Senate Bill 0314c1
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    Florida Senate - 1998                            CS for SB 314
    By the Committee on Health Care and Senator Brown-Waite
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  1                      A bill to be entitled
  2         An act relating to the regulation of health
  3         care facilities; amending s. 20.42, F.S.;
  4         deleting the responsibility of the Division of
  5         Health Policy and Cost Control within the
  6         Agency for Health Care Administration for
  7         reviewing hospital budgets; abolishing the
  8         Health Care Board; amending s. 154.304, F.S.,
  9         relating to health care for indigent persons;
10         revising definitions; amending s. 394.4788,
11         F.S., relating to mental health services;
12         updating provisions relating to duties of the
13         agency formerly performed by the Health Care
14         Cost Containment Board; amending s. 240.4076,
15         F.S.; conforming a cross-reference to changes
16         made by the act; amending s. 395.0163, F.S.;
17         providing exemptions from construction
18         inspections and investigations by the Agency
19         for Health Care Administration for certain
20         outpatient facilities; providing exceptions;
21         amending s. 395.1055, F.S.; requiring the
22         Agency for Health Care Administration to adopt
23         rules to assure that, following a disaster,
24         licensed facilities are capable of serving as
25         shelters only for patients, staff, and the
26         families of staff and patients; providing for
27         applicability; providing for a report by the
28         agency to the Governor and Legislature;
29         amending s. 395.401, F.S.; providing for
30         certain reports formerly made to the Health
31         Care Board to be made to the agency; amending
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  1         s. 395.701, F.S., relating to the Public
  2         Medical Assistance Trust Fund; revising
  3         definitions; amending ss. 408.05, 408.061,
  4         408.062, 408.063, F.S., relating to the State
  5         Center for Health Statistics and the collection
  6         and dissemination of health care information;
  7         updating provisions to reflect the assumption
  8         by the Agency for Health Care Administration of
  9         duties formerly performed by the Health Care
10         Board and the former Department of Health and
11         Rehabilitative Services; authorizing the agency
12         to conduct data-based studies and make
13         recommendations; deleting obsolete provisions;
14         amending s. 408.07, F.S.; deleting definitions
15         made obsolete by the repeal of requirements
16         with respect to hospital budget reviews;
17         amending s. 408.08, F.S.; deleting provisions
18         requiring the Health Care Board to review the
19         budgets of certain hospitals; deleting
20         requirements that a hospital file budget
21         letters; deleting certain administrative
22         penalties; amending s. 408.40, F.S.; removing a
23         reference to the duties of the Public Counsel
24         with respect to hospital budget review
25         proceedings; amending ss. 409.2673, 409.9113,
26         F.S., relating to health care programs for
27         low-income persons and the disproportionate
28         share program for teaching hospitals; updating
29         provisions to reflect the abolishment of the
30         Health Care Cost Containment Board and the
31         assumption of its duties by the agency;
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  1         repealing ss. 395.403(9), 395.806(3), 407.61,
  2         408.003, 408.072, 408.085, F.S., relating to
  3         reimbursement of state-sponsored trauma
  4         centers, studies by the Health Care Board,
  5         appointment of members to the Health Care
  6         Board, review of hospital budgets, and budget
  7         reviews of comprehensive inpatient
  8         rehabilitation hospitals; providing for
  9         retroactive application of provisions of the
10         act relating to repeal of review of hospital
11         budgets; amending ss. 381.026, 381.0261, F.S.;
12         requiring distribution of the Florida Patient's
13         Bill of Rights and Responsibilities; providing
14         penalties; repealing s. 395.002(2) and (15),
15         F.S.; deleting definitions of "adverse or
16         untoward incident" and "injury"; amending s.
17         395.0193, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
18         facility peer review disciplinary actions
19         against practitioners; requiring a report to
20         the Agency for Health Care Administration;
21         providing penalties; amending s. 395.0197,
22         F.S.; revising provisions relating to internal
23         risk management; defining the term "adverse
24         incident"; requiring certain reports to the
25         agency; including minors in provisions relating
26         to notification of sexual misconduct or abuse;
27         requiring facility corrective action plans;
28         providing penalties; renumbering s. 626.941,
29         F.S., relating to the purpose of the health
30         care risk manager licensure program;
31         renumbering and amending s. 626.942, F.S.,
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  1         relating to the Health Care Risk Manager
  2         Advisory Council; renumbering and amending s.
  3         626.943, F.S.; providing powers and duties of
  4         the agency; renumbering and amending s.
  5         626.944, F.S., relating to qualifications for
  6         health care risk managers; providing for fees;
  7         providing for issuance, cancellation, and
  8         renewal of licenses; renumbering and amending
  9         s. 626.945, F.S., relating to grounds for
10         denial, suspension, or revocation of licenses;
11         amending s. 766.101, F.S., relating to medical
12         review committees; adding "physician-hospital
13         organization," "provider-sponsored
14         organization," and "integrated delivery system"
15         to the definition of "medical review committee"
16         or "committee"; amending ss. 394.4787, 395.602,
17         400.051, 409.905, 440.13, 458.331, 459.015,
18         468.505, 641.55, 766.1115, F.S.; conforming
19         references and correcting cross-references;
20         transferring the internal risk manager
21         licensure program from the Department of
22         Insurance to the Agency for Health Care
23         Administration; providing an appropriation;
24         providing effective dates.
25
26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
27
28         Section 1.  Paragraphs (b), (d), and (e) of subsection
29  (2) and subsections (6) and (7) of section 20.42, Florida
30  Statutes, are amended to read:
31
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  1         20.42  Agency for Health Care Administration.--There is
  2  created the Agency for Health Care Administration within the
  3  Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The agency
  4  shall be a separate budget entity, and the director of the
  5  agency shall be the agency head for all purposes. The agency
  6  shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by
  7  the Department of Business and Professional Regulation in any
  8  manner, including, but not limited to, personnel, purchasing,
  9  transactions involving real or personal property, and
10  budgetary matters.
11         (2)  ORGANIZATION OF THE AGENCY.--The agency shall be
12  organized as follows:
13         (b)  The Division of Health Policy and Cost Control,
14  which shall be responsible for health policy, the State Center
15  for Health Statistics, the development of The Florida Health
16  Plan, certificate of need, hospital budget review, state and
17  local health planning under s. 408.033, and research and
18  analysis.
19         (d)  The Health Care Board, which shall be responsible
20  for hospital budget review, nursing home financial analysis,
21  and special studies as assigned by the secretary or the
22  Legislature.
23         (d)(e)  The Division of Administrative Services, which
24  shall be responsible for revenue management, budget,
25  personnel, and general services.
26         (6)  HEALTH CARE BOARD.--The Health Care Board shall be
27  composed of 11 members appointed by the Governor, subject to
28  confirmation by the Senate. The members of the board shall
29  biennially elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from its
30  membership. The board shall be responsible for hospital budget
31  review, nursing home financial review and analysis, and
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  1  special studies requested by the Governor, the Legislature, or
  2  the director.
  3         (6)(7)  DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE
  4  SERVICES.--The director shall appoint a Deputy Director of
  5  Administrative Services who shall serve at the pleasure of,
  6  and be directly responsible to, the director. The deputy
  7  director shall be responsible for the Division of
  8  Administrative Services.
  9         Section 2.  Subsections (1) and (8) of section 154.304,
10  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
11         154.304  Definitions.--For the purpose of this act:
12         (1)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care
13  Administration. "Board" means the Health Care Board as
14  established in chapter 408.
