s. 401.45. The agency shall
1405adopt rules providing for the implementation of such orders.
1406Facility staff and facilities shall not be subject to criminal
1407prosecution or civil liability, nor be considered to have
1408engaged in negligent or unprofessional conduct, for withholding
1409or withdrawing cardiopulmonary resuscitation pursuant to such an
1410order and rules adopted by the agency. The absence of an order
1411not to resuscitate executed pursuant to s. 401.45 does not
1412preclude a physician from withholding or withdrawing
1413cardiopulmonary resuscitation as otherwise permitted by law.
1414     Section 33.  Sections 400.0234, 400.145, and 429.294,
1415Florida Statutes, are repealed.
1416     Section 34.  Subsection (9) and subsections (11) through
1417(15) of section 400.147, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as
1418subsections (8) through (13), respectively, and present
1419subsections (7), (8), and (10) of that section are amended to
1420read:
1421     400.147  Internal risk management and quality assurance
1422program.-
1423     (7)  The facility shall initiate an investigation and shall
1424notify the agency within 1 business day after the risk manager
1425or his or her designee has received a report pursuant to
1426paragraph (1)(d). Each facility shall complete the investigation
1427and submit a report to the agency within 15 calendar days after
1428an incident is determined to be an adverse incident. The
1429notification must be made in writing and be provided
1430electronically, by facsimile device or overnight mail delivery.
1431The agency shall develop a form for reporting this information
1432and the notification must include the name of the risk manager
1433of the facility, information regarding the identity of the
1434affected resident, the type of adverse incident, the initiation
1435of an investigation by the facility, and whether the events
1436causing or resulting in the adverse incident represent a
1437potential risk to any other resident. The notification is
1438confidential as provided by law and is not discoverable or
1439admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in
1440disciplinary proceedings by the agency or the appropriate
1441regulatory board. The agency may investigate, as it deems
1442appropriate, any such incident and prescribe measures that must
1443or may be taken in response to the incident. The agency shall
1444review each report incident and determine whether it potentially
1445involved conduct by the health care professional who is subject
1446to disciplinary action, in which case the provisions of s.
1447456.073 shall apply.
1448     (8)(a)  Each facility shall complete the investigation and
1449submit an adverse incident report to the agency for each adverse
1450incident within 15 calendar days after its occurrence. If, after
1451a complete investigation, the risk manager determines that the
1452incident was not an adverse incident as defined in subsection
1453(5), the facility shall include this information in the report.
1454The agency shall develop a form for reporting this information.
1455     (b)  The information reported to the agency pursuant to
1456paragraph (a) which relates to persons licensed under chapter
1457458, chapter 459, chapter 461, or chapter 466 shall be reviewed
1458by the agency. The agency shall determine whether any of the
1459incidents potentially involved conduct by a health care
1460professional who is subject to disciplinary action, in which
1461case the provisions of s. 456.073 shall apply.
1462     (c)  The report submitted to the agency must also contain
1463the name of the risk manager of the facility.
1464     (d)  The adverse incident report is confidential as
1465provided by law and is not discoverable or admissible in any
1466civil or administrative action, except in disciplinary
1467proceedings by the agency or the appropriate regulatory board.
1468     (10)  By the 10th of each month, each facility subject to
1469this section shall report any notice received pursuant to s.
1470400.0233(2) and each initial complaint that was filed with the
1471clerk of the court and served on the facility during the
1472previous month by a resident or a resident's family member,
1473guardian, conservator, or personal legal representative. The
1474report must include the name of the resident, the resident's
1475date of birth and social security number, the Medicaid
1476identification number for Medicaid-eligible persons, the date or
1477dates of the incident leading to the claim or dates of
1478residency, if applicable, and the type of injury or violation of
1479rights alleged to have occurred. Each facility shall also submit
1480a copy of the notices received pursuant to s. 400.0233(2) and
1481complaints filed with the clerk of the court. This report is
1482confidential as provided by law and is not discoverable or
1483admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in such
1484actions brought by the agency to enforce the provisions of this
1485part.
1486     Section 35.  Section 400.148, Florida Statutes, is
1487repealed.
1488     Section 36.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
1489400.179, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1490     400.179  Liability for Medicaid underpayments and
1491overpayments.-
1492     (2)  Because any transfer of a nursing facility may expose
1493the fact that Medicaid may have underpaid or overpaid the
1494transferor, and because in most instances, any such underpayment
1495or overpayment can only be determined following a formal field
1496audit, the liabilities for any such underpayments or
1497overpayments shall be as follows:
1498     (e)  For the 2009-2010 fiscal year only, the provisions of
1499paragraph (d) shall not apply. This paragraph expires July 1,
15002010.
1501     Section 37.  Subsection (3) of section 400.19, Florida
1502Statutes, is amended to read:
1503     400.19  Right of entry and inspection.-
1504     (3)  The agency shall every 15 months conduct at least one
1505unannounced inspection to determine compliance by the licensee
1506with statutes, and with rules promulgated under the provisions
1507of those statutes, governing minimum standards of construction,
1508quality and adequacy of care, and rights of residents. The
1509survey shall be conducted every 6 months for the next 2-year
1510period if the facility has been cited for a class I deficiency,
1511has been cited for two or more class II deficiencies arising
1512from separate surveys or investigations within a 60-day period,
1513or has had three or more substantiated complaints within a 6-
1514month period, each resulting in at least one class I or class II
1515deficiency. In addition to any other fees or fines in this part,
1516the agency shall assess a fine for each facility that is subject
1517to the 6-month survey cycle. The fine for the 2-year period
1518shall be $6,000, one-half to be paid at the completion of each
1519survey. The agency may adjust this fine by the change in the
1520Consumer Price Index, based on the 12 months immediately
1521preceding the increase, to cover the cost of the additional
1522surveys. The agency shall verify through subsequent inspection
1523that any deficiency identified during inspection is corrected.
1524However, the agency may verify the correction of a class III or
1525class IV deficiency unrelated to resident rights or resident
1526care without reinspecting the facility if adequate written
1527documentation has been received from the facility, which
1528provides assurance that the deficiency has been corrected. The
1529giving or causing to be given of advance notice of such
1530unannounced inspections by an employee of the agency to any
1531unauthorized person shall constitute cause for suspension of not
1532fewer than 5 working days according to the provisions of chapter
1533110.
1534     Section 38.  Subsection (5) of section 400.23, Florida
1535Statutes, is amended to read:
1536     400.23  Rules; evaluation and deficiencies; licensure
1537status.-
1538     (5)(a)  The agency, in collaboration with the Division of
1539Children's Medical Services Network of the Department of Health,
1540must, no later than December 31, 1993, adopt rules for minimum
1541standards of care for persons under 21 years of age who reside
1542in nursing home facilities. The rules must include a methodology
1543for reviewing a nursing home facility under ss. 408.031-408.045
1544which serves only persons under 21 years of age. A facility may
1545be exempt from these standards for specific persons between 18
1546and 21 years of age, if the person's physician agrees that
1547minimum standards of care based on age are not necessary.
1548     (b)  The agency, in collaboration with the Division of
1549Children's Medical Services Network, shall adopt rules for
1550minimum staffing requirements for nursing home facilities that
1551serve persons under 21 years of age, which shall apply in lieu
1552of the standards contained in subsection (3).
1553     1.  For persons under 21 years of age who require skilled
1554care, the requirements shall include a minimum combined average
1555of licensed nurses, respiratory therapists, respiratory care
1556practitioners, and certified nursing assistants of 3.9 hours of
1557direct care per resident per day for each nursing home facility.
1558     2.  For persons under 21 years of age who are fragile, the
1559requirements shall include a minimum combined average of
1560licensed nurses, respiratory therapists, respiratory care
1561practitioners, and certified nursing assistants of 5 hours of
1562direct care per resident per day for each nursing home facility.
1563     Section 39.  Subsection (1) of section 400.275, Florida
1564Statutes, is amended to read:
1565     400.275  Agency duties.-
1566     (1)  The agency shall ensure that each newly hired nursing
1567home surveyor, as a part of basic training, is assigned full-
1568time to a licensed nursing home for at least 2 days within a 7-
1569day period to observe facility operations outside of the survey
1570process before the surveyor begins survey responsibilities. Such
1571observations may not be the sole basis of a deficiency citation
1572against the facility. The agency may not assign an individual to
1573be a member of a survey team for purposes of a survey,
1574evaluation, or consultation visit at a nursing home facility in
1575which the surveyor was an employee within the preceding 2 5
1576years.
1577     Section 40.  Subsection (27) of section 400.462, Florida
1578Statutes, is amended to read:
1579     400.462  Definitions.-As used in this part, the term:
1580     (27)  "Remuneration" means any payment or other benefit
1581made directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in
1582kind. However, when the term is used in any provision of law
1583relating to a health care provider, such term does not mean an
1584item with an individual value of up to $15, including, but not
1585limited to, plaques, certificates, trophies, or novelties that
1586are intended solely for presentation or are customarily given
1587away solely for promotional, recognition, or advertising
1588purposes.
1589     Section 41.  Subsection (2) of section 400.484, Florida
1590Statutes, is amended to read:
1591     400.484  Right of inspection; violations deficiencies;
1592fines.-
1593     (2)  The agency shall impose fines for various classes of
1594violations deficiencies in accordance with the following
1595schedule:
1596     (a)  Class I violations are defined in s. 408.813. A class
1597I deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that results in a
1598patient's death, disablement, or permanent injury, or places a
1599patient at imminent risk of death, disablement, or permanent
1600injury. Upon finding a class I violation deficiency, the agency
1601shall impose an administrative fine in the amount of $15,000 for
1602each occurrence and each day that the violation deficiency
1603exists.
1604     (b)  Class II violations are defined in s. 408.813. A class
1605II deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that has a
1606direct adverse effect on the health, safety, or security of a
1607patient. Upon finding a class II violation deficiency, the
1608agency shall impose an administrative fine in the amount of
1609$5,000 for each occurrence and each day that the violation
1610deficiency exists.
1611     (c)  Class III violations are defined in s. 408.813. A
1612class III deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that has
1613an indirect, adverse effect on the health, safety, or security
1614of a patient. Upon finding an uncorrected or repeated class III
1615violation deficiency, the agency shall impose an administrative
1616fine not to exceed $1,000 for each occurrence and each day that
1617the uncorrected or repeated violation deficiency exists.
1618     (d)  Class IV violations are defined in s. 408.813. A class
1619IV deficiency is any act, omission, or practice related to
1620required reports, forms, or documents which does not have the
1621potential of negatively affecting patients. These violations are
1622of a type that the agency determines do not threaten the health,
1623safety, or security of patients. Upon finding an uncorrected or
1624repeated class IV violation deficiency, the agency shall impose
1625an administrative fine not to exceed $500 for each occurrence
1626and each day that the uncorrected or repeated violation
1627deficiency exists.
1628     Section 42.  Subsections (16) and (17) of section 400.506,
1629Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (17) and (18),
1630respectively, paragraph (a) of subsection (15) is amended, and a
1631new subsection (16) is added to that section, to read:
1632     400.506  Licensure of nurse registries; requirements;
1633penalties.-
1634     (15)(a)  The agency may deny, suspend, or revoke the
1635license of a nurse registry and shall impose a fine of $5,000
1636against a nurse registry that:
1637     1.  Provides services to residents in an assisted living
1638facility for which the nurse registry does not receive fair
1639market value remuneration.
1640     2.  Provides staffing to an assisted living facility for
1641which the nurse registry does not receive fair market value
1642remuneration.
1643     3.  Fails to provide the agency, upon request, with copies
1644of all contracts with assisted living facilities which were
1645executed within the last 5 years.
1646     4.  Gives remuneration to a case manager, discharge
1647planner, facility-based staff member, or third-party vendor who
1648is involved in the discharge planning process of a facility
1649licensed under chapter 395 or this chapter and from whom the
1650nurse registry receives referrals. A nurse registry is exempt
1651from this subparagraph if it does not bill the Florida Medicaid
1652program or the Medicare program or share a controlling interest
1653with any entity licensed, registered, or certified under part II
1654of chapter 408 that bills the Florida Medicaid program or the
1655Medicare program.
1656     5.  Gives remuneration to a physician, a member of the
1657physician's office staff, or an immediate family member of the
1658physician, and the nurse registry received a patient referral in
1659the last 12 months from that physician or the physician's office
1660staff. A nurse registry is exempt from this subparagraph if it
1661does not bill the Florida Medicaid program or the Medicare
1662program or share a controlling interest with any entity
1663licensed, registered, or certified under part II of chapter 408
1664that bills the Florida Medicaid program or the Medicare program.
1665     (16)  An administrator may manage only one nurse registry,
1666except that an administrator may manage up to five registries if
1667all five registries have identical controlling interests as
1668defined in s. 408.803 and are located within one agency
1669geographic service area or within an immediately contiguous
1670county. An administrator shall designate, in writing, for each
1671licensed entity, a qualified alternate administrator to serve
1672during the administrator's absence.
1673     Section 43.  Subsection (1) of section 400.509, Florida
1674Statutes, is amended to read:
1675     400.509  Registration of particular service providers
1676exempt from licensure; certificate of registration; regulation
1677of registrants.-
1678     (1)  Any organization that provides companion services or
1679homemaker services and does not provide a home health service to
1680a person is exempt from licensure under this part. However, any
1681organization that provides companion services or homemaker
1682services must register with the agency. An organization under
1683contract with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities that
1684provides companion services only for persons with a
1685developmental disability, as defined in s. 393.063, are exempt
1686from registration.
1687     Section 44.  Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) and subsection
1688(4) of section 400.606, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1689     400.606  License; application; renewal; conditional license
1690or permit; certificate of need.-
1691     (1)  In addition to the requirements of part II of chapter
1692408, the initial application and change of ownership application
1693must be accompanied by a plan for the delivery of home,
1694residential, and homelike inpatient hospice services to
1695terminally ill persons and their families. Such plan must
1696contain, but need not be limited to:
1697     (i)  The projected annual operating cost of the hospice.
1698If the applicant is an existing licensed health care provider,
1699the application must be accompanied by a copy of the most recent
1700profit-loss statement and, if applicable, the most recent
1701licensure inspection report.
1702     (4)  A freestanding hospice facility that is primarily
1703engaged in providing inpatient and related services and that is
1704not otherwise licensed as a health care facility shall be
1705required to obtain a certificate of need. However, a
1706freestanding hospice facility with six or fewer beds shall not
1707be required to comply with institutional standards such as, but
1708not limited to, standards requiring sprinkler systems, emergency
1709electrical systems, or special lavatory devices.
1710     Section 45.  Subsection (2) of section 400.607, Florida
1711Statutes, is amended to read:
1712     400.607  Denial, suspension, revocation of license;
1713emergency actions; imposition of administrative fine; grounds.-
1714     (2)  A violation of this part, part II of chapter 408, or
1715applicable rules Any of the following actions by a licensed
1716hospice or any of its employees shall be grounds for
1717administrative action by the agency against a hospice.:
1718     (a)  A violation of the provisions of this part, part II of
1719chapter 408, or applicable rules.
1720     (b)  An intentional or negligent act materially affecting
1721the health or safety of a patient.
1722     Section 46.  Section 400.915, Florida Statutes, is amended
1723to read:
1724     400.915  Construction and renovation; requirements.-The
1725requirements for the construction or renovation of a PPEC center
1726shall comply with:
1727     (1)  The provisions of chapter 553, which pertain to
1728building construction standards, including plumbing, electrical
1729code, glass, manufactured buildings, accessibility for the
1730physically disabled;
1731     (2)  The provisions of s. 633.022 and applicable rules
1732pertaining to physical minimum standards for nonresidential
1733child care physical facilities in rule 10M-12.003, Florida
1734Administrative Code, Child Care Standards; and
1735     (3)  The standards or rules adopted pursuant to this part
1736and part II of chapter 408.
1737     Section 47.  Subsection (1) of section 400.925, Florida
1738Statutes, is amended to read:
1739     400.925  Definitions.-As used in this part, the term:
1740     (1)  "Accrediting organizations" means the Joint Commission
1741on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations or other national
1742accreditation agencies whose standards for accreditation are
1743comparable to those required by this part for licensure.
