The Florida Senate

400.471  Application for license; fee; provisional license; temporary permit.--

(1)  Application for an initial license or for renewal of an existing license must be made under oath to the agency on forms furnished by it and must be accompanied by the appropriate license fee as provided in subsection (10). The agency must take final action on an initial licensure application within 60 days after receipt of all required documentation.

(2)  The initial applicant must file with the application satisfactory proof that the home health agency is in compliance with this part and applicable rules, including:

(a)  A listing of services to be provided, either directly by the applicant or through contractual arrangements with existing providers.

(b)  The number and discipline of professional staff to be employed.

(c)  Proof of financial ability to operate.

(d)  Completion of questions concerning volume data on the renewal application as determined by rule.

(3)  An applicant for initial licensure must demonstrate financial ability to operate by submitting a balance sheet and income and expense statement for the first 2 years of operation which provide evidence of having sufficient assets, credit, and projected revenues to cover liabilities and expenses. The applicant shall have demonstrated financial ability to operate if the applicant's assets, credit, and projected revenues meet or exceed projected liabilities and expenses. All documents required under this subsection must be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and must be compiled by a certified public accountant.

(4)  Each applicant for licensure must comply with the following requirements:

(a)  Upon receipt of a completed, signed, and dated application, the agency shall require background screening of the applicant, in accordance with the level 2 standards for screening set forth in chapter 435. As used in this subsection, the term "applicant" means the administrator, or a similarly titled person who is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the licensed home health agency, and the financial officer, or similarly titled individual who is responsible for the financial operation of the licensed home health agency.

(b)  The agency may require background screening for a member of the board of directors of the licensee or an officer or an individual owning 5 percent or more of the licensee if the agency reasonably suspects that such individual has been convicted of an offense prohibited under the level 2 standards for screening set forth in chapter 435.

(c)  Proof of compliance with the level 2 background screening requirements of chapter 435 which has been submitted within the previous 5 years in compliance with any other health care or assisted living licensure requirements of this state is acceptable in fulfillment of paragraph (a). Proof of compliance with background screening which has been submitted within the previous 5 years to fulfill the requirements of the Financial Services Commission and the Office of Insurance Regulation pursuant to chapter 651 as part of an application for a certificate of authority to operate a continuing care retirement community is acceptable in fulfillment of the Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigation background check.

(d)  A provisional license may be granted to an applicant when each individual required by this section to undergo background screening has met the standards for the Department of Law Enforcement background check, but the agency has not yet received background screening results from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A standard license may be granted to the licensee upon the agency's receipt of a report of the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation background screening for each individual required by this section to undergo background screening which confirms that all standards have been met, or upon the granting of a disqualification exemption by the agency as set forth in chapter 435. Any other person who is required to undergo level 2 background screening may serve in his or her capacity pending the agency's receipt of the report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, the person may not continue to serve if the report indicates any violation of background screening standards and a disqualification exemption has not been requested of and granted by the agency as set forth in chapter 435.

(e)  Each applicant must submit to the agency, with its application, a description and explanation of any exclusions, permanent suspensions, or terminations of the licensee or potential licensee from the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Proof of compliance with the requirements for disclosure of ownership and control interest under the Medicaid or Medicare programs may be accepted in lieu of this submission.

(f)  Each applicant must submit to the agency a description and explanation of any conviction of an offense prohibited under the level 2 standards of chapter 435 by a member of the board of directors of the applicant, its officers, or any individual owning 5 percent or more of the applicant. This requirement does not apply to a director of a not-for-profit corporation or organization if the director serves solely in a voluntary capacity for the corporation or organization, does not regularly take part in the day-to-day operational decisions of the corporation or organization, receives no remuneration for his or her services on the corporation or organization's board of directors, and has no financial interest and has no family members with a financial interest in the corporation or organization, provided that the director and the not-for-profit corporation or organization include in the application a statement affirming that the director's relationship to the corporation satisfies the requirements of this paragraph.