15         (8)  "Participating hospital" means a hospital which is
16  eligible to receive reimbursement under the provisions of this
17  act because it has been certified by the agency board as
18  having met its charity care obligation and has either:
19         (a)  A formal signed agreement with a county or
20  counties to treat such county's indigent patients; or
21         (b)  Demonstrated to the agency board that at least 2.5
22  percent of its uncompensated charity care, as reported to the
23  board, is generated by out-of-county residents.
24         Section 3.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section
25  394.4788, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
26         394.4788  Use of certain PMATF funds for the purchase
27  of acute care mental health services.--
28         (2)  By October 1, 1989, and annually thereafter, The
29  agency shall annually calculate a per diem reimbursement rate
30  for each specialty psychiatric hospital to be paid to the
31  specialty psychiatric hospitals for the provision of acute
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  1  mental health services provided to indigent mentally ill
  2  patients who meet the criteria in subsection (1).  After the
  3  first rate period, providers shall be notified of new
  4  reimbursement rates for each new state fiscal year by June 1.
  5  The new reimbursement rates shall commence July 1.
  6         (3)  Reimbursement rates shall be calculated using the
  7  most recent audited actual costs received by the agency.  Cost
  8  data received as of August 15, 1989, and each April 15
  9  thereafter shall be used in the calculation of the rates.
10  Historic costs shall be inflated from the midpoint of a
11  hospital's fiscal year to the midpoint of the state fiscal
12  year.  The inflation adjustment shall be made utilizing the
13  latest available projections as of March 31 for the Data
14  Resources Incorporated National and Regional Hospital Input
15  Price Indices as calculated by the Medicaid program office.
16         Section 4.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
17  240.4076, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
18         240.4076  Nursing scholarship loan program.--
19         (4)  Credit for repayment of a scholarship loan shall
20  be on a year-for-year basis as follows:
21         (a)  For each year of scholarship loan assistance, the
22  recipient agrees to work for 12 months at a health care
23  facility in a medically underserved area as approved by the
24  Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Eligible
25  health care facilities include state-operated medical or
26  health care facilities, county public health units, federally
27  sponsored community health centers, or teaching hospitals as
28  defined in s. 408.07 s. 408.07(49).
29         Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 395.0163, Florida
30  Statutes, is amended to read:
31
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  1         395.0163  Construction inspections; plan submission and
  2  approval; fees.--
  3         (1)(a)  The agency shall make, or cause to be made,
  4  such construction inspections and investigations as it deems
  5  necessary. The agency may prescribe by rule that any licensee
  6  or applicant desiring to make specified types of alterations
  7  or additions to its facilities or to construct new facilities
  8  shall, before commencing such alteration, addition, or new
  9  construction, submit plans and specifications therefor to the
10  agency for preliminary inspection and approval or
11  recommendation with respect to compliance with agency rules
12  and standards.  The agency shall approve or disapprove the
13  plans and specifications within 60 days after receipt of the
14  fee for review of plans as required in subsection (2).  The
15  agency may be granted one 15-day extension for the review
16  period if the director of the agency approves the extension.
17  If the agency fails to act within the specified time, it shall
18  be deemed to have approved the plans and specifications.  When
19  the agency disapproves plans and specifications, it shall set
20  forth in writing the reasons for its disapproval.  Conferences
21  and consultations may be provided as necessary.
22         (b)  All outpatient facilities that provide surgical
23  treatments requiring general anesthesia or IV conscious
24  sedation, that provide cardiac catheterization services, or
25  that are to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers shall
26  submit plans and specifications to the agency for review under
27  this section. All other outpatient facilities must be reviewed
28  under this section, except that those that are physically
29  detached from, and have no utility connections with, the
30  hospital and that do not block emergency egress from or create
31  a fire hazard to the hospital are exempt from review under
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  1  this section. This paragraph applies to applications for which
  2  review is pending on or after July 1, 1998.
  3         Section 6.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
  4  395.1055, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  5         395.1055  Rules and enforcement.--
  6         (1)  The agency shall adopt, amend, promulgate, and
  7  enforce rules to implement the provisions of this part, which
  8  shall include reasonable and fair minimum standards for
  9  ensuring that:
10         (d)  New facilities and a new wing or floor added to an
11  existing facility after July 1, 1999, are structurally capable
12  of serving as shelters only for patients, staff, and families
13  of staff and patients, and equipped to be self-supporting
14  during and immediately following disasters.
15         Section 7.  The Agency for Health Care Administration
16  shall work with persons affected by section 6 and report to
17  the Governor and Legislature by April 1, 1998, its
18  recommendations for cost-effective renovation standards to be
19  applied to existing facilities.
20         Section 8.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
21  section 395.401, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
22         395.401  Trauma services system plans; verification of
23  trauma centers and pediatric trauma referral centers;
24  procedures; renewal.--
25         (1)  As used in this part, the term:
26         (a)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care
27  Administration. "Board" means the Health Care Board.
28         (b)  "Charity care" or "uncompensated charity care"
29  means that portion of hospital charges reported to the agency
30  board for which there is no compensation for care provided to
31  a patient whose family income for the 12 months preceding the
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  1  determination is less than or equal to 150 percent of the
  2  federal poverty level, unless the amount of hospital charges
  3  due from the patient exceeds 25 percent of the annual family
  4  income.  However, in no case shall the hospital charges for a
  5  patient whose family income exceeds 4 times the federal
  6  poverty level for a family of four be considered charity.
  7         Section 9.  Subsections (1), (2), (3), and (4) of
  8  section 395.701, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  9         395.701  Annual assessments on net operating revenues
10  to fund public medical assistance; administrative fines for
11  failure to pay assessments when due.--
12         (1)  For the purposes of this section, the term:
13         (a)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care
14  Administration.
15         (b)(a)  "Gross operating revenue" or "gross revenue"
16  means the sum of daily hospital service charges, ambulatory
17  service charges, ancillary service charges, and other
18  operating revenue.
19         (b)  "Health Care Board" or "board" means the Health
20  Care Board created by s. 20.42.
21         (c)  "Hospital" means a health care institution as
22  defined in s. 395.002(11) s. 395.002(12), but does not include
23  any hospital operated by the agency or the Department of
24  Corrections.
25         (d)  "Net operating revenue" or "net revenue" means
26  gross revenue less deductions from revenue.
27         (e)  "Total deductions from gross revenue" or
28  "deductions from revenue" means reductions from gross revenue
29  resulting from inability to collect payment of charges.  Such
30  reductions include bad debts; contractual adjustments;
31  uncompensated care; administrative, courtesy, and policy
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  1  discounts and adjustments; and other such revenue deductions,
  2  but also includes the offset of restricted donations and
  3  grants for indigent care.