1744     Section 48.  Subsection (2) of section 400.931, Florida
1745Statutes, is amended to read:
1746     400.931  Application for license; fee; provisional license;
1747temporary permit.-
1748     (2)  An applicant for initial licensure, change of
1749ownership, or renewal to operate a licensed home medical
1750equipment provider at a location outside the state must submit
1751documentation of accreditation or an application for
1752accreditation from an accrediting organization that is
1753recognized by the agency. An applicant that has applied for
1754accreditation must provide proof of accreditation that is not
1755conditional or provisional within 120 days after the date the
1756agency receives the application for licensure or the application
1757shall be withdrawn from further consideration. Such
1758accreditation must be maintained by the home medical equipment
1759provider to maintain licensure. As an alternative to submitting
1760proof of financial ability to operate as required in s.
1761408.810(8), the applicant may submit a $50,000 surety bond to
1762the agency.
1763     Section 49.  Subsection (2) of section 400.932, Florida
1764Statutes, is amended to read:
1765     400.932  Administrative penalties.-
1766     (2)  A violation of this part, part II of chapter 408, or
1767applicable rules Any of the following actions by an employee of
1768a home medical equipment provider shall be are grounds for
1769administrative action or penalties by the agency.:
1770     (a)  Violation of this part, part II of chapter 408, or
1771applicable rules.
1772     (b)  An intentional, reckless, or negligent act that
1773materially affects the health or safety of a patient.
1774     Section 50.  Subsection (3) of section 400.967, Florida
1775Statutes, is amended to read:
1776     400.967  Rules and classification of violations
1777deficiencies.-
1778     (3)  The agency shall adopt rules to provide that, when the
1779criteria established under this part and part II of chapter 408
1780are not met, such violations deficiencies shall be classified
1781according to the nature of the violation deficiency. The agency
1782shall indicate the classification on the face of the notice of
1783deficiencies as follows:
1784     (a)  Class I violations deficiencies are defined in s.
1785408.813 those which the agency determines present an imminent
1786danger to the residents or guests of the facility or a
1787substantial probability that death or serious physical harm
1788would result therefrom. The condition or practice constituting a
1789class I violation must be abated or eliminated immediately,
1790unless a fixed period of time, as determined by the agency, is
1791required for correction. A class I violation deficiency is
1792subject to a civil penalty in an amount not less than $5,000 and
1793not exceeding $10,000 for each violation deficiency. A fine may
1794be levied notwithstanding the correction of the violation
1795deficiency.
1796     (b)  Class II violations deficiencies are defined in s.
1797408.813 those which the agency determines have a direct or
1798immediate relationship to the health, safety, or security of the
1799facility residents, other than class I deficiencies. A class II
1800violation deficiency is subject to a civil penalty in an amount
1801not less than $1,000 and not exceeding $5,000 for each violation
1802deficiency. A citation for a class II violation deficiency shall
1803specify the time within which the violation deficiency must be
1804corrected. If a class II violation deficiency is corrected
1805within the time specified, no civil penalty shall be imposed,
1806unless it is a repeated offense.
1807     (c)  Class III violations deficiencies are defined in s.
1808408.813 those which the agency determines to have an indirect or
1809potential relationship to the health, safety, or security of the
1810facility residents, other than class I or class II deficiencies.
1811A class III violation deficiency is subject to a civil penalty
1812of not less than $500 and not exceeding $1,000 for each
1813deficiency. A citation for a class III violation deficiency
1814shall specify the time within which the violation deficiency
1815must be corrected. If a class III violation deficiency is
1816corrected within the time specified, no civil penalty shall be
1817imposed, unless it is a repeated offense.
1818     (d)  Class IV violations are defined in s. 408.813. Upon
1819finding an uncorrected or repeated class IV violation, the
1820agency shall impose an administrative fine not to exceed $500
1821for each occurrence and each day that the uncorrected or
1822repeated violation exists.
1823     Section 51.  Subsections (4) and (7) of section 400.9905,
1824Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1825     400.9905  Definitions.-
1826     (4)  "Clinic" means an entity at which health care services
1827are provided to individuals and which tenders charges for
1828reimbursement for such services, including a mobile clinic and a
1829portable health service or equipment provider. For purposes of
1830this part, the term does not include and the licensure
1831requirements of this part do not apply to:
1832     (a)  Entities licensed or registered by the state under
1833chapter 395; or entities licensed or registered by the state and
1834providing only health care services within the scope of services
1835authorized under their respective licenses granted under ss.
1836383.30-383.335, chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter 397, this
1837chapter except part X, chapter 429, chapter 463, chapter 465,
1838chapter 466, chapter 478, part I of chapter 483, chapter 484, or
1839chapter 651; end-stage renal disease providers authorized under
184042 C.F.R. part 405, subpart U; or providers certified under 42
1841C.F.R. part 485, subpart B or subpart H; or any entity that
1842provides neonatal or pediatric hospital-based health care
1843services or other health care services by licensed practitioners
1844solely within a hospital licensed under chapter 395.
1845     (b)  Entities that own, directly or indirectly, entities
1846licensed or registered by the state pursuant to chapter 395; or
1847entities that own, directly or indirectly, entities licensed or
1848registered by the state and providing only health care services
1849within the scope of services authorized pursuant to their
1850respective licenses granted under ss. 383.30-383.335, chapter
1851390, chapter 394, chapter 397, this chapter except part X,
1852chapter 429, chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 478,
1853part I of chapter 483, chapter 484, chapter 651; end-stage renal
1854disease providers authorized under 42 C.F.R. part 405, subpart
1855U; or providers certified under 42 C.F.R. part 485, subpart B or
1856subpart H; or any entity that provides neonatal or pediatric
1857hospital-based health care services by licensed practitioners
1858solely within a hospital licensed under chapter 395.
1859     (c)  Entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by an
1860entity licensed or registered by the state pursuant to chapter
1861395; or entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, by an
1862entity licensed or registered by the state and providing only
1863health care services within the scope of services authorized
1864pursuant to their respective licenses granted under ss. 383.30-
1865383.335, chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter 397, this chapter
1866except part X, chapter 429, chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter
1867466, chapter 478, part I of chapter 483, chapter 484, or chapter
1868651; end-stage renal disease providers authorized under 42
1869C.F.R. part 405, subpart U; or providers certified under 42
1870C.F.R. part 485, subpart B or subpart H; or any entity that
1871provides neonatal or pediatric hospital-based health care
1872services by licensed practitioners solely within a hospital
1873under chapter 395.
1874     (d)  Entities that are under common ownership, directly or
1875indirectly, with an entity licensed or registered by the state
1876pursuant to chapter 395; or entities that are under common
1877ownership, directly or indirectly, with an entity licensed or
1878registered by the state and providing only health care services
1879within the scope of services authorized pursuant to their
1880respective licenses granted under ss. 383.30-383.335, chapter
1881390, chapter 394, chapter 397, this chapter except part X,
1882chapter 429, chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 478,
1883part I of chapter 483, chapter 484, or chapter 651; end-stage
1884renal disease providers authorized under 42 C.F.R. part 405,
1885subpart U; or providers certified under 42 C.F.R. part 485,
1886subpart B or subpart H; or any entity that provides neonatal or
1887pediatric hospital-based health care services by licensed
1888practitioners solely within a hospital licensed under chapter
1889395.
1890     (e)  An entity that is exempt from federal taxation under
189126 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(3) or (4), an employee stock ownership plan
1892under 26 U.S.C. s. 409 that has a board of trustees not less
1893than two-thirds of which are Florida-licensed health care
1894practitioners and provides only physical therapy services under
1895physician orders, any community college or university clinic,
1896and any entity owned or operated by the federal or state
1897government, including agencies, subdivisions, or municipalities
1898thereof.
1899     (f)  A sole proprietorship, group practice, partnership, or
1900corporation that provides health care services by physicians
1901covered by s. 627.419, that is directly supervised by one or
1902more of such physicians, and that is wholly owned by one or more
1903of those physicians or by a physician and the spouse, parent,
1904child, or sibling of that physician.
1905     (g)  A sole proprietorship, group practice, partnership, or
1906corporation that provides health care services by licensed
1907health care practitioners under chapter 457, chapter 458,
1908chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter 462, chapter 463,
1909chapter 466, chapter 467, chapter 480, chapter 484, chapter 486,
1910chapter 490, chapter 491, or part I, part III, part X, part
1911XIII, or part XIV of chapter 468, or s. 464.012, which are
1912wholly owned by one or more licensed health care practitioners,
1913or the licensed health care practitioners set forth in this
1914paragraph and the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of a
1915licensed health care practitioner, so long as one of the owners
1916who is a licensed health care practitioner is supervising the
1917business activities and is legally responsible for the entity's
1918compliance with all federal and state laws. However, a health
1919care practitioner may not supervise services beyond the scope of
1920the practitioner's license, except that, for the purposes of
1921this part, a clinic owned by a licensee in s. 456.053(3)(b) that
1922provides only services authorized pursuant to s. 456.053(3)(b)
1923may be supervised by a licensee specified in s. 456.053(3)(b).
1924     (h)  Clinical facilities affiliated with an accredited
1925medical school at which training is provided for medical
1926students, residents, or fellows.
1927     (i)  Entities that provide only oncology or radiation
1928therapy services by physicians licensed under chapter 458 or
1929chapter 459 or entities that provide oncology or radiation
1930therapy services by physicians licensed under chapter 458 or
1931chapter 459 which are owned by a corporation whose shares are
1932publicly traded on a recognized stock exchange.
1933     (j)  Clinical facilities affiliated with a college of
1934chiropractic accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education
1935at which training is provided for chiropractic students.
1936     (k)  Entities that provide licensed practitioners to staff
1937emergency departments or to deliver anesthesia services in
1938facilities licensed under chapter 395 and that derive at least
193990 percent of their gross annual revenues from the provision of
1940such services. Entities claiming an exemption from licensure
1941under this paragraph must provide documentation demonstrating
1942compliance.
1943     (l)  Orthotic, or prosthetic, pediatric cardiology, or
1944perinatology clinical facilities that are a publicly traded
1945corporation or that are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by
1946a publicly traded corporation. As used in this paragraph, a
1947publicly traded corporation is a corporation that issues
1948securities traded on an exchange registered with the United
1949States Securities and Exchange Commission as a national
1950securities exchange.
1951     (m)  Entities that are owned by a corporation that has $250
1952million or more in total annual sales of health care services
1953provided by licensed health care practitioners if one or more of
1954the owners of the entity is a health care practitioner who is
1955licensed in this state, is responsible for supervising the
1956business activities of the entity, and is legally responsible
1957for the entity's compliance with state law for purposes of this
1958section.
1959     (n)  Entities that are owned or controlled, directly or
1960indirectly, by a publicly traded entity with $100 million or
1961more, in the aggregate, in total annual revenues derived from
1962providing health care services by licensed health care
1963practitioners that are employed or contracted by an entity
1964described in this paragraph.
1965     (o)  Entities that employ 50 or more health care
1966practitioners licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 when the
1967billing for medical services is under a single tax
1968identification number. The application for exemption under this
1969paragraph shall contain information that includes the name,
1970residence address, business address, and phone number of the
1971entity that owns the practice; a complete list of the names and
1972contact information of all the officers and directors of the
1973entity; the name, residence address, business address, and
1974medical license number of each licensed Florida health care
1975practitioner employed by the entity; the corporate tax
1976identification number of the entity seeking an exemption; a
1977listing of health care services to be provided by the entity at
1978the health care clinics owned or operated by the entity and a
1979certified statement prepared by an independent certified public
1980accountant which states that the entity and the health care
1981clinics owned or operated by the entity have not received
1982payment for health care services under personal injury
1983protection insurance coverage for the previous year. If the
1984agency determines that an entity that is exempt under this
1985paragraph has received payments for medical services under
1986personal injury protection insurance coverage the agency may
1987deny or revoke the exemption from licensure under this
1988paragraph.
1989     (7)  "Portable health service or equipment provider" means
1990an entity that contracts with or employs persons to provide
1991portable health services or equipment to multiple locations
1992performing treatment or diagnostic testing of individuals, that
1993bills third-party payors for those services, and that otherwise
1994meets the definition of a clinic in subsection (4).
1995     Section 52.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph
1996(c) of subsection (4) of section 400.991, Florida Statutes, are
1997amended to read:
1998     400.991  License requirements; background screenings;
1999prohibitions.-
2000     (1)
2001     (b)  Each mobile clinic must obtain a separate health care
2002clinic license and must provide to the agency, at least
2003quarterly, its projected street location to enable the agency to
2004locate and inspect such clinic. A portable health service or
2005equipment provider must obtain a health care clinic license for
2006a single administrative office and is not required to submit
2007quarterly projected street locations.
2008     (4)  In addition to the requirements of part II of chapter
2009408, the applicant must file with the application satisfactory
2010proof that the clinic is in compliance with this part and
2011applicable rules, including:
2012     (c)  Proof of financial ability to operate as required
2013under ss. s. 408.810(8) and 408.8065. As an alternative to
2014submitting proof of financial ability to operate as required
2015under s. 408.810(8), the applicant may file a surety bond of at
2016least $500,000 which guarantees that the clinic will act in full
2017conformity with all legal requirements for operating a clinic,
2018payable to the agency. The agency may adopt rules to specify
2019related requirements for such surety bond.
2020     Section 53.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) and paragraph
2021(a) of subsection (7) of section 400.9935, Florida Statutes, are
2022amended to read:
2023     400.9935  Clinic responsibilities.-
2024     (1)  Each clinic shall appoint a medical director or clinic
2025director who shall agree in writing to accept legal
2026responsibility for the following activities on behalf of the
2027clinic. The medical director or the clinic director shall:
2028     (g)  Conduct systematic reviews of clinic billings to
2029ensure that the billings are not fraudulent or unlawful. Upon
2030discovery of an unlawful charge, the medical director or clinic
2031director shall take immediate corrective action. If the clinic
2032performs only the technical component of magnetic resonance
2033imaging, static radiographs, computed tomography, or positron
2034emission tomography, and provides the professional
2035interpretation of such services, in a fixed facility that is
2036accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
2037Healthcare Organizations or the Accreditation Association for
2038Ambulatory Health Care, and the American College of Radiology;
2039and if, in the preceding quarter, the percentage of scans
2040performed by that clinic which was billed to all personal injury
2041protection insurance carriers was less than 15 percent, the
2042chief financial officer of the clinic may, in a written
2043acknowledgment provided to the agency, assume the responsibility
2044for the conduct of the systematic reviews of clinic billings to
2045ensure that the billings are not fraudulent or unlawful.
2046     (7)(a)  Each clinic engaged in magnetic resonance imaging
2047services must be accredited by the Joint Commission on
2048Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the American College
2049of Radiology, or the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory
2050Health Care, within 1 year after licensure. A clinic that is
2051accredited by the American College of Radiology or is within the
2052original 1-year period after licensure and replaces its core
2053magnetic resonance imaging equipment shall be given 1 year after
2054the date on which the equipment is replaced to attain
2055accreditation. However, a clinic may request a single, 6-month
2056extension if it provides evidence to the agency establishing
2057that, for good cause shown, such clinic cannot be accredited
2058within 1 year after licensure, and that such accreditation will
2059be completed within the 6-month extension. After obtaining
2060accreditation as required by this subsection, each such clinic
2061must maintain accreditation as a condition of renewal of its
2062license. A clinic that files a change of ownership application
2063must comply with the original accreditation timeframe
2064requirements of the transferor. The agency shall deny a change
2065of ownership application if the clinic is not in compliance with
2066the accreditation requirements. When a clinic adds, replaces, or
2067modifies magnetic resonance imaging equipment and the
2068accreditation agency requires new accreditation, the clinic must
2069be accredited within 1 year after the date of the addition,
2070replacement, or modification but may request a single, 6-month
2071extension if the clinic provides evidence of good cause to the
2072agency.
2073     Section 54.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
2074408.033, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2075     408.033  Local and state health planning.-
2076     (2)  FUNDING.-
2077     (a)  The Legislature intends that the cost of local health
2078councils be borne by assessments on selected health care
2079facilities subject to facility licensure by the Agency for
2080Health Care Administration, including abortion clinics, assisted
2081living facilities, ambulatory surgical centers, birthing
2082centers, clinical laboratories except community nonprofit blood
2083banks and clinical laboratories operated by practitioners for
2084exclusive use regulated under s. 483.035, home health agencies,
2085hospices, hospitals, intermediate care facilities for the
2086developmentally disabled, nursing homes, health care clinics,
2087and multiphasic testing centers and by assessments on
2088organizations subject to certification by the agency pursuant to
2089chapter 641, part III, including health maintenance
2090organizations and prepaid health clinics. Fees assessed may be
2091collected prospectively at the time of licensure renewal and
2092prorated for the licensure period.