(g)  A license may not be granted to an applicant if the applicant, administrator, or financial officer has been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or has entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, any offense prohibited under the level 2 standards for screening set forth in chapter 435, unless an exemption from disqualification has been granted by the agency as set forth in chapter 435.

(h)  The agency may deny or revoke licensure if the applicant has been or is currently excluded, suspended, terminated from, or has involuntarily withdrawn from participation in any governmental or private health care or health insurance program.

(i)  An application for license renewal must contain the information required under paragraphs (e) and (f).

(5)  The agency may deny or revoke licensure if the applicant has falsely represented a material fact, or has omitted any material fact, from the application required by this section.

(6)  The home health agency must also obtain and maintain the following insurance coverage in an amount of not less than $250,000 per claim, and the home health agency must submit proof of coverage with an initial application for licensure and with each application for license renewal:

(a)  Malpractice insurance as defined in s. 624.605(1)(k).;

(b)  Liability insurance as defined in s. 624.605(1)(b).

(7)  Sixty days before the expiration date, an application for renewal must be submitted to the agency under oath on forms furnished by it, and a license must be renewed if the applicant has met the requirements established under this part and applicable rules. The home health agency must file with the application satisfactory proof that it is in compliance with this part and applicable rules. If there is evidence of financial instability, the home health agency must submit satisfactory proof of its financial ability to comply with the requirements of this part. The agency shall impose an administrative fine of $50 per day for each day the home health agency fails to file an application within the timeframe specified in this subsection. Each day of continuing violation is a separate violation; however, the aggregate of such fines may not exceed $500.

(8)  When transferring the ownership of a home health agency, the transferee must submit an application for a license at least 60 days before the effective date of the transfer. If the application is filed late, an administrative fine shall be imposed in the amount of $50 per day. Each day of continuing violation is a separate violation; however, the aggregate of such fines may not exceed $500. If the home health agency is being leased, a copy of the lease agreement must be filed with the application.

(9)  The agency shall accept, in lieu of its own periodic licensure survey, submission of the survey of an accrediting organization that is recognized by the agency if the accreditation of the licensed home health agency is not provisional and if the licensed home health agency authorizes release of, and the agency receives the report of, the accrediting organization.

(10)  The license fee and renewal fee required of a home health agency are nonrefundable. The agency shall set the license fees in an amount that is sufficient to cover its costs in carrying out its responsibilities under this part, but not to exceed $2,000. However, state, county, or municipal governments applying for licenses under this part are exempt from the payment of license fees. All fees collected under this part must be deposited in the Health Care Trust Fund for the administration of this part.

(11)  The license must be displayed in a conspicuous place in the administrative office of the home health agency and is valid only while in the possession of the person to which it is issued. The license may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred, voluntarily or involuntarily, and is valid only for the home health agency and location for which originally issued.

(12)  A home health agency against whom a revocation or suspension proceeding is pending at the time of license renewal may be issued a provisional license effective until final disposition by the agency of such proceedings. If judicial relief is sought from the final disposition, the court that has jurisdiction may issue a temporary permit for the duration of the judicial proceeding.

(13)  The agency may not issue a license designated as certified to a home health agency that fails to satisfy the requirements of a Medicare certification survey from the agency.

(14)  The agency may not issue a license to a home health agency that has any unpaid fines assessed under this part.

History.--s. 41, ch. 75-233; s. 7, ch. 77-400; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 79, 83, ch. 83-181; s. 45, ch. 87-92; s. 4, ch. 90-319; ss. 4, 23, ch. 93-214; s. 30, ch. 97-100; ss. 48, 71, ch. 98-171; s. 127, ch. 99-8; s. 218, ch. 99-13; s. 3, ch. 99-332; s. 19, ch. 2000-153; s. 2, ch. 2000-256; ss. 3, 157, ch. 2000-318; s. 78, ch. 2000-349; s. 25, ch. 2001-53; s. 2, ch. 2001-67; s. 148, ch. 2001-277; s. 420, ch. 2003-261; s. 47, ch. 2004-267; s. 4, ch. 2005-243.