  4         (2)  There is hereby imposed upon each hospital an
  5  assessment in an amount equal to 1.5 percent of the annual net
  6  operating revenue for each hospital, such revenue to be
  7  determined by the agency department, based on the actual
  8  experience of the hospital as reported to the agency
  9  department.  Within 6 months after the end of each hospital
10  fiscal year, the agency department shall certify the amount of
11  the assessment for each hospital.  The assessment shall be
12  payable to and collected by the agency department in equal
13  quarterly amounts, on or before the first day of each calendar
14  quarter, beginning with the first full calendar quarter that
15  occurs after the agency department certifies the amount of the
16  assessment for each hospital. All moneys collected pursuant to
17  this subsection shall be deposited into the Public Medical
18  Assistance Trust Fund.
19         (3)  The agency department shall impose an
20  administrative fine, not to exceed $500 per day, for failure
21  of any hospital to pay its assessment by the first day of the
22  calendar quarter on which it is due.  The failure of a
23  hospital to pay its assessment within 30 days after the
24  assessment is due is ground for the agency department to
25  impose an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 per day.
26         (4)  The purchaser, successor, or assignee of a
27  facility subject to the agency's board's jurisdiction shall
28  assume full liability for any assessments, fines, or penalties
29  of the facility or its employees, regardless of when
30  identified.  Such assessments, fines, or penalties shall be
31  paid by the employee, owner, or licensee who incurred them,
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  1  within 15 days of the sale, transfer, or assignment.  However,
  2  the purchaser, successor, or assignee of the facility may
  3  withhold such assessments, fines, or penalties from purchase
  4  moneys or payment due to the seller, transferor, or employee,
  5  and shall make such payment on behalf of the seller,
  6  transferor, or employee.  Any employer, purchaser, successor,
  7  or assignee who fails to withhold sufficient funds to pay
  8  assessments, fines, or penalties arising under the provisions
  9  of chapter 408 shall make such payments within 15 days of the
10  date of the transfer, purchase, or assignment.  Failure by the
11  transferee to make payments as provided in this subsection
12  shall subject such transferee to the penalties and assessments
13  provided in chapter 408.  Further, in the event of sale,
14  transfer, or assignment of any facility under the agency's
15  board's jurisdiction, future assessments shall be based upon
16  the most recently available prior year report or audited
17  actual experience for the facility.  It shall be the
18  responsibility of the new owner or licensee to require the
19  production of the audited financial data for the period of
20  operation of the prior owner.  If the transferee fails to
21  obtain current audited financial data from the previous owner
22  or licensee, the new owner shall be assessed based upon the
23  most recent year of operation for which 12 months of audited
24  actual experience are available or upon a reasonable estimate
25  of 12 months of full operation as calculated by the agency
26  board.
27         Section 10.  Subsection (1), paragraphs (e) and (f) of
28  subsection (3), subsection (6), and paragraphs (c) and (d) of
29  subsection (7) of section 408.05, Florida Statutes, are
30  amended to read:
31         408.05  State Center for Health Statistics.--
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  1         (1)  ESTABLISHMENT.--The agency department shall
  2  establish a State Center for Health Statistics.  The center
  3  shall establish a comprehensive health information system to
  4  provide for the collection, compilation, coordination,
  5  analysis, indexing, dissemination, and utilization of both
  6  purposefully collected and extant health-related data and
  7  statistics.  The center shall be staffed with public health
  8  experts, biostatisticians, information system analysts, health
  9  policy experts, economists, and other staff necessary to carry
10  out its functions.
11         (3)  COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEM.--In order
12  to produce comparable and uniform health information and
13  statistics, the agency shall perform the following functions:
14         (e)  The agency department shall establish by rule the
15  types of data collected, compiled, processed, used, or shared.
16  Decisions regarding center data sets should be made based on
17  consultation with the Comprehensive Health Information System
18  Advisory Council and other public and private users regarding
19  the types of data which should be collected and their uses.
20         (f)  The center shall establish standardized means for
21  collecting health information and statistics under laws and
22  rules administered by the agency department.
23         (6)  PROVIDER DATA REPORTING.--This section does not
24  confer on the agency department the power to demand or require
25  that a health care provider or professional furnish
26  information, records of interviews, written reports,
27  statements, notes, memoranda, or data other than as expressly
28  required by law.
29         (7)  BUDGET; FEES; TRUST FUND.--
30         (c)  The center may charge such reasonable fees for
31  services as the agency department prescribes by rule.  The
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  1  established fees may shall not exceed the reasonable cost for
  2  such services.  Fees collected may not be used to offset
  3  annual appropriations from the General Revenue Fund.
  4         (d)  The agency department shall establish a
  5  Comprehensive Health Information System Trust Fund as the
  6  repository of all funds appropriated to, and fees and grants
  7  collected for, services of the State Center for Health
  8  Statistics. Any funds, other than funds appropriated to the
  9  center from the General Revenue Fund, which are raised or
10  collected by the agency department for the operation of the
11  center and which are not needed to meet the expenses of the
12  center for its current fiscal year shall be available to the
13  agency board in succeeding years.
14         Section 11.  Subsections (10) and (11) of section
15  408.061, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
16         408.061  Data collection; uniform systems of financial
17  reporting; information relating to physician charges;
18  confidentiality of patient records; immunity.--
19         (10)  No health care facility, health care provider,
20  health insurer, or other reporting entity or its employees or
21  agents shall be held liable for civil damages or subject to
22  criminal penalties either for the reporting of patient data to
23  the agency board or for the release of such data by the agency
24  board as authorized by this chapter.
25         (11)  The agency shall be the primary source for
26  collection and dissemination of health care data.  No other
27  agency of state government may gather data from a health care
28  provider licensed or regulated under this chapter without
29  first determining if the data is currently being collected by
30  the agency and affirmatively demonstrating that it would be
31  more cost-effective for an agency of state government other
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  1  than the agency to gather the health care data.  The director
  2  secretary shall ensure that health care data collected by the
  3  divisions within the agency is coordinated. It is the express
  4  intent of the Legislature that all health care data be
  5  collected by a single source within the agency and that other
  6  divisions within the agency, and all other agencies of state
  7  government, obtain data for analysis, regulation, and public
  8  dissemination purposes from that single source. Confidential
  9  information may be released to other governmental entities or
10  to parties contracting with the agency to perform agency
11  duties or functions as needed in connection with the
12  performance of the duties of the receiving entity.  The
13  receiving entity or party shall retain the confidentiality of
14  such information as provided for herein.
15         Section 12.  Subsections (2) and (5) of section
16  408.062, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
17         408.062  Research, analyses, studies, and reports.--
18         (2)  The agency board shall evaluate data from nursing
19  home financial reports and shall document and monitor:
20         (a)  Total revenues, annual change in revenues, and
21  revenues by source and classification, including contributions
22  for a resident's care from the resident's resources and from
23  the family and contributions not directed toward any specific
24  resident's care.
25         (b)  Average resident charges by geographic region,
26  payor, and type of facility ownership.
27         (c)  Profit margins by geographic region and type of
28  facility ownership.
29         (d)  Amount of charity care provided by geographic
30  region and type of facility ownership.
31         (e)  Resident days by payor category.
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  1         (f)  Experience related to Medicaid conversion as
  2  reported under s. 408.061.
  3         (g)  Other information pertaining to nursing home
  4  revenues and expenditures.
  5
  6  The findings of the agency board shall be included in an
  7  annual report to the Governor and Legislature by January 1
  8  each year.