2093     Section 55.  Subsection (2) of section 408.034, Florida
2094Statutes, is amended to read:
2095     408.034  Duties and responsibilities of agency; rules.-
2096     (2)  In the exercise of its authority to issue licenses to
2097health care facilities and health service providers, as provided
2098under chapters 393 and 395 and parts II, and IV, and VIII of
2099chapter 400, the agency may not issue a license to any health
2100care facility or health service provider that fails to receive a
2101certificate of need or an exemption for the licensed facility or
2102service.
2103     Section 56.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) and paragraph
2104(m) of subsection (3) of section 408.036, Florida Statutes, are
2105amended to read:
2106     408.036  Projects subject to review; exemptions.-
2107     (1)  APPLICABILITY.-Unless exempt under subsection (3), all
2108health-care-related projects, as described in paragraphs (a)-
2109(g), are subject to review and must file an application for a
2110certificate of need with the agency. The agency is exclusively
2111responsible for determining whether a health-care-related
2112project is subject to review under ss. 408.031-408.045.
2113     (d)  The establishment of a hospice or hospice inpatient
2114facility, except as provided in s. 408.043.
2115     (3)  EXEMPTIONS.-Upon request, the following projects are
2116subject to exemption from the provisions of subsection (1):
2117     (m)1.  For the provision of adult open-heart services in a
2118hospital located within the boundaries of a health service
2119planning district, as defined in s. 408.032(5), which has
2120experienced an annual net out-migration of at least 600 open-
2121heart-surgery cases for 3 consecutive years according to the
2122most recent data reported to the agency, and the district's
2123population per licensed and operational open-heart programs
2124exceeds the state average of population per licensed and
2125operational open-heart programs by at least 25 percent. All
2126hospitals within a health service planning district which meet
2127the criteria reference in sub-subparagraphs 2.a.-h. shall be
2128eligible for this exemption on July 1, 2004, and shall receive
2129the exemption upon filing for it and subject to the following:
2130     a.  A hospital that has received a notice of intent to
2131grant a certificate of need or a final order of the agency
2132granting a certificate of need for the establishment of an open-
2133heart-surgery program is entitled to receive a letter of
2134exemption for the establishment of an adult open-heart-surgery
2135program upon filing a request for exemption and complying with
2136the criteria enumerated in sub-subparagraphs 2.a.-h., and is
2137entitled to immediately commence operation of the program.
2138     b.  An otherwise eligible hospital that has not received a
2139notice of intent to grant a certificate of need or a final order
2140of the agency granting a certificate of need for the
2141establishment of an open-heart-surgery program is entitled to
2142immediately receive a letter of exemption for the establishment
2143of an adult open-heart-surgery program upon filing a request for
2144exemption and complying with the criteria enumerated in sub-
2145subparagraphs 2.a.-h., but is not entitled to commence operation
2146of its program until December 31, 2006.
2147     2.  A hospital shall be exempt from the certificate-of-need
2148review for the establishment of an open-heart-surgery program
2149when the application for exemption submitted under this
2150paragraph complies with the following criteria:
2151     a.  The applicant must certify that it will meet and
2152continuously maintain the minimum licensure requirements adopted
2153by the agency governing adult open-heart programs, including the
2154most current guidelines of the American College of Cardiology
2155and American Heart Association Guidelines for Adult Open Heart
2156Programs.
2157     b.  The applicant must certify that it will maintain
2158sufficient appropriate equipment and health personnel to ensure
2159quality and safety.
2160     c.  The applicant must certify that it will maintain
2161appropriate times of operation and protocols to ensure
2162availability and appropriate referrals in the event of
2163emergencies.
2164     d.  The applicant can demonstrate that it has discharged at
2165least 300 inpatients with a principal diagnosis of ischemic
2166heart disease for the most recent 12-month period as reported to
2167the agency.
2168     e.  The applicant is a general acute care hospital that is
2169in operation for 3 years or more.
2170     f.  The applicant is performing more than 300 diagnostic
2171cardiac catheterization procedures per year, combined inpatient
2172and outpatient.
2173     g.  The applicant's payor mix at a minimum reflects the
2174community average for Medicaid, charity care, and self-pay
2175patients or the applicant must certify that it will provide a
2176minimum of 5 percent of Medicaid, charity care, and self-pay to
2177open-heart-surgery patients.
2178     h.  If the applicant fails to meet the established criteria
2179for open-heart programs or fails to reach 300 surgeries per year
2180by the end of its third year of operation, it must show cause
2181why its exemption should not be revoked.
2182     3.  By December 31, 2004, and annually thereafter, the
2183agency shall submit a report to the Legislature providing
2184information concerning the number of requests for exemption it
2185has received under this paragraph during the calendar year and
2186the number of exemptions it has granted or denied during the
2187calendar year.
2188     Section 57.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
2189408.037, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2190     408.037  Application content.-
2191     (1)  Except as provided in subsection (2) for a general
2192hospital, an application for a certificate of need must contain:
2193     (c)  An audited financial statement of the applicant or the
2194applicant's parent corporation if audited financial statements
2195of the applicant do not exist. In an application submitted by an
2196existing health care facility, health maintenance organization,
2197or hospice, financial condition documentation must include, but
2198need not be limited to, a balance sheet and a profit-and-loss
2199statement of the 2 previous fiscal years' operation.
2200     Section 58.  Subsection (2) of section 408.043, Florida
2201Statutes, is amended to read:
2202     408.043  Special provisions.-
2203     (2)  HOSPICES.-When an application is made for a
2204certificate of need to establish or to expand a hospice, the
2205need for such hospice shall be determined on the basis of the
2206need for and availability of hospice services in the community.
2207The formula on which the certificate of need is based shall
2208discourage regional monopolies and promote competition. The
2209inpatient hospice care component of a hospice which is a
2210freestanding facility, or a part of a facility, which is
2211primarily engaged in providing inpatient care and related
2212services and is not licensed as a health care facility shall
2213also be required to obtain a certificate of need. Provision of
2214hospice care by any current provider of health care is a
2215significant change in service and therefore requires a
2216certificate of need for such services.
2217     Section 59.  Paragraph (k) of subsection (3) of section
2218408.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2219     408.05  Florida Center for Health Information and Policy
2220Analysis.-
2221     (3)  COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM.-In order to
2222produce comparable and uniform health information and statistics
2223for the development of policy recommendations, the agency shall
2224perform the following functions:
2225     (k)  Develop, in conjunction with the State Consumer Health
2226Information and Policy Advisory Council, and implement a long-
2227range plan for making available health care quality measures and
2228financial data that will allow consumers to compare health care
2229services. The health care quality measures and financial data
2230the agency must make available shall include, but is not limited
2231to, pharmaceuticals, physicians, health care facilities, and
2232health plans and managed care entities. The agency shall update
2233the plan and report on the status of its implementation
2234annually. The agency shall also make the plan and status report
2235available to the public on its Internet website. As part of the
2236plan, the agency shall identify the process and timeframes for
2237implementation, any barriers to implementation, and
2238recommendations of changes in the law that may be enacted by the
2239Legislature to eliminate the barriers. As preliminary elements
2240of the plan, the agency shall:
2241     1.  Make available patient-safety indicators, inpatient
2242quality indicators, and performance outcome and patient charge
2243data collected from health care facilities pursuant to s.
2244408.061(1)(a) and (2). The terms "patient-safety indicators" and
2245"inpatient quality indicators" shall be as defined by the
2246Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the National Quality
2247Forum, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
2248Organizations, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality,
2249the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a similar
2250national entity that establishes standards to measure the
2251performance of health care providers, or by other states. The
2252agency shall determine which conditions, procedures, health care
2253quality measures, and patient charge data to disclose based upon
2254input from the council. When determining which conditions and
2255procedures are to be disclosed, the council and the agency shall
2256consider variation in costs, variation in outcomes, and
2257magnitude of variations and other relevant information. When
2258determining which health care quality measures to disclose, the
2259agency:
2260     a.  Shall consider such factors as volume of cases; average
2261patient charges; average length of stay; complication rates;
2262mortality rates; and infection rates, among others, which shall
2263be adjusted for case mix and severity, if applicable.
2264     b.  May consider such additional measures that are adopted
2265by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Studies, National
2266Quality Forum, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
2267Healthcare Organizations, the Agency for Healthcare Research and
2268Quality, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or a
2269similar national entity that establishes standards to measure
2270the performance of health care providers, or by other states.
2271
2272When determining which patient charge data to disclose, the
2273agency shall include such measures as the average of
2274undiscounted charges on frequently performed procedures and
2275preventive diagnostic procedures, the range of procedure charges
2276from highest to lowest, average net revenue per adjusted patient
2277day, average cost per adjusted patient day, and average cost per
2278admission, among others.
2279     2.  Make available performance measures, benefit design,
2280and premium cost data from health plans licensed pursuant to
2281chapter 627 or chapter 641. The agency shall determine which
2282health care quality measures and member and subscriber cost data
2283to disclose, based upon input from the council. When determining
2284which data to disclose, the agency shall consider information
2285that may be required by either individual or group purchasers to
2286assess the value of the product, which may include membership
2287satisfaction, quality of care, current enrollment or membership,
2288coverage areas, accreditation status, premium costs, plan costs,
2289premium increases, range of benefits, copayments and
2290deductibles, accuracy and speed of claims payment, credentials
2291of physicians, number of providers, names of network providers,
2292and hospitals in the network. Health plans shall make available
2293to the agency any such data or information that is not currently
2294reported to the agency or the office.
2295     3.  Determine the method and format for public disclosure
2296of data reported pursuant to this paragraph. The agency shall
2297make its determination based upon input from the State Consumer
2298Health Information and Policy Advisory Council. At a minimum,
2299the data shall be made available on the agency's Internet
2300website in a manner that allows consumers to conduct an
2301interactive search that allows them to view and compare the
2302information for specific providers. The website must include
2303such additional information as is determined necessary to ensure
2304that the website enhances informed decisionmaking among
2305consumers and health care purchasers, which shall include, at a
2306minimum, appropriate guidance on how to use the data and an
2307explanation of why the data may vary from provider to provider.
2308     4.  Publish on its website undiscounted charges for no
2309fewer than 150 of the most commonly performed adult and
2310pediatric procedures, including outpatient, inpatient,
2311diagnostic, and preventative procedures.
2312     Section 60.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
2313408.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2314     408.061  Data collection; uniform systems of financial
2315reporting; information relating to physician charges;
2316confidential information; immunity.-
2317     (1)  The agency shall require the submission by health care
2318facilities, health care providers, and health insurers of data
2319necessary to carry out the agency's duties. Specifications for
2320data to be collected under this section shall be developed by
2321the agency with the assistance of technical advisory panels
2322including representatives of affected entities, consumers,
2323purchasers, and such other interested parties as may be
2324determined by the agency.
2325     (a)  Data submitted by health care facilities, including
2326the facilities as defined in chapter 395, shall include, but are
2327not limited to: case-mix data, patient admission and discharge
2328data, hospital emergency department data which shall include the
2329number of patients treated in the emergency department of a
2330licensed hospital reported by patient acuity level, data on
2331hospital-acquired infections as specified by rule, data on
2332complications as specified by rule, data on readmissions as
2333specified by rule, with patient and provider-specific
2334identifiers included, actual charge data by diagnostic groups,
2335financial data, accounting data, operating expenses, expenses
2336incurred for rendering services to patients who cannot or do not
2337pay, interest charges, depreciation expenses based on the
2338expected useful life of the property and equipment involved, and
2339demographic data. The agency shall adopt nationally recognized
2340risk adjustment methodologies or software consistent with the
2341standards of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and
2342as selected by the agency for all data submitted as required by
2343this section. Data may be obtained from documents such as, but
2344not limited to: leases, contracts, debt instruments, itemized
2345patient bills, medical record abstracts, and related diagnostic
2346information. Reported data elements shall be reported
2347electronically and in accordance with rule 59E-7.012, Florida
2348Administrative Code. Data submitted shall be certified by the
2349chief executive officer or an appropriate and duly authorized
2350representative or employee of the licensed facility that the
2351information submitted is true and accurate.
2352     Section 61.  Subsection (43) of section 408.07, Florida
2353Statutes, is amended to read:
2354     408.07  Definitions.-As used in this chapter, with the
2355exception of ss. 408.031-408.045, the term:
2356     (43)  "Rural hospital" means an acute care hospital
2357licensed under chapter 395, having 100 or fewer licensed beds
2358and an emergency room, and which is:
2359     (a)  The sole provider within a county with a population
2360density of no greater than 100 persons per square mile;
2361     (b)  An acute care hospital, in a county with a population
2362density of no greater than 100 persons per square mile, which is
2363at least 30 minutes of travel time, on normally traveled roads
2364under normal traffic conditions, from another acute care
2365hospital within the same county;
2366     (c)  A hospital supported by a tax district or subdistrict
2367whose boundaries encompass a population of 100 persons or fewer
2368per square mile;
2369     (d)  A hospital with a service area that has a population
2370of 100 persons or fewer per square mile. As used in this
2371paragraph, the term "service area" means the fewest number of
2372zip codes that account for 75 percent of the hospital's
2373discharges for the most recent 5-year period, based on
2374information available from the hospital inpatient discharge
2375database in the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy
2376Analysis at the Agency for Health Care Administration; or
2377     (e)  A critical access hospital.
2378
2379Population densities used in this subsection must be based upon
2380the most recently completed United States census. A hospital
2381that received funds under s. 409.9116 for a quarter beginning no
2382later than July 1, 2002, is deemed to have been and shall
2383continue to be a rural hospital from that date through June 30,
23842015, if the hospital continues to have 100 or fewer licensed
2385beds and an emergency room, or meets the criteria of s.
2386395.602(2)(e)4. An acute care hospital that has not previously
2387been designated as a rural hospital and that meets the criteria
2388of this subsection shall be granted such designation upon
2389application, including supporting documentation, to the Agency
2390for Health Care Administration.
2391     Section 62.  Section 408.10, Florida Statutes, is amended
2392to read:
2393     408.10  Consumer complaints.-The agency shall:
2394     (1)  publish and make available to the public a toll-free
2395telephone number for the purpose of handling consumer complaints
2396and shall serve as a liaison between consumer entities and other
2397private entities and governmental entities for the disposition
2398of problems identified by consumers of health care.
2399     (2)  Be empowered to investigate consumer complaints
2400relating to problems with health care facilities' billing
2401practices and issue reports to be made public in any cases where
2402the agency determines the health care facility has engaged in
2403billing practices which are unreasonable and unfair to the
2404consumer.
2405     Section 63.  Subsections (12) through (30) of section
2406408.802, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (11)
2407through (29), respectively, and present subsection (11) of that
2408section is amended to read:
2409     408.802  Applicability.-The provisions of this part apply
2410to the provision of services that require licensure as defined
2411in this part and to the following entities licensed, registered,
2412or certified by the agency, as described in chapters 112, 383,
2413390, 394, 395, 400, 429, 440, 483, and 765:
2414     (11)  Private review agents, as provided under part I of
2415chapter 395.
2416     Section 64.  Subsection (3) is added to section 408.804,
2417Florida Statutes, to read:
2418     408.804  License required; display.-
2419     (3)  Any person who knowingly alters, defaces, or falsifies
2420a license certificate issued by the agency, or causes or
2421procures any person to commit such an offense, commits a
2422misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
2423775.082 or s 775.083. Any licensee or provider who displays an
2424altered, defaced, or falsified license certificate is subject to
2425the penalties set forth in s. 408.815 and an administrative fine
2426of $1,000 for each day of illegal display.
2427     Section 65.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
2428408.806, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (e) is
2429added to that subsection, to read:
2430     408.806  License application process.-
2431     (2)
2432     (d)  The agency shall notify the licensee by mail or
2433electronically at least 90 days before the expiration of a
2434license that a renewal license is necessary to continue
2435operation. The licensee's failure to timely file submit a
2436renewal application and license application fee with the agency
2437shall result in a $50 per day late fee charged to the licensee
2438by the agency; however, the aggregate amount of the late fee may
2439not exceed 50 percent of the licensure fee or $500, whichever is
2440less. The agency shall provide a courtesy notice to the licensee
2441by United States mail, electronically, or by any other manner at
2442its address of record or mailing address, if provided, at least
244390 days prior to the expiration of a license informing the
2444licensee of the expiration of the license. If the licensee does
2445not receive the courtesy notice, the licensee continues to be
2446legally obligated to timely file the renewal application and
2447license application fee with the agency and is not excused from
2448the payment of a late fee. If an application is received after
2449the required filing date and exhibits a hand-canceled postmark
2450obtained from a United States post office dated on or before the
2451required filing date, no fine will be levied.
2452     (e)  The applicant must pay the late fee before a late
2453application is considered complete and failure to pay the late
2454fee is considered an omission from the application for licensure
2455pursuant to paragraph (3)(b).
2456     Section 66.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
2457408.8065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2458     408.8065  Additional licensure requirements for home health
2459agencies, home medical equipment providers, and health care
2460clinics.-
2461     (1)  An applicant for initial licensure, or initial
2462licensure due to a change of ownership, as a home health agency,
2463home medical equipment provider, or health care clinic shall:
2464     (b)  Submit projected pro forma financial statements,
2465including a balance sheet, income and expense statement, and a
2466statement of cash flows for the first 2 years of operation which
2467provide evidence that the applicant has sufficient assets,
2468credit, and projected revenues to cover liabilities and
2469expenses.
2470
2471All documents required under this subsection must be prepared in
2472accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may
2473be in a compilation form. The financial statements must be
2474signed by a certified public accountant.
2475     Section 67.  Subsections (5) through (8) of section
2476408.809, Florida Statutes are renumbered as subsections (6)
2477through (9), respectively, and subsection (4) of that section is
2478amended to read:
2479     408.809  Background screening; prohibited offenses.-
2480     (4)  In addition to the offenses listed in s. 435.04, all
2481persons required to undergo background screening pursuant to
2482this part or authorizing statutes must not have an arrest
2483awaiting final disposition for, must not have been found guilty
2484of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo
2485contendere or guilty to, and must not have been adjudicated
2486delinquent and the record not have been sealed or expunged for
2487any of the following offenses or any similar offense of another
2488jurisdiction:
2489     (a)  Any authorizing statutes, if the offense was a felony.
2490     (b)  This chapter, if the offense was a felony.
2491     (c)  Section 409.920, relating to Medicaid provider fraud.
2492     (d)  Section 409.9201, relating to Medicaid fraud.
2493     (e)  Section 741.28, relating to domestic violence.
2494     (f)  Section 817.034, relating to fraudulent acts through
2495mail, wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or
2496photooptical systems.
2497     (g)  Section 817.234, relating to false and fraudulent
2498insurance claims.
2499     (h)  Section 817.505, relating to patient brokering.
2500     (i)  Section 817.568, relating to criminal use of personal
2501identification information.
2502     (j)  Section 817.60, relating to obtaining a credit card
2503through fraudulent means.
2504     (k)  Section 817.61, relating to fraudulent use of credit
2505cards, if the offense was a felony.
2506     (l)  Section 831.01, relating to forgery.
2507     (m)  Section 831.02, relating to uttering forged
2508instruments.
2509     (n)  Section 831.07, relating to forging bank bills,
2510checks, drafts, or promissory notes.
2511     (o)  Section 831.09, relating to uttering forged bank
2512bills, checks, drafts, or promissory notes.
2513     (p)  Section 831.30, relating to fraud in obtaining
2514medicinal drugs.
2515     (q)  Section 831.31, relating to the sale, manufacture,
2516delivery, or possession with the intent to sell, manufacture, or
2517deliver any counterfeit controlled substance, if the offense was
2518a felony.
2519     (5)  A person who serves as a controlling interest of, is
2520employed by, or contracts with a licensee on July 31, 2010, who
2521has been screened and qualified according to standards specified
2522in s. 435.03 or s. 435.04 must be rescreened by July 31, 2015,
2523in accordance with the schedule provided in paragraphs (a)-(c).
2524The agency may adopt rules to establish a schedule to stagger
2525the implementation of the required rescreening over the 5-year
2526period, beginning July 31, 2010, through July 31, 2015. If, upon
2527rescreening, such person has a disqualifying offense that was
2528not a disqualifying offense at the time of the last screening,
2529but is a current disqualifying offense and was committed before
2530the last screening, he or she may apply for an exemption from
2531the appropriate licensing agency and, if agreed to by the
2532employer, may continue to perform his or her duties until the
2533licensing agency renders a decision on the application for
2534exemption if the person is eligible to apply for an exemption
2535and the exemption request is received by the agency within 30
2536days after receipt of the rescreening results by the person. The
2537rescreening schedule shall be:
2538     (a)  Individuals whose last screening was conducted before
2539December 31, 2003, must be rescreened by July 31, 2013.
2540     (b)  Individuals whose last screening was conducted between
2541January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2007, must be rescreened
2542by July 31, 2014.
2543     (c)  Individuals whose last screening was conducted between
2544January 1, 2008, through July 31, 2010, must be rescreened by
2545July 31, 2015.
2546     Section 68.  Subsection (9) of section 408.810, Florida
2547Statutes, is amended to read:
2548     408.810  Minimum licensure requirements.-In addition to the
2549licensure requirements specified in this part, authorizing
2550statutes, and applicable rules, each applicant and licensee must
2551comply with the requirements of this section in order to obtain
2552and maintain a license.
2553     (9)  A controlling interest may not withhold from the
2554agency any evidence of financial instability, including, but not
2555limited to, checks returned due to insufficient funds,
2556delinquent accounts, nonpayment of withholding taxes, unpaid
2557utility expenses, nonpayment for essential services, or adverse
2558court action concerning the financial viability of the provider
2559or any other provider licensed under this part that is under the
2560control of the controlling interest. A controlling interest
2561shall notify the agency within 10 days after a court action to
2562initiate bankruptcy, foreclosure, or eviction proceedings
2563concerning the provider in which the controlling interest is a
2564petitioner or defendant. Any person who violates this subsection
2565commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as
2566provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Each day of continuing
2567violation is a separate offense.
2568     Section 69.  Subsection (3) is added to section 408.813,
2569Florida Statutes, to read:
2570     408.813  Administrative fines; violations.-As a penalty for
2571any violation of this part, authorizing statutes, or applicable
2572rules, the agency may impose an administrative fine.
2573     (3)  The agency may impose an administrative fine for a
2574violation that is not designated as a class I, class II, class
2575III, or class IV violation. Unless otherwise specified by law,
2576the amount of the fine shall not exceed $500 for each violation.
2577Unclassified violations may include:
2578     (a)  Violating any term or condition of a license.
2579     (b)  Violating any provision of this part, authorizing
2580statutes, or applicable rules.
2581     (c)  Exceeding licensed capacity.
2582     (d)  Providing services beyond the scope of the license.
2583     (e)  Violating a moratorium imposed pursuant to s. 408.814.
2584     Section 70.  Subsection (4) of section 408.815, Florida
2585Statutes, is amended, and subsections (5) and (6) are added to
2586that section, to read:
2587     408.815  License or application denial; revocation.-
2588     (4)  Unless an applicant is determined by the agency to
2589satisfy the provisions of subsection (5) for the action in
2590question, the agency shall deny an application for a license or
2591license renewal based upon any of the following actions of an
2592applicant, a controlling interest of the applicant, or any
2593entity in which a controlling interest of the applicant was an
2594owner or officer when the following actions occurred In addition
2595to the grounds provided in authorizing statutes, the agency
2596shall deny an application for a license or license renewal if
2597the applicant or a person having a controlling interest in an
2598applicant has been:
2599     (a)  Conviction Convicted of, or enters a plea of guilty or
2600nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under
2601chapter 409, chapter 817, chapter 893, 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970, or
260242 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396, Medicare fraud, Medicaid fraud, or
2603insurance fraud, unless the sentence and any subsequent period
2604of probation for such convictions or plea ended more than 15
2605years prior to the date of the application;
2606     (b)  Termination Terminated for cause from the Medicare
2607program or a state Florida Medicaid program pursuant to s.
2608409.913, unless the applicant has been in good standing with the
2609Medicare program or a state Florida Medicaid program for the
2610most recent 5 years and the termination occurred at least 20
2611years before the date of the application.; or
2612     (c)  Terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals
2613procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from
2614the federal Medicare program or from any other state Medicaid
2615program, unless the applicant has been in good standing with a
2616state Medicaid program or the federal Medicare program for the
2617most recent 5 years and the termination occurred at least 20
2618years prior to the date of the application.
2619     (5)  For any application subject to denial under subsection
2620(4), the agency may consider mitigating circumstances, as
2621applicable, including, but not limited to:
2622     (a)  Completion or lawful release from confinement,
2623supervision, or sanction, including any terms of probation, and
2624full restitution;
2625     (b)  Execution of a compliance plan with the agency;
2626     (c)  Compliance with any integrity agreement or compliance
2627plan with any other government agency;
2628     (d)  Determination by the Medicare program or a state
2629Medicaid program that the controlling interest or entity in
2630which the controlling interest was an owner or officer is
2631currently allowed to participate in the Medicare program or a
2632state Medicaid program, either directly as a provider or
2633indirectly as an owner or officer of a provider entity;
2634     (e)  Continuation of licensure by the controlling interest
2635or entity in which the controlling interest was an owner or
2636officer, either directly as a licensee or indirectly as an owner
2637or officer of a licensed entity in the state where the action
2638occurred;
2639     (f)  Overall impact upon the public health, safety, or
2640welfare; or
2641     (g)  Determination that license denial is not commensurate
2642with the prior action taken by the Medicare program or a state
2643Medicaid program.
2644
2645After considering the circumstances set forth in this
2646subsection, the agency shall grant the license, with or without
2647conditions, grant a provisional license for a period of no more
2648than the licensure cycle, with or without conditions, or deny
2649the license.
2650     (6)  In order to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of
2651clients when a license has been denied, revoked, or is set to
2652terminate, the agency may extend the license expiration date for
2653a period of up to 30 days for the sole purpose of allowing the
2654safe and orderly discharge of clients. The agency may impose
2655conditions on the extension, including, but not limited to,
2656prohibiting or limiting admissions, expedited discharge
2657planning, required status reports, and mandatory monitoring by
2658the agency or third parties. When imposing these conditions, the
2659agency shall take into consideration the nature and number of
2660clients, the availability and location of acceptable alternative
2661placements, and the ability of the licensee to continue
2662providing care to the clients. The agency may terminate the
2663extension or modify the conditions at any time. This authority
2664is in addition to any other authority granted to the agency
2665under chapter 120, this part, and authorizing statutes but
2666creates no right or entitlement to an extension of a license
2667expiration date.
2668     Section 71.  Subsection (1) of section 409.91196, Florida
2669Statutes, is amended to read:
2670     409.91196  Supplemental rebate agreements; public records
2671and public meetings exemption.-
2672     (1)  The rebate amount, percent of rebate, manufacturer's
2673pricing, and supplemental rebate, and other trade secrets as
2674defined in s. 688.002 that the agency has identified for use in
2675negotiations, held by the Agency for Health Care Administration
2676under s. 409.912(39)(a)8.7. are confidential and exempt from s.
2677119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
2678     Section 72.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (39) of section
2679409.912, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2680     409.912  Cost-effective purchasing of health care.-The
2681agency shall purchase goods and services for Medicaid recipients
2682in the most cost-effective manner consistent with the delivery
2683of quality medical care. To ensure that medical services are
2684effectively utilized, the agency may, in any case, require a
2685confirmation or second physician's opinion of the correct
2686diagnosis for purposes of authorizing future services under the
2687Medicaid program. This section does not restrict access to
2688emergency services or poststabilization care services as defined
2689in 42 C.F.R. part 438.114. Such confirmation or second opinion
2690shall be rendered in a manner approved by the agency. The agency
2691shall maximize the use of prepaid per capita and prepaid
2692aggregate fixed-sum basis services when appropriate and other
2693alternative service delivery and reimbursement methodologies,
2694including competitive bidding pursuant to s. 287.057, designed
2695to facilitate the cost-effective purchase of a case-managed
2696continuum of care. The agency shall also require providers to
2697minimize the exposure of recipients to the need for acute
2698inpatient, custodial, and other institutional care and the
2699inappropriate or unnecessary use of high-cost services. The
2700agency shall contract with a vendor to monitor and evaluate the
2701clinical practice patterns of providers in order to identify
2702trends that are outside the normal practice patterns of a
2703provider's professional peers or the national guidelines of a
2704provider's professional association. The vendor must be able to
2705provide information and counseling to a provider whose practice
2706patterns are outside the norms, in consultation with the agency,
2707to improve patient care and reduce inappropriate utilization.
2708The agency may mandate prior authorization, drug therapy
2709management, or disease management participation for certain
2710populations of Medicaid beneficiaries, certain drug classes, or
2711particular drugs to prevent fraud, abuse, overuse, and possible
2712dangerous drug interactions. The Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics
2713Committee shall make recommendations to the agency on drugs for
2714which prior authorization is required. The agency shall inform
2715the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee of its decisions
2716regarding drugs subject to prior authorization. The agency is
2717authorized to limit the entities it contracts with or enrolls as
2718Medicaid providers by developing a provider network through
2719provider credentialing. The agency may competitively bid single-
2720source-provider contracts if procurement of goods or services
2721results in demonstrated cost savings to the state without
2722limiting access to care. The agency may limit its network based
2723on the assessment of beneficiary access to care, provider
2724availability, provider quality standards, time and distance
2725standards for access to care, the cultural competence of the
2726provider network, demographic characteristics of Medicaid
2727beneficiaries, practice and provider-to-beneficiary standards,
2728appointment wait times, beneficiary use of services, provider
2729turnover, provider profiling, provider licensure history,
2730previous program integrity investigations and findings, peer
2731review, provider Medicaid policy and billing compliance records,
2732clinical and medical record audits, and other factors. Providers
2733shall not be entitled to enrollment in the Medicaid provider
2734network. The agency shall determine instances in which allowing
2735Medicaid beneficiaries to purchase durable medical equipment and
2736other goods is less expensive to the Medicaid program than long-
2737term rental of the equipment or goods. The agency may establish
2738rules to facilitate purchases in lieu of long-term rentals in
2739order to protect against fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program
2740as defined in s. 409.913. The agency may seek federal waivers
2741necessary to administer these policies.
2742     (39)(a)  The agency shall implement a Medicaid prescribed-
2743drug spending-control program that includes the following
2744components:
2745     1.  A Medicaid preferred drug list, which shall be a
2746listing of cost-effective therapeutic options recommended by the
2747Medicaid Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee established
2748pursuant to s. 409.91195 and adopted by the agency for each
2749therapeutic class on the preferred drug list. At the discretion
2750of the committee, and when feasible, the preferred drug list
2751should include at least two products in a therapeutic class. The
2752agency may post the preferred drug list and updates to the
2753preferred drug list on an Internet website without following the
2754rulemaking procedures of chapter 120. Antiretroviral agents are
2755excluded from the preferred drug list. The agency shall also
2756limit the amount of a prescribed drug dispensed to no more than
2757a 34-day supply unless the drug products' smallest marketed
2758package is greater than a 34-day supply, or the drug is
2759determined by the agency to be a maintenance drug in which case
2760a 100-day maximum supply may be authorized. The agency is
2761authorized to seek any federal waivers necessary to implement
2762these cost-control programs and to continue participation in the
2763federal Medicaid rebate program, or alternatively to negotiate
2764state-only manufacturer rebates. The agency may adopt rules to
2765implement this subparagraph. The agency shall continue to
2766provide unlimited contraceptive drugs and items. The agency must
2767establish procedures to ensure that:
2768     a.  There is a response to a request for prior consultation
2769by telephone or other telecommunication device within 24 hours
2770after receipt of a request for prior consultation; and
2771     b.  A 72-hour supply of the drug prescribed is provided in
2772an emergency or when the agency does not provide a response
2773within 24 hours as required by sub-subparagraph a.
2774     2.  Reimbursement to pharmacies for Medicaid prescribed
2775drugs shall be set at the lesser of: the average wholesale price
2776(AWP) minus 16.4 percent, the wholesaler acquisition cost (WAC)
2777plus 4.75 percent, the federal upper limit (FUL), the state
2778maximum allowable cost (SMAC), or the usual and customary (UAC)
2779charge billed by the provider.