  9         (5)(a)  The agency may conduct data-based studies and
10  evaluations and make recommendations to the Legislature and
11  the Governor concerning exemptions, the effectiveness of
12  limitations of referrals, restrictions on investment interests
13  and compensation arrangements, and the effectiveness of public
14  disclosure.  Such analysis may include, but need not be
15  limited to, utilization of services, cost of care, quality of
16  care, and access to care. The agency may require the
17  submission of data necessary to carry out this duty, which may
18  include, but need not be limited to, data concerning
19  ownership, Medicare and Medicaid, charity care, types of
20  services offered to patients, revenues and expenses,
21  patient-encounter data, and other data reasonably necessary to
22  study utilization patterns and the impact of health care
23  provider ownership interests in health-care-related entities
24  on the cost, quality, and accessibility of health care.
25         (b)  The agency may collect such data from any health
26  facility as a special study. The board is directed to research
27  hospital financial and nonfinancial data in order to determine
28  the need for establishing a category of inpatient hospital
29  patients defined as medically indigent.  For purposes of this
30  section, a medically indigent patient is an individual who is
31  admitted as an inpatient to a hospital, who is not classified
                                  16
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  1  as a Medicare beneficiary, a Medicaid recipient, or a charity
  2  care patient, but who has insufficient financial resources to
  3  pay for needed medical care. In its determination of the need
  4  for establishing a category of medically indigent patients,
  5  the board shall consider the creation of income and asset
  6  levels that would establish a person as medically indigent.
  7  The board shall submit a report and recommendations to the
  8  Governor and the Legislature on the establishment of a
  9  category of medically indigent inpatient hospital patients on
10  or before January 1, 1994.  If the board recommends the
11  establishment of a category of medically indigent patients, it
12  shall provide a specific recommendation for the eligibility
13  determination process to be used in classifying a patient as
14  medically indigent.
15         Section 13.  Subsection (1) of section 408.063, Florida
16  Statutes, is amended to read:
17         408.063  Dissemination of health care information.--
18         (1)  The agency, relying on data collected pursuant to
19  this chapter, shall establish a reliable, timely, and
20  consistent information system that which distributes
21  information and serves as the basis for the agency's board's
22  public education programs.  The agency shall seek advice from
23  consumers, health care purchasers, health care providers,
24  health care facilities, health insurers, and local health
25  councils in the development and implementation of its
26  information system. Whenever appropriate, the agency shall use
27  the local health councils for the dissemination of information
28  and education of the public.
29         Section 14.  Section 408.07, Florida Statutes, is
30  amended to read:
31
                                  17
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  1         408.07  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, with the
  2  exception of ss. 408.031-408.045, the term:
  3         (1)  "Accepted" means that the agency board has found
  4  that a report or data submitted by a health care facility or a
  5  health care provider contains all schedules and data required
  6  by the agency board and has been prepared in the format
  7  specified by the agency board, and otherwise conforms to
  8  applicable rule or Florida Hospital Uniform Reporting System
  9  manual requirements regarding reports in effect at the time
10  such report was submitted, and the data are mathematically
11  reasonable and accurate.
12         (2)  "Adjusted admission" means the sum of acute and
13  intensive care admissions divided by the ratio of inpatient
14  revenues generated from acute, intensive, ambulatory, and
15  ancillary patient services to gross revenues.  If a hospital
16  reports only subacute admissions, then "adjusted admission"
17  means the sum of subacute admissions divided by the ratio of
18  total inpatient revenues to gross revenues.
19         (3)  "Agency" means the Agency for Health Care
20  Administration.
21         (4)  "Alcohol or chemical dependency treatment center"
22  means an organization licensed under chapter 397.
23         (5)  "Ambulatory care center" means an organization
24  which employs or contracts with licensed health care
25  professionals to provide diagnosis or treatment services
26  predominantly on a walk-in basis and the organization holds
27  itself out as providing care on a walk-in basis.  Such an
28  organization is not an ambulatory care center if it is wholly
29  owned and operated by five or fewer health care providers.
30         (6)  "Ambulatory surgical center" means a facility
31  licensed as an ambulatory surgical center under chapter 395.
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  1         (7)  "Applicable rate of increase" means the maximum
  2  allowable rate of increase (MARI) when applied to gross
  3  revenue per adjusted admission, unless the board has approved
  4  a different rate of increase, in which case the board-approved
  5  rate of increase shall apply.
  6         (7)(8)  "Audited actual data" means information
  7  contained within financial statements examined by an
  8  independent, Florida-licensed, certified public accountant in
  9  accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, but
10  does not include data within a financial statement about which
11  the certified public accountant does not express an opinion or
12  issues a disclaimer.
13         (9)  "Banked points" means the percentage points earned
14  by a hospital when the actual rate of increase in gross
15  revenue per adjusted admission (GRAA) is less than the maximum
16  allowable rate of increase (MARI) or the actual rate of
17  increase in the net revenue per adjusted admission (NRAA) is
18  less than the market basket index.
19         (8)(10)  "Birth center" means an organization licensed
20  under s. 383.305.
21         (11)  "Board" means the Health Care Board established
22  under s. 408.003.
23         (12)  "Budget" means the projections by the hospital,
24  for a specified future time period, of expenditures and
25  revenues, with supporting statistical indicators, or a budget
26  letter verified by the board pursuant to s. 408.072(3)(a).
27         (9)(13)  "Cardiac catheterization laboratory" means a
28  freestanding facility that which employs or contracts with
29  licensed health care professionals to provide diagnostic or
30  therapeutic services for cardiac conditions such as cardiac
31  catheterization or balloon angioplasty.
                                  19
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  1         (10)(14)  "Case mix" means a calculated index for each
  2  health care facility or health care provider, based on patient
  3  data, reflecting the relative costliness of the mix of cases
  4  to that facility or provider compared to a state or national
  5  mix of cases.
  6         (11)(15)  "Clinical laboratory" means a facility
  7  licensed under s. 483.091, excluding:  any hospital laboratory
  8  defined under s. 483.041(5); any clinical laboratory operated
  9  by the state or a political subdivision of the state; any
10  blood or tissue bank where the majority of revenues are
11  received from the sale of blood or tissue and where blood,
12  plasma, or tissue is procured from volunteer donors and
13  donated, processed, stored, or distributed on a nonprofit
14  basis; and any clinical laboratory which is wholly owned and
15  operated by physicians who are licensed pursuant to chapter
16  458 or chapter 459 and who practice in the same group
17  practice, and at which no clinical laboratory work is
18  performed for patients referred by any health care provider
19  who is not a member of that same group practice.
20         (12)(16)  "Comprehensive rehabilitative hospital" or
21  "rehabilitative hospital" means a hospital licensed by the
22  agency for Health Care Administration as a specialty hospital
23  as defined in s. 395.002; provided that the hospital provides
24  a program of comprehensive medical rehabilitative services and
25  is designed, equipped, organized, and operated solely to
26  deliver comprehensive medical rehabilitative services, and
27  further provided that all licensed beds in the hospital are
28  classified as "comprehensive rehabilitative beds" pursuant to
29  s. 395.003(4), and are not classified as "general beds."
30         (13)(17)  "Consumer" means any person other than a
31  person who administers health activities, is a member of the
                                  20
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  1  governing body of a health care facility, provides health
  2  services, has a fiduciary interest in a health facility or
  3  other health agency or its affiliated entities, or has a
  4  material financial interest in the rendering of health
  5  services.