2780     3.  For a prescribed drug billed as a 340B prescribed
2781medication rendered to all Medicaid-eligible individuals,
2782including claims for cost sharing for which the agency is
2783responsible, the claim must meet the requirements of the Deficit
2784Reduction Act of 2005 and the federal 340B program and contain a
2785national drug code.
2786     4.3.  The agency shall develop and implement a process for
2787managing the drug therapies of Medicaid recipients who are using
2788significant numbers of prescribed drugs each month. The
2789management process may include, but is not limited to,
2790comprehensive, physician-directed medical-record reviews, claims
2791analyses, and case evaluations to determine the medical
2792necessity and appropriateness of a patient's treatment plan and
2793drug therapies. The agency may contract with a private
2794organization to provide drug-program-management services. The
2795Medicaid drug benefit management program shall include
2796initiatives to manage drug therapies for HIV/AIDS patients,
2797patients using 20 or more unique prescriptions in a 180-day
2798period, and the top 1,000 patients in annual spending. The
2799agency shall enroll any Medicaid recipient in the drug benefit
2800management program if he or she meets the specifications of this
2801provision and is not enrolled in a Medicaid health maintenance
2802organization.
2803     5.4.  The agency may limit the size of its pharmacy network
2804based on need, competitive bidding, price negotiations,
2805credentialing, or similar criteria. The agency shall give
2806special consideration to rural areas in determining the size and
2807location of pharmacies included in the Medicaid pharmacy
2808network. A pharmacy credentialing process may include criteria
2809such as a pharmacy's full-service status, location, size,
2810patient educational programs, patient consultation, disease
2811management services, and other characteristics. The agency may
2812impose a moratorium on Medicaid pharmacy enrollment when it is
2813determined that it has a sufficient number of Medicaid-
2814participating providers. The agency must allow dispensing
2815practitioners to participate as a part of the Medicaid pharmacy
2816network regardless of the practitioner's proximity to any other
2817entity that is dispensing prescription drugs under the Medicaid
2818program. A dispensing practitioner must meet all credentialing
2819requirements applicable to his or her practice, as determined by
2820the agency.
2821     6.5.  The agency shall develop and implement a program that
2822requires Medicaid practitioners who prescribe drugs to use a
2823counterfeit-proof prescription pad for Medicaid prescriptions.
2824The agency shall require the use of standardized counterfeit-
2825proof prescription pads by Medicaid-participating prescribers or
2826prescribers who write prescriptions for Medicaid recipients. The
2827agency may implement the program in targeted geographic areas or
2828statewide.
2829     7.6.  The agency may enter into arrangements that require
2830manufacturers of generic drugs prescribed to Medicaid recipients
2831to provide rebates of at least 15.1 percent of the average
2832manufacturer price for the manufacturer's generic products.
2833These arrangements shall require that if a generic-drug
2834manufacturer pays federal rebates for Medicaid-reimbursed drugs
2835at a level below 15.1 percent, the manufacturer must provide a
2836supplemental rebate to the state in an amount necessary to
2837achieve a 15.1-percent rebate level.
2838     8.7.  The agency may establish a preferred drug list as
2839described in this subsection, and, pursuant to the establishment
2840of such preferred drug list, it is authorized to negotiate
2841supplemental rebates from manufacturers that are in addition to
2842those required by Title XIX of the Social Security Act and at no
2843less than 14 percent of the average manufacturer price as
2844defined in 42 U.S.C. s. 1936 on the last day of a quarter unless
2845the federal or supplemental rebate, or both, equals or exceeds
284629 percent. There is no upper limit on the supplemental rebates
2847the agency may negotiate. The agency may determine that specific
2848products, brand-name or generic, are competitive at lower rebate
2849percentages. Agreement to pay the minimum supplemental rebate
2850percentage will guarantee a manufacturer that the Medicaid
2851Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics Committee will consider a
2852product for inclusion on the preferred drug list. However, a
2853pharmaceutical manufacturer is not guaranteed placement on the
2854preferred drug list by simply paying the minimum supplemental
2855rebate. Agency decisions will be made on the clinical efficacy
2856of a drug and recommendations of the Medicaid Pharmaceutical and
2857Therapeutics Committee, as well as the price of competing
2858products minus federal and state rebates. The agency is
2859authorized to contract with an outside agency or contractor to
2860conduct negotiations for supplemental rebates. For the purposes
2861of this section, the term "supplemental rebates" means cash
2862rebates. Effective July 1, 2004, value-added programs as a
2863substitution for supplemental rebates are prohibited. The agency
2864is authorized to seek any federal waivers to implement this
2865initiative.
2866     9.8.  The Agency for Health Care Administration shall
2867expand home delivery of pharmacy products. To assist Medicaid
2868patients in securing their prescriptions and reduce program
2869costs, the agency shall expand its current mail-order-pharmacy
2870diabetes-supply program to include all generic and brand-name
2871drugs used by Medicaid patients with diabetes. Medicaid
2872recipients in the current program may obtain nondiabetes drugs
2873on a voluntary basis. This initiative is limited to the
2874geographic area covered by the current contract. The agency may
2875seek and implement any federal waivers necessary to implement
2876this subparagraph.
2877     10.9.  The agency shall limit to one dose per month any
2878drug prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction.
2879     11.10.a.  The agency may implement a Medicaid behavioral
2880drug management system. The agency may contract with a vendor
2881that has experience in operating behavioral drug management
2882systems to implement this program. The agency is authorized to
2883seek federal waivers to implement this program.
2884     b.  The agency, in conjunction with the Department of
2885Children and Family Services, may implement the Medicaid
2886behavioral drug management system that is designed to improve
2887the quality of care and behavioral health prescribing practices
2888based on best practice guidelines, improve patient adherence to
2889medication plans, reduce clinical risk, and lower prescribed
2890drug costs and the rate of inappropriate spending on Medicaid
2891behavioral drugs. The program may include the following
2892elements:
2893     (I)  Provide for the development and adoption of best
2894practice guidelines for behavioral health-related drugs such as
2895antipsychotics, antidepressants, and medications for treating
2896bipolar disorders and other behavioral conditions; translate
2897them into practice; review behavioral health prescribers and
2898compare their prescribing patterns to a number of indicators
2899that are based on national standards; and determine deviations
2900from best practice guidelines.
2901     (II)  Implement processes for providing feedback to and
2902educating prescribers using best practice educational materials
2903and peer-to-peer consultation.
2904     (III)  Assess Medicaid beneficiaries who are outliers in
2905their use of behavioral health drugs with regard to the numbers
2906and types of drugs taken, drug dosages, combination drug
2907therapies, and other indicators of improper use of behavioral
2908health drugs.
2909     (IV)  Alert prescribers to patients who fail to refill
2910prescriptions in a timely fashion, are prescribed multiple same-
2911class behavioral health drugs, and may have other potential
2912medication problems.
2913     (V)  Track spending trends for behavioral health drugs and
2914deviation from best practice guidelines.
2915     (VI)  Use educational and technological approaches to
2916promote best practices, educate consumers, and train prescribers
2917in the use of practice guidelines.
2918     (VII)  Disseminate electronic and published materials.
2919     (VIII)  Hold statewide and regional conferences.
2920     (IX)  Implement a disease management program with a model
2921quality-based medication component for severely mentally ill
2922individuals and emotionally disturbed children who are high
2923users of care.
2924     12.11.a.  The agency shall implement a Medicaid
2925prescription drug management system. The agency may contract
2926with a vendor that has experience in operating prescription drug
2927management systems in order to implement this system. Any
2928management system that is implemented in accordance with this
2929subparagraph must rely on cooperation between physicians and
2930pharmacists to determine appropriate practice patterns and
2931clinical guidelines to improve the prescribing, dispensing, and
2932use of drugs in the Medicaid program. The agency may seek
2933federal waivers to implement this program.
2934     b.  The drug management system must be designed to improve
2935the quality of care and prescribing practices based on best
2936practice guidelines, improve patient adherence to medication
2937plans, reduce clinical risk, and lower prescribed drug costs and
2938the rate of inappropriate spending on Medicaid prescription
2939drugs. The program must:
2940     (I)  Provide for the development and adoption of best
2941practice guidelines for the prescribing and use of drugs in the
2942Medicaid program, including translating best practice guidelines
2943into practice; reviewing prescriber patterns and comparing them
2944to indicators that are based on national standards and practice
2945patterns of clinical peers in their community, statewide, and
2946nationally; and determine deviations from best practice
2947guidelines.
2948     (II)  Implement processes for providing feedback to and
2949educating prescribers using best practice educational materials
2950and peer-to-peer consultation.
2951     (III)  Assess Medicaid recipients who are outliers in their
2952use of a single or multiple prescription drugs with regard to
2953the numbers and types of drugs taken, drug dosages, combination
2954drug therapies, and other indicators of improper use of
2955prescription drugs.
2956     (IV)  Alert prescribers to patients who fail to refill
2957prescriptions in a timely fashion, are prescribed multiple drugs
2958that may be redundant or contraindicated, or may have other
2959potential medication problems.
2960     (V)  Track spending trends for prescription drugs and
2961deviation from best practice guidelines.
2962     (VI)  Use educational and technological approaches to
2963promote best practices, educate consumers, and train prescribers
2964in the use of practice guidelines.
2965     (VII)  Disseminate electronic and published materials.
2966     (VIII)  Hold statewide and regional conferences.
2967     (IX)  Implement disease management programs in cooperation
2968with physicians and pharmacists, along with a model quality-
2969based medication component for individuals having chronic
2970medical conditions.
2971     13.12.  The agency is authorized to contract for drug
2972rebate administration, including, but not limited to,
2973calculating rebate amounts, invoicing manufacturers, negotiating
2974disputes with manufacturers, and maintaining a database of
2975rebate collections.
2976     14.13.  The agency may specify the preferred daily dosing
2977form or strength for the purpose of promoting best practices
2978with regard to the prescribing of certain drugs as specified in
2979the General Appropriations Act and ensuring cost-effective
2980prescribing practices.
2981     15.14.  The agency may require prior authorization for
2982Medicaid-covered prescribed drugs. The agency may, but is not
2983required to, prior-authorize the use of a product:
2984     a.  For an indication not approved in labeling;
2985     b.  To comply with certain clinical guidelines; or
2986     c.  If the product has the potential for overuse, misuse,
2987or abuse.
2988
2989The agency may require the prescribing professional to provide
2990information about the rationale and supporting medical evidence
2991for the use of a drug. The agency shall accept electronic prior
2992authorization requests from prescribers or pharmacists for any
2993drug requiring prior authorization and may post prior
2994authorization criteria and protocol and updates to the list of
2995drugs that are subject to prior authorization on an Internet
2996website without amending its rule or engaging in additional
2997rulemaking.
2998     16.15.  The agency, in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical
2999and Therapeutics Committee, may require age-related prior
3000authorizations for certain prescribed drugs. The agency may
3001preauthorize the use of a drug for a recipient who may not meet
3002the age requirement or may exceed the length of therapy for use
3003of this product as recommended by the manufacturer and approved
3004by the Food and Drug Administration. Prior authorization may
3005require the prescribing professional to provide information
3006about the rationale and supporting medical evidence for the use
3007of a drug.
3008     17.16.  The agency shall implement a step-therapy prior
3009authorization approval process for medications excluded from the
3010preferred drug list. Medications listed on the preferred drug
3011list must be used within the previous 12 months prior to the
3012alternative medications that are not listed. The step-therapy
3013prior authorization may require the prescriber to use the
3014medications of a similar drug class or for a similar medical
3015indication unless contraindicated in the Food and Drug
3016Administration labeling. The trial period between the specified
3017steps may vary according to the medical indication. The step-
3018therapy approval process shall be developed in accordance with
3019the committee as stated in s. 409.91195(7) and (8). A drug
3020product may be approved without meeting the step-therapy prior
3021authorization criteria if the prescribing physician provides the
3022agency with additional written medical or clinical documentation
3023that the product is medically necessary because:
3024     a.  There is not a drug on the preferred drug list to treat
3025the disease or medical condition which is an acceptable clinical
3026alternative;
3027     b.  The alternatives have been ineffective in the treatment
3028of the beneficiary's disease; or
3029     c.  Based on historic evidence and known characteristics of
3030the patient and the drug, the drug is likely to be ineffective,
3031or the number of doses have been ineffective.
3032
3033The agency shall work with the physician to determine the best
3034alternative for the patient. The agency may adopt rules waiving
3035the requirements for written clinical documentation for specific
3036drugs in limited clinical situations.
3037     18.17.  The agency shall implement a return and reuse
3038program for drugs dispensed by pharmacies to institutional
3039recipients, which includes payment of a $5 restocking fee for
3040the implementation and operation of the program. The return and
3041reuse program shall be implemented electronically and in a
3042manner that promotes efficiency. The program must permit a
3043pharmacy to exclude drugs from the program if it is not
3044practical or cost-effective for the drug to be included and must
3045provide for the return to inventory of drugs that cannot be
3046credited or returned in a cost-effective manner. The agency
3047shall determine if the program has reduced the amount of
3048Medicaid prescription drugs which are destroyed on an annual
3049basis and if there are additional ways to ensure more
3050prescription drugs are not destroyed which could safely be
3051reused. The agency's conclusion and recommendations shall be
3052reported to the Legislature by December 1, 2005.
3053     Section 73.  Subsection (3) and paragraph (c) of subsection
3054(4) of section 429.07, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
3055subsections (6) and (7) are added to that section, to read:
3056     429.07  License required; fee; inspections.-
3057     (3)  In addition to the requirements of s. 408.806, each
3058license granted by the agency must state the type of care for
3059which the license is granted. Licenses shall be issued for one
3060or more of the following categories of care: standard, extended
3061congregate care, limited nursing services, or limited mental
3062health.
3063     (a)  A standard license shall be issued to a facility
3064facilities providing one or more of the personal services
3065identified in s. 429.02. Such licensee facilities may also
3066employ or contract with a person licensed under part I of
3067chapter 464 to administer medications and perform other tasks as
3068specified in s. 429.255.
3069     (b)  An extended congregate care license shall be issued to
3070a licensee facilities providing, directly or through contract,
3071services beyond those authorized in paragraph (a), including
3072services performed by persons licensed under part I of chapter
3073464 and supportive services, as defined by rule, to persons who
3074would otherwise be disqualified from continued residence in a
3075facility licensed under this part.
3076     1.  In order for extended congregate care services to be
3077provided, the agency must first determine that all requirements
3078established in law and rule are met and must specifically
3079designate, on the facility's license, that such services may be
3080provided and whether the designation applies to all or part of
3081the facility. Such designation may be made at the time of
3082initial licensure or relicensure, or upon request in writing by
3083a licensee under this part and part II of chapter 408. The
3084notification of approval or the denial of the request shall be
3085made in accordance with part II of chapter 408. An existing
3086licensee facilities qualifying to provide extended congregate
3087care services must have maintained a standard license and may
3088not have been subject to administrative sanctions during the
3089previous 2 years, or since initial licensure if the facility has
3090been licensed for less than 2 years, for any of the following
3091reasons:
3092     a.  A class I or class II violation;
3093     b.  Three or more repeat or recurring class III violations
3094of identical or similar resident care standards from which a
3095pattern of noncompliance is found by the agency;
3096     c.  Three or more class III violations that were not
3097corrected in accordance with the corrective action plan approved
3098by the agency;
3099     d.  Violation of resident care standards which results in
3100requiring the facility to employ the services of a consultant
3101pharmacist or consultant dietitian;
3102     e.  Denial, suspension, or revocation of a license for
3103another facility licensed under this part in which the applicant
3104for an extended congregate care license has at least 25 percent
3105ownership interest; or
3106     f.  Imposition of a moratorium pursuant to this part or
3107part II of chapter 408 or initiation of injunctive proceedings.