  6         (14)(18)  "Continuing care facility" means a facility
  7  licensed under chapter 651.
  8         (15)(19)  "Cross-subsidization" means that the revenues
  9  from one type of hospital service are sufficiently higher than
10  the costs of providing such service as to offset some of the
11  costs of providing another type of service in the hospital.
12  Cross-subsidization results from the lack of a direct
13  relationship between charges and the costs of providing a
14  particular hospital service or type of service.
15         (16)(20)  "Deductions from gross revenue" or
16  "deductions from revenue" means reductions from gross revenue
17  resulting from inability to collect payment of charges.  For
18  hospitals, such reductions include contractual adjustments;
19  uncompensated care; administrative, courtesy, and policy
20  discounts and adjustments; and other such revenue deductions,
21  but also includes the offset of restricted donations and
22  grants for indigent care.
23         (17)(21)  "Diagnostic-imaging center" means a
24  freestanding outpatient facility that provides specialized
25  services for the diagnosis of a disease by examination and
26  also provides radiological services.  Such a facility is not a
27  diagnostic-imaging center if it is wholly owned and operated
28  by physicians who are licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or
29  chapter 459 and who practice in the same group practice and no
30  diagnostic-imaging work is performed at such facility for
31
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  1  patients referred by any health care provider who is not a
  2  member of that same group practice.
  3         (18)(22)  "FHURS" means the Florida Hospital Uniform
  4  Reporting System developed by the agency board.
  5         (19)(23)  "Freestanding" means that a health facility
  6  bills and receives revenue which is not directly subject to
  7  the hospital assessment for the Public Medical Assistance
  8  Trust Fund as described in s. 395.701.
  9         (20)(24)  "Freestanding radiation therapy center" means
10  a facility where treatment is provided through the use of
11  radiation therapy machines that are registered under s. 404.22
12  and the provisions of the Florida Administrative Code
13  implementing s. 404.22.  Such a facility is not a freestanding
14  radiation therapy center if it is wholly owned and operated by
15  physicians licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459 who
16  practice within the specialty of diagnostic or therapeutic
17  radiology.
18         (21)(25)  "GRAA" means gross revenue per adjusted
19  admission.
20         (22)(26)  "Gross revenue" means the sum of daily
21  hospital service charges, ambulatory service charges,
22  ancillary service charges, and other operating revenue.  Gross
23  revenues do not include contributions, donations, legacies, or
24  bequests made to a hospital without restriction by the donors.
25         (23)(27)  "Health care facility" means an ambulatory
26  surgical center, a hospice, a nursing home, a hospital, a
27  diagnostic-imaging center, a freestanding or hospital-based
28  therapy center, a clinical laboratory, a home health agency, a
29  cardiac catheterization laboratory, a medical equipment
30  supplier, an alcohol or chemical dependency treatment center,
31  a physical rehabilitation center, a lithotripsy center, an
                                  22
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  1  ambulatory care center, a birth center, or a nursing home
  2  component licensed under chapter 400 within a continuing care
  3  facility licensed under chapter 651.
  4         (24)(28)  "Health care provider" means a health care
  5  professional licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter
  6  460, chapter 461, chapter 463, chapter 464, chapter 465,
  7  chapter 466, part I, part III, part IV, part V, or part X of
  8  chapter 468, chapter 483, chapter 484, chapter 486, chapter
  9  490, or chapter 491.
10         (25)(29)  "Health care purchaser" means an employer in
11  the state, other than a health care facility, health insurer,
12  or health care provider, who provides health care coverage for
13  her or his employees.
14         (26)(30)  "Health insurer" means any insurance company
15  authorized to transact health insurance in the state, any
16  insurance company authorized to transact health insurance or
17  casualty insurance in the state that is offering a minimum
18  premium plan or stop-loss coverage for any person or entity
19  providing health care benefits, any self-insurance plan as
20  defined in s. 624.031, any health maintenance organization
21  authorized to transact business in the state pursuant to part
22  I of chapter 641, any prepaid health clinic authorized to
23  transact business in the state pursuant to part II of chapter
24  641, any multiple-employer welfare arrangement authorized to
25  transact business in the state pursuant to ss. 624.436-624.45,
26  or any fraternal benefit society providing health benefits to
27  its members as authorized pursuant to chapter 632.
28         (27)(31)  "Home health agency" means an organization
29  licensed under part IV of chapter 400.
30         (28)(32)  "Hospice" means an organization licensed
31  under part VI of chapter 400.
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  1         (29)(33)  "Hospital" means a health care institution
  2  licensed by the Agency for Health Care Administration as a
  3  hospital under chapter 395.
  4         (30)(34)  "Lithotripsy center" means a freestanding
  5  facility that which employs or contracts with licensed health
  6  care professionals to provide diagnosis or treatment services
  7  using electro-hydraulic shock waves.
  8         (31)(35)  "Local health council" means the agency
  9  defined in s. 408.033.
10         (32)(36)  "Market basket index" means the Florida
11  hospital input price index (FHIPI), which is a statewide
12  market basket index used to measure inflation in hospital
13  input prices weighted for the Florida-specific experience
14  which uses multistate regional and state-specific price
15  measures, when available.  The index shall be constructed in
16  the same manner as the index employed by the Secretary of the
17  United States Department of Health and Human Services for
18  determining the inflation in hospital input prices for
19  purposes of Medicare reimbursement.
20         (37)  "Maximum allowable rate of increase" or "MARI"
21  means the maximum rate at which a hospital is normally
22  expected to increase its average gross revenues per adjusted
23  admission for a given period.  The board, using the most
24  recent audited actual data for each hospital, shall calculate
25  the MARI for each hospital as follows:  The projected rate of
26  increase in the market basket index shall be divided by a
27  number which is determined by subtracting the sum of one-half
28  of the proportion of Medicare days plus one-half of the
29  proportion of CHAMPUS days plus the proportion of Medicaid
30  days plus 1.5 times the proportion of charity care days from
31
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  1  the number one. The formula to be employed by the board to
  2  calculate the MARI shall take the following form:
  3
  4                             FHIPI
  5  MARI =    (....................................)
  6  1-[(Me x 0.5) + (Cp x 0.5) + Md + (Cc x 1.5)]
  7
  8  where:
  9         MARI = maximum allowable rate of increase applied to
10  gross revenue.
11         FHIPI = Florida hospital input price index, which shall
12  be the projected rate of change in the market basket index.
13         Me = proportion of Medicare days, including when
14  available and reported to the board Medicare HMO days, to
15  total days.
16         Cp = proportion of Civilian Health and Medical Program
17  of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) days to total days.
18         Md = proportion of Medicaid days, including when
19  available and reported to the board Medicaid HMO days, to
20  total days.
21         Cc = proportion of charity care days to total days with
22  a 50-percent offset for restricted grants for charity care and
23  unrestricted grants from local governments.
24         (33)(38)  "Medical equipment supplier" means an
25  organization that which provides medical equipment and
26  supplies used by health care providers and health care
27  facilities in the diagnosis or treatment of disease.
28         (34)(39)  "Net revenue" means gross revenue minus
29  deductions from revenue.
30         (35)(40)  "New hospital" means a hospital in its
31  initial year of operation as a licensed hospital and does not
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  1  include any facility which has been in existence as a licensed
  2  hospital, regardless of changes in ownership, for over 1
  3  calendar year.
  4         (36)(41)  "Nursing home" means a facility licensed
  5  under s. 400.062 or, for resident level and financial data
  6  collection purposes only, any institution licensed under
  7  chapter 395 and which has a Medicare or Medicaid certified
  8  distinct part used for skilled nursing home care, but does not
  9  include a facility licensed under chapter 651.
10         (37)(42)  "Operating expenses" means total expenses
11  excluding income taxes.
12         (38)(43)  "Other operating revenue" means all revenue
13  generated from hospital operations other than revenue directly
14  associated with patient care.
15         (39)(44)  "Physical rehabilitation center" means an
16  organization that which employs or contracts with health care
17  professionals licensed under part I or part III of chapter 468
18  or chapter 486 to provide speech, occupational, or physical
19  therapy services on an outpatient or ambulatory basis.
20         (40)(45)  "Prospective payment arrangement" means a
21  financial agreement negotiated between a hospital and an
22  insurer, health maintenance organization, preferred provider
23  organization, or other third-party payor which contains, at a
24  minimum, the elements provided for in s. 408.50.
25         (41)(46)  "Rate of return" means the financial
26  indicators used to determine or demonstrate reasonableness of
27  the financial requirements of a hospital.  Such indicators
28  shall include, but not be limited to:  return on assets,
29  return on equity, total margin, and debt service coverage.
30         (42)(47)  "Rural hospital" means an acute care hospital
31  licensed under chapter 395, with 85 licensed beds or fewer,
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  1  which has an emergency room and is located in an area defined
  2  as rural by the United States Census, and which is:
  3         (a)  The sole provider within a county with a
  4  population density of no greater than 100 persons per square
  5  mile;
  6         (b)  An acute care hospital, in a county with a
  7  population density of no greater than 100 persons per square
  8  mile, which is at least 30 minutes of travel time, on normally
  9  traveled roads under normal traffic conditions, from another
10  acute care hospital within the same county; or
11         (c)  A hospital supported by a tax district or
12  subdistrict whose boundaries encompass a population of 100
13  persons or less per square mile.
14         (43)(48)  "Special study" means a nonrecurring
15  data-gathering and analysis effort designed to aid the agency
16  for Health Care Administration in meeting its responsibilities
17  pursuant to this chapter.
18         (44)(49)  "Teaching hospital" means any hospital
19  formally affiliated with an accredited medical school which
20  that exhibits activity in the area of medical education as
21  reflected by at least seven different resident physician
22  specialties and the presence of 100 or more resident
23  physicians.
24         Section 15.  Section 408.08, Florida Statutes, is
25  amended to read:
26         408.08  Inspections and audits; violations; penalties;
27  fines; enforcement.--
28         (1)  The agency may inspect and audit books and records
29  of individual or corporate ownership, including books and
30  records of related organizations with which a health care
31  provider or a health care facility had transactions, for
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  1  compliance with this chapter.  Upon presentation of a written
  2  request for inspection to a health care provider or a health
  3  care facility by the agency or its staff, the health care
  4  provider or the health care facility shall make available to
  5  the agency or its staff for inspection, copying, and review
  6  all books and records relevant to the determination of whether
  7  the health care provider or the health care facility has
  8  complied with this chapter.
  9         (2)  The board shall annually compare the audited
10  actual experience of each hospital to the audited actual
11  experience of that hospital for the previous year.
12         (a)  For a hospital submitting a budget letter, if the
13  board determines that the audited actual experience of the
14  hospital exceeded its previous year's audited actual
15  experience by more than the maximum allowable rate of increase
16  as certified in the budget letter plus any banked points
17  utilized in the budget letter, the amount of such excess shall
18  be determined by the board and a penalty shall be levied
19  against such hospital pursuant to subsection (3).
20         (b)  For a hospital subject to budget review, if the
21  board determines that the audited actual experience of the
22  hospital exceeded its previous year's audited actual
23  experience by more than the most recent approved budget or the
24  most recent approved budget as amended, the amount of such
25  excess shall be determined by the board, and a penalty shall
26  be levied against such hospital pursuant to subsection (3).
27         (c)  For a hospital submitting a budget letter and for
28  a hospital subject to budget review, the board shall annually
29  compare each hospital's audited actual experience for net
30  revenues per adjusted admission to the hospital's audited
31  actual experience for net revenues per adjusted admission for
                                  28
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  1  the previous year.  If the rate of increase in net revenues
  2  per adjusted admission between the previous year and the
  3  current year was less than the market basket index, the
  4  hospital may carry forward the difference and earn up to a
  5  cumulative maximum of 3 banked net revenue percentage points.
  6  Such banked net revenue percentage points shall be available
  7  to the hospital to offset, in any future year, penalties for
  8  exceeding the approved budget or the maximum allowable rate of
  9  increase as set forth in subsection (3). Nothing in this
10  paragraph shall be used by a hospital to justify the approval
11  of a budget or a budget amendment by the board in excess of
12  the maximum allowable rate of increase pursuant to s. 408.072.
13         (3)  Penalties shall be assessed as follows:
14         (a)  For the first occurrence within a 5-year period,
15  the board shall prospectively reduce the current budget of the
16  hospital by the amount of the excess up to 5 percent; and, if
17  such excess is greater than 5 percent over the maximum
18  allowable rate of increase, any amount in excess of 5 percent
19  shall be levied by the board as a fine against such hospital
20  to be deposited in the Public Medical Assistance Trust Fund.
21         (b)  For the second occurrence with the 5-year period
22  following the first occurrence as set forth in paragraph (a),
23  the board shall prospectively reduce the current budget of the
24  hospital by the amount of the excess up to 2 percent; and, if
25  such excess is greater than 2 percent over the maximum
26  allowable rate of increase, any amount in excess of 2 percent
27  shall be levied by the board as a fine against such hospital
28  to be deposited in the Public Medical Assistance Trust Fund.
29         (c)  For the third occurrence within the 5-year period
30  following the first occurrence as set forth in paragraph (a),
31  the board shall:
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  1         1.  Levy a fine against the hospital in the total
  2  amount of the excess, to be deposited in the Public Medical
  3  Assistance Trust Fund.
  4         2.  Notify the agency of the violation, whereupon the
  5  agency shall not accept any application for a certificate of
  6  need pursuant to ss. 408.031-408.045 from or on behalf of such
  7  hospital until such time as the hospital has demonstrated to
  8  the satisfaction of the board that, following the date the
  9  penalty was imposed under subparagraph 1., the hospital has
10  stayed within its projected or amended budget or its
11  applicable maximum allowable rate of increase for a period of
12  at least 1 year.  However, this provision does not apply with
13  respect to a certificate-of-need application filed to satisfy
14  a life or safety code violation.
15         3.  Upon a determination that the hospital knowingly
16  and willfully generated such excess, notify the agency,
17  whereupon the agency shall initiate disciplinary proceedings
18  to deny, modify, suspend, or revoke the license of such
19  hospital or impose an administrative fine on such hospital not
20  to exceed $20,000.