3108     2.  A facility that is licensed to provide extended
3109congregate care services shall maintain a written progress
3110report for on each person who receives services which describes
3111the type, amount, duration, scope, and outcome of services that
3112are rendered and the general status of the resident's health. A
3113registered nurse, or appropriate designee, representing the
3114agency shall visit the facility at least quarterly to monitor
3115residents who are receiving extended congregate care services
3116and to determine if the facility is in compliance with this
3117part, part II of chapter 408, and relevant rules. One of the
3118visits may be in conjunction with the regular survey. The
3119monitoring visits may be provided through contractual
3120arrangements with appropriate community agencies. A registered
3121nurse shall serve as part of the team that inspects the
3122facility. The agency may waive one of the required yearly
3123monitoring visits for a facility that has been licensed for at
3124least 24 months to provide extended congregate care services,
3125if, during the inspection, the registered nurse determines that
3126extended congregate care services are being provided
3127appropriately, and if the facility has no class I or class II
3128violations and no uncorrected class III violations. The agency
3129must first consult with the long-term care ombudsman council for
3130the area in which the facility is located to determine if any
3131complaints have been made and substantiated about the quality of
3132services or care. The agency may not waive one of the required
3133yearly monitoring visits if complaints have been made and
3134substantiated.
3135     3.  A facility that is licensed to provide extended
3136congregate care services must:
3137     a.  Demonstrate the capability to meet unanticipated
3138resident service needs.
3139     b.  Offer a physical environment that promotes a homelike
3140setting, provides for resident privacy, promotes resident
3141independence, and allows sufficient congregate space as defined
3142by rule.
3143     c.  Have sufficient staff available, taking into account
3144the physical plant and firesafety features of the building, to
3145assist with the evacuation of residents in an emergency.
3146     d.  Adopt and follow policies and procedures that maximize
3147resident independence, dignity, choice, and decisionmaking to
3148permit residents to age in place, so that moves due to changes
3149in functional status are minimized or avoided.
3150     e.  Allow residents or, if applicable, a resident's
3151representative, designee, surrogate, guardian, or attorney in
3152fact to make a variety of personal choices, participate in
3153developing service plans, and share responsibility in
3154decisionmaking.
3155     f.  Implement the concept of managed risk.
3156     g.  Provide, directly or through contract, the services of
3157a person licensed under part I of chapter 464.
3158     h.  In addition to the training mandated in s. 429.52,
3159provide specialized training as defined by rule for facility
3160staff.
3161     4.  A facility that is licensed to provide extended
3162congregate care services is exempt from the criteria for
3163continued residency set forth in rules adopted under s. 429.41.
3164A licensed facility must adopt its own requirements within
3165guidelines for continued residency set forth by rule. However,
3166the facility may not serve residents who require 24-hour nursing
3167supervision. A licensed facility that provides extended
3168congregate care services must also provide each resident with a
3169written copy of facility policies governing admission and
3170retention.
3171     5.  The primary purpose of extended congregate care
3172services is to allow residents, as they become more impaired,
3173the option of remaining in a familiar setting from which they
3174would otherwise be disqualified for continued residency. A
3175facility licensed to provide extended congregate care services
3176may also admit an individual who exceeds the admission criteria
3177for a facility with a standard license, if the individual is
3178determined appropriate for admission to the extended congregate
3179care facility.
3180     6.  Before the admission of an individual to a facility
3181licensed to provide extended congregate care services, the
3182individual must undergo a medical examination as provided in s.
3183429.26(4) and the facility must develop a preliminary service
3184plan for the individual.
3185     7.  When a licensee facility can no longer provide or
3186arrange for services in accordance with the resident's service
3187plan and needs and the licensee's facility's policy, the
3188licensee facility shall make arrangements for relocating the
3189person in accordance with s. 429.28(1)(k).
3190     8.  Failure to provide extended congregate care services
3191may result in denial of extended congregate care license
3192renewal.
3193     (c)  A limited nursing services license shall be issued to
3194a facility that provides services beyond those authorized in
3195paragraph (a) and as specified in this paragraph.
3196     1.  In order for limited nursing services to be provided in
3197a facility licensed under this part, the agency must first
3198determine that all requirements established in law and rule are
3199met and must specifically designate, on the facility's license,
3200that such services may be provided. Such designation may be made
3201at the time of initial licensure or relicensure, or upon request
3202in writing by a licensee under this part and part II of chapter
3203408. Notification of approval or denial of such request shall be
3204made in accordance with part II of chapter 408. Existing
3205facilities qualifying to provide limited nursing services shall
3206have maintained a standard license and may not have been subject
3207to administrative sanctions that affect the health, safety, and
3208welfare of residents for the previous 2 years or since initial
3209licensure if the facility has been licensed for less than 2
3210years.
3211     2.  Facilities that are licensed to provide limited nursing
3212services shall maintain a written progress report on each person
3213who receives such nursing services, which report describes the
3214type, amount, duration, scope, and outcome of services that are
3215rendered and the general status of the resident's health. A
3216registered nurse representing the agency shall visit such
3217facilities at least twice a year to monitor residents who are
3218receiving limited nursing services and to determine if the
3219facility is in compliance with applicable provisions of this
3220part, part II of chapter 408, and related rules. The monitoring
3221visits may be provided through contractual arrangements with
3222appropriate community agencies. A registered nurse shall also
3223serve as part of the team that inspects such facility.
3224     3.  A person who receives limited nursing services under
3225this part must meet the admission criteria established by the
3226agency for assisted living facilities. When a resident no longer
3227meets the admission criteria for a facility licensed under this
3228part, arrangements for relocating the person shall be made in
3229accordance with s. 429.28(1)(k), unless the facility is licensed
3230to provide extended congregate care services.
3231     (4)  In accordance with s. 408.805, an applicant or
3232licensee shall pay a fee for each license application submitted
3233under this part, part II of chapter 408, and applicable rules.
3234The amount of the fee shall be established by rule.
3235     (c)  In addition to the total fee assessed under paragraph
3236(a), the agency shall require facilities that are licensed to
3237provide limited nursing services under this part to pay an
3238additional fee per licensed facility. The amount of the biennial
3239fee shall be $250 per license, with an additional fee of $10 per
3240resident based on the total licensed resident capacity of the
3241facility.
3242     (6)  In order to determine whether the facility is
3243adequately protecting residents' rights as provided in s.
3244429.28, the agency's standard licensure survey shall include
3245private informal conversations with a sample of residents and
3246consultation with the ombudsman council in the planning and
3247service area in which the facility is located to discuss
3248residents' experiences within the facility.
3249     (7)  An assisted living facility that has been cited within
3250the previous 24-month period for a class I or class II
3251violation, regardless of the status of any enforcement or
3252disciplinary action, is subject to periodic unannounced
3253monitoring to determine if the facility is in compliance with
3254this part, part II of chapter 408, and applicable rules.
3255Monitoring may occur through a desk review or an onsite
3256assessment. If the class I or class II violation relates to
3257providing or failing to provide nursing care, a registered nurse
3258must participate in monitoring activities during the 12-month
3259period following the violation.
3260     Section 74.  Subsection (7) of section 429.11, Florida
3261Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (6), and present
3262subsection (6) of that section is amended to read:
3263     429.11  Initial application for license; provisional
3264license.-
3265     (6)  In addition to the license categories available in s.
3266408.808, a provisional license may be issued to an applicant
3267making initial application for licensure or making application
3268for a change of ownership. A provisional license shall be
3269limited in duration to a specific period of time not to exceed 6
3270months, as determined by the agency.
3271     Section 75.  Section 429.12, Florida Statutes, is amended
3272to read:
3273     429.12  Sale or transfer of ownership of a facility.-It is
3274the intent of the Legislature to protect the rights of the
3275residents of an assisted living facility when the facility is
3276sold or the ownership thereof is transferred. Therefore, in
3277addition to the requirements of part II of chapter 408, whenever
3278a facility is sold or the ownership thereof is transferred,
3279including leasing,:
3280     (1)  the transferee shall notify the residents, in writing,
3281of the change of ownership within 7 days after receipt of the
3282new license.
3283     (2)  The transferor of a facility the license of which is
3284denied pending an administrative hearing shall, as a part of the
3285written change-of-ownership contract, advise the transferee that
3286a plan of correction must be submitted by the transferee and
3287approved by the agency at least 7 days before the change of
3288ownership and that failure to correct the condition which
3289resulted in the moratorium pursuant to part II of chapter 408 or
3290denial of licensure is grounds for denial of the transferee's
3291license.
3292     Section 76.  Subsection (5) of section 429.14, Florida
3293Statutes, is amended to read:
3294     429.14  Administrative penalties.-
3295     (5)  An action taken by the agency to suspend, deny, or
3296revoke a facility's license under this part or part II of
3297chapter 408, in which the agency claims that the facility owner
3298or an employee of the facility has threatened the health,
3299safety, or welfare of a resident of the facility, shall be heard
3300by the Division of Administrative Hearings of the Department of
3301Management Services within 120 days after receipt of the
3302facility's request for a hearing, unless that time limitation is
3303waived by both parties. The administrative law judge must render
3304a decision within 30 days after receipt of a proposed
3305recommended order.
3306     Section 77.  Subsections (1), (4), and (5) of section
3307429.17, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3308     429.17  Expiration of license; renewal; conditional
3309license.-
3310     (1)  Limited nursing, Extended congregate care, and limited
3311mental health licenses shall expire at the same time as the
3312facility's standard license, regardless of when issued.
3313     (4)  In addition to the license categories available in s.
3314408.808, a conditional license may be issued to an applicant for
3315license renewal if the applicant fails to meet all standards and
3316requirements for licensure. A conditional license issued under
3317this subsection shall be limited in duration to a specific
3318period of time not to exceed 6 months, as determined by the
3319agency, and shall be accompanied by an agency-approved plan of
3320correction.
3321     (5)  When an extended congregate care or limited nursing
3322license is requested during a facility's biennial license
3323period, the fee shall be prorated in order to permit the
3324additional license to expire at the end of the biennial license
3325period. The fee shall be calculated as of the date the
3326additional license application is received by the agency.
3327     Section 78.  Section 429.195, Florida Statutes, is amended
3328to read:
3329     429.195  Rebates prohibited; penalties.-
3330     (1)  It is unlawful for any assisted living facility
3331licensed under this part to contract or promise to pay or
3332receive any commission, bonus, kickback, or rebate or engage in
3333any split-fee arrangement in any form whatsoever with any health
3334care provider or health care facility pursuant to s. 817.505
3335physician, surgeon, organization, agency, or person, either
3336directly or indirectly, for residents referred to an assisted
3337living facility licensed under this part. A facility may employ
3338or contract with persons to market the facility, provided the
3339employee or contract provider clearly indicates that he or she
3340represents the facility. A person or agency independent of the
3341facility may provide placement or referral services for a fee to
3342individuals seeking assistance in finding a suitable facility;
3343however, any fee paid for placement or referral services must be
3344paid by the individual looking for a facility, not by the
3345facility.
3346     (2)  A violation of this section shall be considered
3347patient brokering and is punishable as provided in s. 817.505.
3348     (3)  This section does not apply to:
3349     (a)  An individual employed by the facility, or with whom
3350the facility contracts to market the facility, if the employee
3351or contract provider clearly indicates that he or she works with
3352or for the facility.
3353     (b)  A referral service that provides information,
3354consultation, or referrals to consumers to assist them in
3355finding appropriate care or housing options for seniors or
3356disabled adults, provided that such referred consumers are not
3357Medicaid recipients.
3358     (c)  Residents of an assisted living facility who refer
3359friends, family members, or other individuals with whom they
3360have a personal relationship to the assisted living facility,
3361and does not prohibit the assisted living facility from
3362providing a monetary reward to the resident for making such a
3363referral.
3364     Section 79.  Subsections (6) through (10) of section
3365429.23, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5)
3366through (9), respectively, and present subsection (5) of that
3367section is amended to read:
3368     429.23  Internal risk management and quality assurance
3369program; adverse incidents and reporting requirements.-
3370     (5)  Each facility shall report monthly to the agency any
3371liability claim filed against it. The report must include the
3372name of the resident, the dates of the incident leading to the
3373claim, if applicable, and the type of injury or violation of
3374rights alleged to have occurred. This report is not discoverable
3375in any civil or administrative action, except in such actions
3376brought by the agency to enforce the provisions of this part.
3377     Section 80.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
3378(2) of section 429.255, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3379     429.255  Use of personnel; emergency care.-
3380     (1)(a)  Persons under contract to the facility or, facility
3381staff, or volunteers, who are licensed according to part I of
3382chapter 464, or those persons exempt under s. 464.022(1), and
3383others as defined by rule, may administer medications to
3384residents, take residents' vital signs, manage individual weekly
3385pill organizers for residents who self-administer medication,
3386give prepackaged enemas ordered by a physician, observe
3387residents, document observations on the appropriate resident's
3388record, report observations to the resident's physician, and
3389contract or allow residents or a resident's representative,
3390designee, surrogate, guardian, or attorney in fact to contract
3391with a third party, provided residents meet the criteria for
3392appropriate placement as defined in s. 429.26. Persons under
3393contract to the facility or facility staff who are licensed
3394according to part I of chapter 464 may provide limited nursing
3395services. Nursing assistants certified pursuant to part II of
3396chapter 464 may take residents' vital signs as directed by a
3397licensed nurse or physician. The facility is responsible for
3398maintaining documentation of services provided under this
3399paragraph and as required by rule and for ensuring that staff
3400are adequately trained to monitor residents receiving these
3401services.
3402     (2)  In facilities licensed to provide extended congregate
3403care, persons under contract to the facility or, facility staff,
3404or volunteers, who are licensed according to part I of chapter
3405464, or those persons exempt under s. 464.022(1), or those
3406persons certified as nursing assistants pursuant to part II of
3407chapter 464, may also perform all duties within the scope of
3408their license or certification, as approved by the facility
3409administrator and pursuant to this part.
3410     Section 81.  Subsections (4), (5), (6), and (7) of section
3411429.28, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3),
3412(4), (5), and (6), respectively, and present subsections (3) and
3413(6) of that section are amended to read:
3414     429.28  Resident bill of rights.-
3415     (3)(a)  The agency shall conduct a survey to determine
3416general compliance with facility standards and compliance with
3417residents' rights as a prerequisite to initial licensure or
3418licensure renewal.
3419     (b)  In order to determine whether the facility is
3420adequately protecting residents' rights, the biennial survey
3421shall include private informal conversations with a sample of
3422residents and consultation with the ombudsman council in the
3423planning and service area in which the facility is located to
3424discuss residents' experiences within the facility.
3425     (c)  During any calendar year in which no survey is
3426conducted, the agency shall conduct at least one monitoring
3427visit of each facility cited in the previous year for a class I
3428or class II violation, or more than three uncorrected class III
3429violations.
3430     (d)  The agency may conduct periodic followup inspections
3431as necessary to monitor the compliance of facilities with a
3432history of any class I, class II, or class III violations that
3433threaten the health, safety, or security of residents.
3434     (e)  The agency may conduct complaint investigations as
3435warranted to investigate any allegations of noncompliance with
3436requirements required under this part or rules adopted under
3437this part.
3438     (5)(6)  Any facility which terminates the residency of an
3439individual who participated in activities specified in
3440subsection (4) (5) shall show good cause in a court of competent
3441jurisdiction.
3442     Section 82.  Subsections (4) and (5) of section 429.41,
3443Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (3) and (4),
3444respectively, and paragraphs (i) and (j) of subsection (1) and
3445present subsection (3) of that section are amended to read:
3446     429.41  Rules establishing standards.-
3447     (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that rules
3448published and enforced pursuant to this section shall include
3449criteria by which a reasonable and consistent quality of
3450resident care and quality of life may be ensured and the results
3451of such resident care may be demonstrated. Such rules shall also
3452ensure a safe and sanitary environment that is residential and
3453noninstitutional in design or nature. It is further intended
3454that reasonable efforts be made to accommodate the needs and
3455preferences of residents to enhance the quality of life in a
3456facility. The agency, in consultation with the department, may
3457adopt rules to administer the requirements of part II of chapter
3458408. In order to provide safe and sanitary facilities and the
3459highest quality of resident care accommodating the needs and
3460preferences of residents, the department, in consultation with
3461the agency, the Department of Children and Family Services, and
3462the Department of Health, shall adopt rules, policies, and
3463procedures to administer this part, which must include
3464reasonable and fair minimum standards in relation to:
3465     (i)  Facilities holding an a limited nursing, extended
3466congregate care, or limited mental health license.
3467     (j)  The establishment of specific criteria to define
3468appropriateness of resident admission and continued residency in
3469a facility holding a standard, limited nursing, extended
3470congregate care, and limited mental health license.