21
22  The determination of the amount of any such excess shall be
23  based upon net revenues per adjusted admission, excluding
24  funds distributed to the hospital from the Public Medical
25  Assistance Trust Fund.  However, in making such determination,
26  the board shall appropriately reduce the amount of the excess
27  by the total amount of the assessment paid by such hospital
28  pursuant to s. 395.701 minus the amount of revenues received
29  by the hospital through the Public Medical Assistance Trust
30  Fund.  It is the responsibility of the hospital to demonstrate
31  to the satisfaction of the board its entitlement to such
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  1  reduction.  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
  2  Health Care Board, in levying any penalty imposed against a
  3  hospital for exceeding its maximum allowable rate of increase
  4  or its approved budget pursuant to this subsection, consider
  5  the effect of changes in the case mix of the hospital and in
  6  the hospital's intensity and severity of illness as measured
  7  by changes in the hospital's actual proportion of outlier
  8  cases to total cases and dollar increases in outlier cases'
  9  average charge per case.  It is the responsibility of the
10  hospital to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board any
11  change in its case mix and in its intensity and severity of
12  illness.  For psychiatric hospitals and other hospitals not
13  reimbursed under a prospective payment system by the Federal
14  Government, until a proxy for case mix is available, the board
15  shall also reduce the amount of excess by the change in a
16  hospital's audited actual average length of stay without any
17  thresholds or limitations.
18         (4)  The following factors may be used by the board to
19  reduce the amount of excess of the hospital as determined
20  pursuant to this section:
21         (a)  Unforeseen and unforeseeable events which affect
22  the net revenue per adjusted admission and which are beyond
23  the control of the hospital, such as prior year Medicare cost
24  report settlements, retroactive changes in Medicare
25  reimbursement methodology, and increases in malpractice
26  insurance premiums, which occurred in the last 3 months of the
27  hospital fiscal year during which the hospital generated the
28  excess; or
29         (b)  Imposition of the penalty would have a severe
30  adverse effect which would jeopardize the continued existence
31  of an otherwise economically viable hospital.
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  1         (5)  The board shall reduce the amount of the excess
  2  for hospitals submitting budget letters pursuant to s.
  3  408.072(3)(a) by the amount of any documented costs from
  4  financial assistance provided to expand or supplement the
  5  curriculum of a community college, university, or vocational
  6  training school for the purpose of training nurses or other
  7  health professionals, not including physicians.  Financial
  8  assistance would include, but not be limited to, the direct
  9  costs for faculty salaries and expenses, books, equipment,
10  recruiting efforts, tuition assistance, and hospital
11  internships.  The reduction would be based on actual
12  documented expenses increased by the gross revenues necessary
13  to generate net revenues sufficient to cover the expenses.
14         (6)  If the board finds that any hospital chief
15  executive officer or any person who is in charge of hospital
16  administration or operations has knowingly and willfully
17  allowed or authorized actual operating revenues or
18  expenditures that are in excess of projected operating
19  revenues or expenditures in the hospital's approved budget,
20  the board shall order such officer or person to pay an
21  administrative fine not to exceed $5,000.
22         (7)  For hospitals filing budget letters, the board
23  shall annually compare the audited actual experience of each
24  hospital for the year under review to the audited actual
25  experience of that hospital for the previous year.  For
26  hospitals which submitted detailed budgets or budget
27  amendments, the board shall compare the audited actual
28  experience of each hospital for the year under review to its
29  approved gross revenue per adjusted admission for the year
30  under review, for purposes of levying an administrative fine.
31
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  1         (a)  For a hospital submitting a budget letter pursuant
  2  to s. 408.072(3)(a), if the board determines that the audited
  3  actual experience for the year under review exceeded the
  4  hospital's previous year's audited actual experience by more
  5  than the maximum allowable rate of increase as certified in
  6  the budget letter plus any banked points utilized in the
  7  budget letter, the amount of the excess shall be determined
  8  and an administrative fine shall be levied against such
  9  hospital pursuant to subsection (8).
10         (b)  For a hospital which submitted a budget pursuant
11  to s. 408.072(1), or a budget amendment pursuant to s.
12  408.072(6), if the board determines that the gross revenue per
13  adjusted admission contained in the hospital's audited actual
14  experience exceeded its board-approved gross revenue per
15  adjusted admission, the amount of the excess shall be
16  determined and an administrative fine shall be levied against
17  such hospital pursuant to subsection (8).
18         (8)  If the board determines that an excess exists
19  pursuant to subsection (7), the board shall multiply the
20  excess by the number of actual adjusted admissions contained
21  in the year at issue to determine the amount of the base fine.
22  The base fine shall be multiplied by the applicable occurrence
23  factor to determine the amount of the administrative fine
24  levied against the hospital.
25         (a)  For the first occurrence within a 5-year period,
26  the applicable occurrence factor shall be 0.25.  For the
27  second occurrence within a 5-year period, the applicable
28  occurrence factor shall be 0.55.  For the third occurrence
29  within a 5-year period, the applicable occurrence factor shall
30  be 1.0.
31
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  1         (b)  In no event shall any administrative fine levied
  2  pursuant to this subsection exceed $365,000.
  3         (9)  In levying any administrative fine against a
  4  hospital pursuant to subsection (8), the board shall consider
  5  the effect of any changes in the hospital's case mix, and in
  6  the hospital's intensity and severity of illness as measured
  7  by changes in the hospital's actual proportion of outlier
  8  cases to total cases and dollar increases in outlier cases'
  9  average charge per case.  The board shall adjust the amount of
10  any excess by the changes in the hospital's case mix and in
11  its intensity and severity of illness, based upon certified
12  hospital patient discharge data provided to the board pursuant
13  to s. 408.061.  For psychiatric hospitals and other hospitals
14  not reimbursed under a prospective payment system by the
15  Federal Government, until a proxy for case mix is available,
16  the board shall adjust the amount of any excess by the change
17  in a hospital's audited actual average length of stay without
18  any thresholds or limitation.
19         (10)  In levying any administrative fine against a
20  hospital pursuant to subsection (8), it is the intent of the
21  Legislature that if a hospital can demonstrate to the
22  satisfaction of the board that it operated within its approved
23  gross revenue per adjusted admission for the first 8 months of
24  its fiscal year and did not increase its prices, except for
25  exceptions determined by the board during the last 5 months of
26  its fiscal year, it shall not be subject to any administrative
27  fine levied pursuant to subsection (8).
28         (11)  It is the further intent of the Legislature that
29  if a hospital can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board
30  that it did not increase its prices on average in excess of
31
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  1  the MARI for the prior year, it shall not be subject to any
  2  administrative fine levied pursuant to subsection (8).
  3         (12)  If the board finds that any hospital chief
  4  executive officer or any person who is in charge of hospital
  5  administration or operations has knowingly and willfully
  6  allowed or authorized gross revenue per adjusted admission,
  7  net revenue per adjusted admission, or rates of increase that
  8  are in excess of gross or net revenue per adjusted admission,
  9  or rates of increase in the hospital's approved budget, budget
10  amendment, or budget letter, the agency shall order such
11  officer or person to pay an administrative fine not to exceed
12  $5,000.
13         (2)(13)  Any health care facility that refuses to file
14  a report, fails to timely file a report, files a false report,
15  or files an incomplete report and upon notification fails to
16  timely file a complete report required under this section and
17  s. 408.061; that violates any provision of this section, s.