3471     (3)  The department shall submit a copy of proposed rules
3472to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of
3473the Senate, and appropriate committees of substance for review
3474and comment prior to the promulgation thereof. Rules promulgated
3475by the department shall encourage the development of homelike
3476facilities which promote the dignity, individuality, personal
3477strengths, and decisionmaking ability of residents.
3478     Section 83.  Subsections (1) and (2) of section 429.53,
3479Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3480     429.53  Consultation by the agency.-
3481     (1)  The area offices of licensure and certification of the
3482agency shall provide consultation to the following upon request:
3483     (a)  A licensee of a facility.
3484     (b)  A person interested in obtaining a license to operate
3485a facility under this part.
3486     (2)  As used in this section, "consultation" includes:
3487     (a)  An explanation of the requirements of this part and
3488rules adopted pursuant thereto;
3489     (b)  An explanation of the license application and renewal
3490procedures; and
3491     (c)  The provision of a checklist of general local and
3492state approvals required prior to constructing or developing a
3493facility and a listing of the types of agencies responsible for
3494such approvals;
3495     (d)  An explanation of benefits and financial assistance
3496available to a recipient of supplemental security income
3497residing in a facility;
3498     (c)(e)  Any other information which the agency deems
3499necessary to promote compliance with the requirements of this
3500part; and
3501     (f)  A preconstruction review of a facility to ensure
3502compliance with agency rules and this part.
3503     Section 84.  Subsection (6) of section 429.71, Florida
3504Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), and subsection (1)
3505and present subsection (5) of that section are amended to read:
3506     429.71  Classification of violations deficiencies;
3507administrative fines.-
3508     (1)  In addition to the requirements of part II of chapter
3509408 and in addition to any other liability or penalty provided
3510by law, the agency may impose an administrative fine on a
3511provider according to the following classification:
3512     (a)  Class I violations are defined in s. 408.813 those
3513conditions or practices related to the operation and maintenance
3514of an adult family-care home or to the care of residents which
3515the agency determines present an imminent danger to the
3516residents or guests of the facility or a substantial probability
3517that death or serious physical or emotional harm would result
3518therefrom. The condition or practice that constitutes a class I
3519violation must be abated or eliminated within 24 hours, unless a
3520fixed period, as determined by the agency, is required for
3521correction. A class I violation deficiency is subject to an
3522administrative fine in an amount not less than $500 and not
3523exceeding $1,000 for each violation. A fine may be levied
3524notwithstanding the correction of the deficiency.
3525     (b)  Class II violations are defined in s. 408.813 those
3526conditions or practices related to the operation and maintenance
3527of an adult family-care home or to the care of residents which
3528the agency determines directly threaten the physical or
3529emotional health, safety, or security of the residents, other
3530than class I violations. A class II violation is subject to an
3531administrative fine in an amount not less than $250 and not
3532exceeding $500 for each violation. A citation for a class II
3533violation must specify the time within which the violation is
3534required to be corrected. If a class II violation is corrected
3535within the time specified, no civil penalty shall be imposed,
3536unless it is a repeated offense.
3537     (c)  Class III violations are defined in s. 408.813 those
3538conditions or practices related to the operation and maintenance
3539of an adult family-care home or to the care of residents which
3540the agency determines indirectly or potentially threaten the
3541physical or emotional health, safety, or security of residents,
3542other than class I or class II violations. A class III violation
3543is subject to an administrative fine in an amount not less than
3544$100 and not exceeding $250 for each violation. A citation for a
3545class III violation shall specify the time within which the
3546violation is required to be corrected. If a class III violation
3547is corrected within the time specified, no civil penalty shall
3548be imposed, unless it is a repeated violation offense.
3549     (d)  Class IV violations are defined in s. 408.813 those
3550conditions or occurrences related to the operation and
3551maintenance of an adult family-care home, or related to the
3552required reports, forms, or documents, which do not have the
3553potential of negatively affecting the residents. A provider that
3554does not correct A class IV violation within the time limit
3555specified by the agency is subject to an administrative fine in
3556an amount not less than $50 and not exceeding $100 for each
3557violation. Any class IV violation that is corrected during the
3558time the agency survey is conducted will be identified as an
3559agency finding and not as a violation, unless it is a repeat
3560violation.
3561     (5)  As an alternative to or in conjunction with an
3562administrative action against a provider, the agency may request
3563a plan of corrective action that demonstrates a good faith
3564effort to remedy each violation by a specific date, subject to
3565the approval of the agency.
3566     Section 85.  Section 429.915, Florida Statutes, is amended
3567to read:
3568     429.915  Conditional license.-In addition to the license
3569categories available in part II of chapter 408, the agency may
3570issue a conditional license to an applicant for license renewal
3571or change of ownership if the applicant fails to meet all
3572standards and requirements for licensure. A conditional license
3573issued under this subsection must be limited to a specific
3574period not exceeding 6 months, as determined by the agency, and
3575must be accompanied by an approved plan of correction.
3576     Section 86.  Paragraphs (b) and (g) of subsection (3) of
3577section 430.80, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3578     430.80  Implementation of a teaching nursing home pilot
3579project.-
3580     (3)  To be designated as a teaching nursing home, a nursing
3581home licensee must, at a minimum:
3582     (b)  Participate in a nationally recognized accreditation
3583program and hold a valid accreditation, such as the
3584accreditation awarded by the Joint Commission on Accreditation
3585of Healthcare Organizations, or, at the time of initial
3586designation, possess a Gold Seal Award as conferred by the state
3587on its licensed nursing home;
3588     (g)  Maintain insurance coverage pursuant to s.
3589400.141(1)(q)(s) or proof of financial responsibility in a
3590minimum amount of $750,000. Such proof of financial
3591responsibility may include:
3592     1.  Maintaining an escrow account consisting of cash or
3593assets eligible for deposit in accordance with s. 625.52; or
3594     2.  Obtaining and maintaining pursuant to chapter 675 an
3595unexpired, irrevocable, nontransferable and nonassignable letter
3596of credit issued by any bank or savings association organized
3597and existing under the laws of this state or any bank or savings
3598association organized under the laws of the United States that
3599has its principal place of business in this state or has a
3600branch office which is authorized to receive deposits in this
3601state. The letter of credit shall be used to satisfy the
3602obligation of the facility to the claimant upon presentment of a
3603final judgment indicating liability and awarding damages to be
3604paid by the facility or upon presentment of a settlement
3605agreement signed by all parties to the agreement when such final
3606judgment or settlement is a result of a liability claim against
3607the facility.
3608     Section 87.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (9) of section
3609440.102, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3610     440.102  Drug-free workplace program requirements.-The
3611following provisions apply to a drug-free workplace program
3612implemented pursuant to law or to rules adopted by the Agency
3613for Health Care Administration:
3614     (9)  DRUG-TESTING STANDARDS FOR LABORATORIES.-
3615     (d)  The laboratory shall submit to the Agency for Health
3616Care Administration a monthly report with statistical
3617information regarding the testing of employees and job
3618applicants. The report must include information on the methods
3619of analysis conducted, the drugs tested for, the number of
3620positive and negative results for both initial tests and
3621confirmation tests, and any other information deemed appropriate
3622by the Agency for Health Care Administration. A monthly report
3623must not identify specific employees or job applicants.
3624     Section 88.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
3625440.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3626     440.13  Medical services and supplies; penalty for
3627violations; limitations.-
3628     (2)  MEDICAL TREATMENT; DUTY OF EMPLOYER TO FURNISH.-
3629     (a)  Subject to the limitations specified elsewhere in this
3630chapter, the employer shall furnish to the employee such
3631medically necessary remedial treatment, care, and attendance for
3632such period as the nature of the injury or the process of
3633recovery may require, which is in accordance with established
3634practice parameters and protocols of treatment as provided for
3635in this chapter, including medicines, medical supplies, durable
3636medical equipment, orthoses, prostheses, and other medically
3637necessary apparatus. Remedial treatment, care, and attendance,
3638including work-hardening programs or pain-management programs
3639accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
3640Facilities or the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of
3641Health Organizations or pain-management programs affiliated with
3642medical schools, shall be considered as covered treatment only
3643when such care is given based on a referral by a physician as
3644defined in this chapter. Medically necessary treatment, care,
3645and attendance does not include chiropractic services in excess
3646of 24 treatments or rendered 12 weeks beyond the date of the
3647initial chiropractic treatment, whichever comes first, unless
3648the carrier authorizes additional treatment or the employee is
3649catastrophically injured.
3650
3651Failure of the carrier to timely comply with this subsection
3652shall be a violation of this chapter and the carrier shall be
3653subject to penalties as provided for in s. 440.525.
3654     Section 89.  Paragraph (h) of subsection (3) of section
3655456.053, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3656     456.053  Financial arrangements between referring health
3657care providers and providers of health care services.-
3658     (3)  DEFINITIONS.-For the purpose of this section, the
3659word, phrase, or term:
3660     (h)  "Group practice" means a group of two or more health
3661care providers legally organized as a partnership, professional
3662corporation, or similar association:
3663     1.  In which each health care provider who is a member of
3664the group provides substantially the full range of services
3665which the health care provider routinely provides, including
3666medical care, consultation, diagnosis, or treatment, through the
3667joint use of shared office space, facilities, equipment, and
3668personnel;
3669     2.  For which substantially all of the services of the
3670health care providers who are members of the group are provided
3671through the group and are billed in the name of the group and
3672amounts so received are treated as receipts of the group; and
3673     3.  In which the overhead expenses of and the income from
3674the practice are distributed in accordance with methods
3675previously determined by members of the group; and
3676     4.  In which a group practice that provides radiation
3677therapy services provides the full range of radiation therapy
3678services such that no single type of cancer, either as a primary
3679or secondary diagnosis as described by the International
3680Statistical Classification of Diseases, constitutes 40 percent
3681or more of the group's cases that require professional and
3682technical services for radiation therapy, and in which the
3683health care providers within the group who are referring
3684patients for radiation therapy services do not own 50 percent or
3685more of the group practice. For purposes of this subparagraph,
3686the term "cases" means a patient's radiation treatment course.
3687     Section 90.  Subsection (1) of section 483.035, Florida
3688Statutes, is amended to read:
3689     483.035  Clinical laboratories operated by practitioners
3690for exclusive use; licensure and regulation.-
3691     (1)  A clinical laboratory operated by one or more
3692practitioners licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter
3693460, chapter 461, chapter 462, part I of chapter 464, or chapter
3694466, exclusively in connection with the diagnosis and treatment
3695of their own patients, must be licensed under this part and must
3696comply with the provisions of this part, except that the agency
3697shall adopt rules for staffing, for personnel, including
3698education and training of personnel, for proficiency testing,
3699and for construction standards relating to the licensure and
3700operation of the laboratory based upon and not exceeding the
3701same standards contained in the federal Clinical Laboratory
3702Improvement Amendments of 1988 and the federal regulations
3703adopted thereunder.
3704     Section 91.  Subsections (1) and (9) of section 483.051,
3705Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3706     483.051  Powers and duties of the agency.-The agency shall
3707adopt rules to implement this part, which rules must include,
3708but are not limited to, the following:
3709     (1)  LICENSING; QUALIFICATIONS.-The agency shall provide
3710for biennial licensure of all nonwaived clinical laboratories
3711meeting the requirements of this part and shall prescribe the
3712qualifications necessary for such licensure, including, but not
3713limited to, application for or proof of a federal Clinical
3714Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) certificate. For
3715purposes of this section, the term "nonwaived clinical
3716laboratories" means laboratories that perform any test that the
3717Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has determined does
3718not qualify for a certificate of waiver under the Clinical
3719Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 and the federal rules
3720adopted thereunder.
3721     (9)  ALTERNATE-SITE TESTING.-The agency, in consultation
3722with the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel, shall adopt, by
3723rule, the criteria for alternate-site testing to be performed
3724under the supervision of a clinical laboratory director. The
3725elements to be addressed in the rule include, but are not
3726limited to: a hospital internal needs assessment; a protocol of
3727implementation including tests to be performed and who will
3728perform the tests; criteria to be used in selecting the method
3729of testing to be used for alternate-site testing; minimum
3730training and education requirements for those who will perform
3731alternate-site testing, such as documented training, licensure,
3732certification, or other medical professional background not
3733limited to laboratory professionals; documented inservice
3734training as well as initial and ongoing competency validation;
3735an appropriate internal and external quality control protocol;
3736an internal mechanism for identifying and tracking alternate-
3737site testing by the central laboratory; and recordkeeping
3738requirements. Alternate-site testing locations must register
3739when the clinical laboratory applies to renew its license. For
3740purposes of this subsection, the term "alternate-site testing"
3741means any laboratory testing done under the administrative
3742control of a hospital, but performed out of the physical or
3743administrative confines of the central laboratory.
3744     Section 92.  Section 483.294, Florida Statutes, is amended
3745to read:
3746     483.294  Inspection of centers.-In accordance with s.
3747408.811, the agency shall biennially, at least once annually,
3748inspect the premises and operations of all centers subject to
3749licensure under this part.
3750     Section 93.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (54) of section
3751499.003, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3752     499.003  Definitions of terms used in this part.-As used in
3753this part, the term:
3754     (54)  "Wholesale distribution" means distribution of
3755prescription drugs to persons other than a consumer or patient,
3756but does not include:
3757     (a)  Any of the following activities, which is not a
3758violation of s. 499.005(21) if such activity is conducted in
3759accordance with s. 499.01(2)(g):
3760     1.  The purchase or other acquisition by a hospital or
3761other health care entity that is a member of a group purchasing
3762organization of a prescription drug for its own use from the
3763group purchasing organization or from other hospitals or health
3764care entities that are members of that organization.
3765     2.  The sale, purchase, or trade of a prescription drug or
3766an offer to sell, purchase, or trade a prescription drug by a
3767charitable organization described in s. 501(c)(3) of the
3768Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and revised, to a
3769nonprofit affiliate of the organization to the extent otherwise
3770permitted by law.
3771     3.  The sale, purchase, or trade of a prescription drug or
3772an offer to sell, purchase, or trade a prescription drug among
3773hospitals or other health care entities that are under common
3774control. For purposes of this subparagraph, "common control"
3775means the power to direct or cause the direction of the
3776management and policies of a person or an organization, whether
3777by ownership of stock, by voting rights, by contract, or
3778otherwise.
3779     4.  The sale, purchase, trade, or other transfer of a
3780prescription drug from or for any federal, state, or local
3781government agency or any entity eligible to purchase
3782prescription drugs at public health services prices pursuant to
3783Pub. L. No. 102-585, s. 602 to a contract provider or its
3784subcontractor for eligible patients of the agency or entity
3785under the following conditions:
3786     a.  The agency or entity must obtain written authorization
3787for the sale, purchase, trade, or other transfer of a
3788prescription drug under this subparagraph from the State Surgeon
3789General or his or her designee.
3790     b.  The contract provider or subcontractor must be
3791authorized by law to administer or dispense prescription drugs.
3792     c.  In the case of a subcontractor, the agency or entity
3793must be a party to and execute the subcontract.
3794     d.  A contract provider or subcontractor must maintain
3795separate and apart from other prescription drug inventory any
3796prescription drugs of the agency or entity in its possession.
3797     d.e.  The contract provider and subcontractor must maintain
3798and produce immediately for inspection all records of movement
3799or transfer of all the prescription drugs belonging to the
3800agency or entity, including, but not limited to, the records of
3801receipt and disposition of prescription drugs. Each contractor
3802and subcontractor dispensing or administering these drugs must
3803maintain and produce records documenting the dispensing or
3804administration. Records that are required to be maintained
3805include, but are not limited to, a perpetual inventory itemizing
3806drugs received and drugs dispensed by prescription number or
3807administered by patient identifier, which must be submitted to
3808the agency or entity quarterly.
3809     e.f.  The contract provider or subcontractor may administer
3810or dispense the prescription drugs only to the eligible patients
3811of the agency or entity or must return the prescription drugs
3812for or to the agency or entity. The contract provider or
3813subcontractor must require proof from each person seeking to
3814fill a prescription or obtain treatment that the person is an
3815eligible patient of the agency or entity and must, at a minimum,
3816maintain a copy of this proof as part of the records of the
3817contractor or subcontractor required under sub-subparagraph e.
3818     f.g.  In addition to the departmental inspection authority
3819set forth in s. 499.051, the establishment of the contract
3820provider and subcontractor and all records pertaining to
3821prescription drugs subject to this subparagraph shall be subject
3822to inspection by the agency or entity. All records relating to
3823prescription drugs of a manufacturer under this subparagraph
3824shall be subject to audit by the manufacturer of those drugs,
3825without identifying individual patient information.
3826     Section 94.  Subsection (1) of section 627.645, Florida
3827Statutes, is amended to read:
3828     627.645  Denial of health insurance claims restricted.-
3829     (1)  No claim for payment under a health insurance policy
3830or self-insured program of health benefits for treatment, care,
3831or services in a licensed hospital which is accredited by the
3832Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals, the American
3833Osteopathic Association, or the Commission on the Accreditation
3834of Rehabilitative Facilities shall be denied because such
3835hospital lacks major surgical facilities and is primarily of a
3836rehabilitative nature, if such rehabilitation is specifically
3837for treatment of physical disability.
3838     Section 95.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
3839627.668, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3840     627.668  Optional coverage for mental and nervous disorders
3841required; exception.-
3842     (2)  Under group policies or contracts, inpatient hospital
3843benefits, partial hospitalization benefits, and outpatient
3844benefits consisting of durational limits, dollar amounts,
3845deductibles, and coinsurance factors shall not be less favorable
3846than for physical illness generally, except that:
3847     (c)  Partial hospitalization benefits shall be provided
3848under the direction of a licensed physician. For purposes of
3849this part, the term "partial hospitalization services" is
3850defined as those services offered by a program accredited by the
3851Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) or in
3852compliance with equivalent standards. Alcohol rehabilitation
3853programs accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
3854Hospitals or approved by the state and licensed drug abuse
3855rehabilitation programs shall also be qualified providers under
3856this section. In any benefit year, if partial hospitalization
3857services or a combination of inpatient and partial
3858hospitalization are utilized, the total benefits paid for all
3859such services shall not exceed the cost of 30 days of inpatient
3860hospitalization for psychiatric services, including physician
3861fees, which prevail in the community in which the partial
3862hospitalization services are rendered. If partial
3863hospitalization services benefits are provided beyond the limits
3864set forth in this paragraph, the durational limits, dollar
3865amounts, and coinsurance factors thereof need not be the same as
3866those applicable to physical illness generally.
3867     Section 96.  Subsection (3) of section 627.669, Florida
3868Statutes, is amended to read:
3869     627.669  Optional coverage required for substance abuse
3870impaired persons; exception.-
3871     (3)  The benefits provided under this section shall be
3872applicable only if treatment is provided by, or under the
3873supervision of, or is prescribed by, a licensed physician or
3874licensed psychologist and if services are provided in a program
3875accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals
3876or approved by the state.
3877     Section 97.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
3878627.736, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3879     627.736  Required personal injury protection benefits;
3880exclusions; priority; claims.-
3881     (1)  REQUIRED BENEFITS.-Every insurance policy complying
3882with the security requirements of s. 627.733 shall provide
3883personal injury protection to the named insured, relatives
3884residing in the same household, persons operating the insured
3885motor vehicle, passengers in such motor vehicle, and other
3886persons struck by such motor vehicle and suffering bodily injury
3887while not an occupant of a self-propelled vehicle, subject to
3888the provisions of subsection (2) and paragraph (4)(e), to a
3889limit of $10,000 for loss sustained by any such person as a
3890result of bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death arising out
3891of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle as
3892follows:
3893     (a)  Medical benefits.-Eighty percent of all reasonable
3894expenses for medically necessary medical, surgical, X-ray,
3895dental, and rehabilitative services, including prosthetic
3896devices, and medically necessary ambulance, hospital, and
3897nursing services. However, the medical benefits shall provide
3898reimbursement only for such services and care that are lawfully
3899provided, supervised, ordered, or prescribed by a physician
3900licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, a dentist licensed
3901under chapter 466, or a chiropractic physician licensed under
3902chapter 460 or that are provided by any of the following persons
3903or entities:
3904     1.  A hospital or ambulatory surgical center licensed under
3905chapter 395.
3906     2.  A person or entity licensed under ss. 401.2101-401.45
3907that provides emergency transportation and treatment.
3908     3.  An entity wholly owned by one or more physicians
3909licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459, chiropractic
3910physicians licensed under chapter 460, or dentists licensed
3911under chapter 466 or by such practitioner or practitioners and
3912the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of that practitioner or
3913those practitioners.
3914     4.  An entity wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by a
3915hospital or hospitals.
3916     5.  A health care clinic licensed under ss. 400.990-400.995
3917that is:
3918     a.  Accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
3919Healthcare Organizations, the American Osteopathic Association,
3920the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or
3921the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.;
3922or
3923     b.  A health care clinic that:
3924     (I)  Has a medical director licensed under chapter 458,
3925chapter 459, or chapter 460;
3926     (II)  Has been continuously licensed for more than 3 years
3927or is a publicly traded corporation that issues securities
3928traded on an exchange registered with the United States
3929Securities and Exchange Commission as a national securities
3930exchange; and
3931     (III)  Provides at least four of the following medical
3932specialties:
3933     (A)  General medicine.
3934     (B)  Radiography.
3935     (C)  Orthopedic medicine.
3936     (D)  Physical medicine.
3937     (E)  Physical therapy.
3938     (F)  Physical rehabilitation.
3939     (G)  Prescribing or dispensing outpatient prescription
3940medication.
3941     (H)  Laboratory services.
3942
3943The Financial Services Commission shall adopt by rule the form
3944that must be used by an insurer and a health care provider
3945specified in subparagraph 3., subparagraph 4., or subparagraph
39465. to document that the health care provider meets the criteria
3947of this paragraph, which rule must include a requirement for a
3948sworn statement or affidavit.
3949
3950Only insurers writing motor vehicle liability insurance in this
3951state may provide the required benefits of this section, and no
3952such insurer shall require the purchase of any other motor
3953vehicle coverage other than the purchase of property damage
3954liability coverage as required by s. 627.7275 as a condition for
3955providing such required benefits. Insurers may not require that
3956property damage liability insurance in an amount greater than
3957$10,000 be purchased in conjunction with personal injury
3958protection. Such insurers shall make benefits and required
3959property damage liability insurance coverage available through
3960normal marketing channels. Any insurer writing motor vehicle
3961liability insurance in this state who fails to comply with such
3962availability requirement as a general business practice shall be
3963deemed to have violated part IX of chapter 626, and such
3964violation shall constitute an unfair method of competition or an
3965unfair or deceptive act or practice involving the business of
3966insurance; and any such insurer committing such violation shall
3967be subject to the penalties afforded in such part, as well as
3968those which may be afforded elsewhere in the insurance code.
3969     Section 98.  Section 633.081, Florida Statutes, is amended
3970to read:
3971     633.081  Inspection of buildings and equipment; orders;
3972firesafety inspection training requirements; certification;
3973disciplinary action.-The State Fire Marshal and her or his
3974agents shall, at any reasonable hour, when the State Fire
3975Marshal has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this
3976chapter or s. 509.215, or a rule promulgated thereunder, or a
3977minimum firesafety code adopted by a local authority, may exist,
3978inspect any and all buildings and structures which are subject
3979to the requirements of this chapter or s. 509.215 and rules
3980promulgated thereunder. The authority to inspect shall extend to
3981all equipment, vehicles, and chemicals which are located within
3982the premises of any such building or structure. The State Fire
3983Marshal and her or his agents shall inspect nursing homes
3984licensed under part II of chapter 400 only once every calendar
3985year and upon receiving a complaint forming the basis of a
3986reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this chapter or
3987s. 509.215, or a rule promulgated thereunder, or a minimum
3988firesafety code adopted by a local authority may exist and upon
3989identifying such a violation in the course of conducting
3990orientation or training activities within a nursing home.
3991     (1)  Each county, municipality, and special district that
3992has firesafety enforcement responsibilities shall employ or
3993contract with a firesafety inspector. Except as provided in s.
3994633.082(2), the firesafety inspector must conduct all firesafety
3995inspections that are required by law. The governing body of a
3996county, municipality, or special district that has firesafety
3997enforcement responsibilities may provide a schedule of fees to
3998pay only the costs of inspections conducted pursuant to this
3999subsection and related administrative expenses. Two or more
4000counties, municipalities, or special districts that have
4001firesafety enforcement responsibilities may jointly employ or
4002contract with a firesafety inspector.
4003     (2)  Except as provided in s. 633.082(2), every firesafety
4004inspection conducted pursuant to state or local firesafety
4005requirements shall be by a person certified as having met the
4006inspection training requirements set by the State Fire Marshal.
4007Such person shall:
4008     (a)  Be a high school graduate or the equivalent as
4009determined by the department;
4010     (b)  Not have been found guilty of, or having pleaded
4011guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime punishable by
4012imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United
4013States, or of any state thereof, which involves moral turpitude,
4014without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been
4015entered by the court having jurisdiction of such cases;
4016     (c)  Have her or his fingerprints on file with the
4017department or with an agency designated by the department;
4018     (d)  Have good moral character as determined by the
4019department;
4020     (e)  Be at least 18 years of age;
4021     (f)  Have satisfactorily completed the firesafety inspector
4022certification examination as prescribed by the department; and
4023     (g)1.  Have satisfactorily completed, as determined by the
4024department, a firesafety inspector training program of not less
4025than 200 hours established by the department and administered by
4026agencies and institutions approved by the department for the
4027purpose of providing basic certification training for firesafety
4028inspectors; or
4029     2.  Have received in another state training which is
4030determined by the department to be at least equivalent to that
4031required by the department for approved firesafety inspector
4032education and training programs in this state.
4033     (3)  Each special state firesafety inspection which is
4034required by law and is conducted by or on behalf of an agency of
4035the state must be performed by an individual who has met the
4036provision of subsection (2), except that the duration of the
4037training program shall not exceed 120 hours of specific training
4038for the type of property that such special state firesafety
4039inspectors are assigned to inspect.
4040     (4)  A firefighter certified pursuant to s. 633.35 may
4041conduct firesafety inspections, under the supervision of a
4042certified firesafety inspector, while on duty as a member of a
4043fire department company conducting inservice firesafety
4044inspections without being certified as a firesafety inspector,
4045if such firefighter has satisfactorily completed an inservice
4046fire department company inspector training program of at least
404724 hours' duration as provided by rule of the department.
4048     (5)  Every firesafety inspector or special state firesafety
4049inspector certificate is valid for a period of 3 years from the
4050date of issuance. Renewal of certification shall be subject to
4051the affected person's completing proper application for renewal
4052and meeting all of the requirements for renewal as established
4053under this chapter or by rule promulgated thereunder, which
4054shall include completion of at least 40 hours during the
4055preceding 3-year period of continuing education as required by
4056the rule of the department or, in lieu thereof, successful
4057passage of an examination as established by the department.
4058     (6)  The State Fire Marshal may deny, refuse to renew,
4059suspend, or revoke the certificate of a firesafety inspector or
4060special state firesafety inspector if it finds that any of the
4061following grounds exist:
4062     (a)  Any cause for which issuance of a certificate could
4063have been refused had it then existed and been known to the
4064State Fire Marshal.
4065     (b)  Violation of this chapter or any rule or order of the
4066State Fire Marshal.
4067     (c)  Falsification of records relating to the certificate.
4068     (d)  Having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty
4069or nolo contendere to a felony, whether or not a judgment of
4070conviction has been entered.
4071     (e)  Failure to meet any of the renewal requirements.
4072     (f)  Having been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction
4073which directly relates to the practice of fire code inspection,
4074plan review, or administration.
4075     (g)  Making or filing a report or record that the
4076certificateholder knows to be false, or knowingly inducing
4077another to file a false report or record, or knowingly failing
4078to file a report or record required by state or local law, or
4079knowingly impeding or obstructing such filing, or knowingly
4080inducing another person to impede or obstruct such filing.
4081     (h)  Failing to properly enforce applicable fire codes or
4082permit requirements within this state which the
4083certificateholder knows are applicable by committing willful
4084misconduct, gross negligence, gross misconduct, repeated
4085negligence, or negligence resulting in a significant danger to
4086life or property.
4087     (i)  Accepting labor, services, or materials at no charge
4088or at a noncompetitive rate from any person who performs work
4089that is under the enforcement authority of the certificateholder
4090and who is not an immediate family member of the
4091certificateholder. For the purpose of this paragraph, the term
4092"immediate family member" means a spouse, child, parent,
4093sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the person
4094or the person's spouse or any person who resides in the primary
4095residence of the certificateholder.
4096     (7)  The Division of State Fire Marshal and the Florida
4097Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board, established
4098pursuant to s. 468.605, shall enter into a reciprocity agreement
4099to facilitate joint recognition of continuing education
4100recertification hours for certificateholders licensed under s.
4101468.609 and firesafety inspectors certified under subsection
4102(2).
4103     (8)  The State Fire Marshal shall develop by rule an
4104advanced training and certification program for firesafety
4105inspectors having fire code management responsibilities. The
4106program must be consistent with the appropriate provisions of
4107NFPA 1037, or similar standards adopted by the division, and
4108establish minimum training, education, and experience levels for
4109firesafety inspectors having fire code management
4110responsibilities.
4111     (9)  The department shall provide by rule for the
4112certification of firesafety inspectors.
4113     Section 99.  Subsection (12) of section 641.495, Florida
4114Statutes, is amended to read:
4115     641.495  Requirements for issuance and maintenance of
4116certificate.-
4117     (12)  The provisions of part I of chapter 395 do not apply
4118to a health maintenance organization that, on or before January
41191, 1991, provides not more than 10 outpatient holding beds for
4120short-term and hospice-type patients in an ambulatory care
4121facility for its members, provided that such health maintenance
4122organization maintains current accreditation by the Joint
4123Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, the
4124Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, or the
4125National Committee for Quality Assurance.
4126     Section 100.  Subsection (13) of section 651.118, Florida
4127Statutes, is amended to read:
4128     651.118  Agency for Health Care Administration;
4129certificates of need; sheltered beds; community beds.-
4130     (13)  Residents, as defined in this chapter, are not
4131considered new admissions for the purpose of s.
4132400.141(1)(n)(o)1.d.
4133     Section 101.  Subsection (2) of section 766.1015, Florida
4134Statutes, is amended to read:
4135     766.1015  Civil immunity for members of or consultants to
4136certain boards, committees, or other entities.-
4137     (2)  Such committee, board, group, commission, or other
4138entity must be established in accordance with state law or in
4139accordance with requirements of the Joint Commission on
4140Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, established and duly
4141constituted by one or more public or licensed private hospitals
4142or behavioral health agencies, or established by a governmental
4143agency. To be protected by this section, the act, decision,
4144omission, or utterance may not be made or done in bad faith or
4145with malicious intent.
4146     Section 102.  Subsection (4) of section 766.202, Florida
4147Statutes, is amended to read:
4148     766.202  Definitions; ss. 766.201-766.212.-As used in ss.
4149766.201-766.212, the term:
4150     (4)  "Health care provider" means any hospital, ambulatory
4151surgical center, or mobile surgical facility as defined and
4152licensed under chapter 395; a birth center licensed under
4153chapter 383; any person licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459,
4154chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter 462, chapter 463, part I of
4155chapter 464, chapter 466, chapter 467, part XIV of chapter 468,
4156or chapter 486; a clinical lab licensed under chapter 483; a
4157health maintenance organization certificated under part I of
4158chapter 641; a blood bank; a plasma center; an industrial
4159clinic; a renal dialysis facility; or a professional association
4160partnership, corporation, joint venture, or other association
4161for professional activity by health care providers.
4162     Section 103.  Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (3) of
4163section 817.505, Florida Statutes, to read:
4164     817.505  Patient brokering prohibited; exceptions;
4165penalties.-
4166     (3)  This section shall not apply to:
4167     (j)  Any payments by an assisted living facility, as
4168defined in s. 429.02, or any agreement for or solicitation,
4169offer, or receipt of such payment by a referral service, which
4170is permitted under s. 429.195(3).
4171     Section 104.  The per-bed standard assisted living facility
4172licensure fees, including the total fee, have been adjusted by
4173the Consumer Price Index annually since 1998 and are not
4174intended to be reset by this act. In addition to the Consumer
4175Price Index adjustment, the per-bed fee is increased by $9 to
4176neutralize the elimination of the limited nursing services
4177specialty license fee.
4178     Section 105.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.