18  408.061, or s. 408.20, or rule adopted thereunder; or that
19  fails to provide documents or records requested by the agency
20  under the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a
21  fine not exceeding $1,000 per day for each day in violation,
22  to be imposed and collected by the agency.
23         (3)(14)  Any health care provider that refuses to file
24  a report, fails to timely file a report, files a false report,
25  or files an incomplete report and upon notification fails to
26  timely file a complete report required under this section and
27  s. 408.061; that violates any provision of this section, s.
28  408.061, or s. 408.20, or rule adopted thereunder; or that
29  fails to provide documents or records requested by the agency
30  under the provisions of this chapter shall be referred to the
31
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  1  appropriate licensing board which shall take appropriate
  2  action against the health care provider.
  3         (4)(15)  If In the event that a health insurer does not
  4  comply with the requirements of s. 408.061, the agency shall
  5  report a health insurer's failure to comply to the Department
  6  of Insurance, which shall take into account the failure by the
  7  health insurer to comply in conjunction with its approval
  8  authority under s. 627.410.  The agency shall adopt any rules
  9  necessary to carry out its responsibilities required by this
10  subsection.
11         (5)(16)  Refusal to file, failure to timely file, or
12  filing false or incomplete reports or other information
13  required to be filed under the provisions of this chapter,
14  failure to pay or failure to timely pay any assessment
15  authorized to be collected by the agency, or violation of any
16  other provision of this chapter or lawfully entered order of
17  the agency or rule adopted under this chapter, shall be
18  punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000 a day for each day in
19  violation, to be fixed, imposed, and collected by the agency.
20  Each day in violation shall be considered a separate offense.
21         (6)(17)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
22  chapter, when a hospital alleges that a factual determination
23  made by the agency board is incorrect, the burden of proof
24  shall be on the hospital to demonstrate that such
25  determination is, in light of the total record, not supported
26  by a preponderance of the evidence. The burden of proof
27  remains with the hospital in all cases involving
28  administrative agency action.
29         Section 16.  Section 408.40, Florida Statutes, is
30  amended to read:
31
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  1         408.40  Budget review proceedings; duty of Public
  2  Counsel.--
  3         (1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
  4  chapter, it shall be the duty of the Public Counsel shall to
  5  represent the general public of the state in any proceeding
  6  before the agency or its advisory panels in any administrative
  7  hearing conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120 or
  8  before any other state and federal agencies and courts in any
  9  issue before the agency, any court, or any agency. With
10  respect to any such proceeding, the Public Counsel is subject
11  to the provisions of and may use utilize the powers granted to
12  him or her by ss. 350.061-350.0614.
13         (2)  The Public Counsel shall:
14         (a)  Recommend to the agency, by petition, the
15  commencement of any proceeding or action or to appear, in the
16  name of the state or its citizens, in any proceeding or action
17  before the agency and urge therein any position that which he
18  or she deems to be in the public interest, whether consistent
19  or inconsistent with positions previously adopted by the
20  agency, and use utilize therein all forms of discovery
21  available to attorneys in civil actions generally, subject to
22  protective orders of the agency, which shall be reviewable by
23  summary procedure in the circuit courts of this state.
24         (b)  Have access to and use of all files, records, and
25  data of the agency available to any other attorney
26  representing parties in a proceeding before the agency.
27         (c)  In any proceeding in which he or she has
28  participated as a party, seek review of any determination,
29  finding, or order of the agency, or of any administrative law
30  judge, or any hearing officer or hearing examiner designated
31  by the agency, in the name of the state or its citizens.
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  1         (d)  Prepare and issue reports, recommendations, and
  2  proposed orders to the agency, the Governor, and the
  3  Legislature on any matter or subject within the jurisdiction
  4  of the agency, and to make such recommendations as he or she
  5  deems appropriate for legislation relative to agency
  6  procedures, rules, jurisdiction, personnel, and functions.
  7         (e)  Appear before other state agencies, federal
  8  agencies, and state and federal courts in connection with
  9  matters under the jurisdiction of the agency, in the name of
10  the state or its citizens.
11         Section 17.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (10) and
12  subsection (14) of section 409.2673, Florida Statutes, are
13  amended to read:
14         409.2673  Shared county and state health care program
15  for low-income persons; trust fund.--
16         (10)  Under the shared county and state program,
17  reimbursement to a hospital for services for an eligible
18  person must:
19         (e)  Be conditioned, for tax district hospitals that
20  deliver services as part of this program, on the delivery of
21  charity care, as defined in the rules of the Agency for Health
22  Care Administration Health Care Cost Containment Board, which
23  equals a minimum of 2.5 percent of the tax district hospital's
24  net revenues; however, those tax district hospitals which by
25  virtue of the population within the geographic boundaries of
26  the tax district can not feasibly provide this level of
27  charity care shall assure an "open door" policy to those
28  residents of the geographic boundaries of the tax district who
29  would otherwise be considered charity cases.
30         (14)  Any dispute among a county, the Agency for Health
31  Care Administration Health Care Cost Containment Board, the
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  1  department, or a participating hospital shall be resolved by
  2  order as provided in chapter 120.  Hearings held under this
  3  subsection shall be conducted in the same manner as provided
  4  in ss. 120.569 and 120.57, except that the administrative law
  5  judge's or hearing officer's order constitutes final agency
  6  action. Cases filed under chapter 120 may combine all relevant
  7  disputes between parties.
  8         Section 18.  Section 409.9113, Florida Statutes, is
  9  amended to read:
10         409.9113  Disproportionate share program for teaching
11  hospitals.--In addition to the payments made under ss. 409.911
12  and 409.9112, the Agency for Health Care Administration
13  Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services shall make
14  disproportionate share payments to statutorily defined
15  teaching hospitals for their increased costs associated with
16  medical education programs and for tertiary health care
17  services provided to the indigent.  This system of payments
18  shall conform with federal requirements and shall distribute
19  funds in each fiscal year for which an appropriation is made
20  by making quarterly Medicaid payments.  Notwithstanding the
21  provisions of s. 409.915, counties are exempt from
22  contributing toward the cost of this special reimbursement for
23  hospitals serving a disproportionate share of low-income
24  patients.
25         (1)  On or before September 15 of each year, the Agency
26  for Health Care Administration shall calculate an allocation
27  fraction to be used for distributing funds to state statutory
28  teaching hospitals. Subsequent to the end of each quarter of
29  the state fiscal year, the agency department shall distribute
30  to each statutory teaching hospital, as defined in s. 408.07,
31  an amount determined by multiplying one-fourth of the funds
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  1  appropriated for this purpose by the Legislature times such
  2  hospital's allocation fraction.  The allocation fraction for
  3  each such hospital shall be determined by the sum of three
  4  primary factors, divided by three. The primary factors are:
  5         (a)  The number of nationally accredited graduate
  6  medical education programs offered by the hospital, including
  7  programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate
  8  Medical Education and the combined Internal Medicine and
  9  Pediatrics programs acceptable to both the American Board of
10  Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics at the
11  beginning of the state fiscal year preceding the date on which
12  the allocation fraction is calculated.  The numerical value of
13  this factor is the fraction that the hospital represents of
14  the total number of programs, where the total is computed for
15  all state statutory teaching hospitals.
16         (b)  The number of full-time equivalent trainees in the
17  hospital, which comprises two components:
18         1.  The number of trainees enrolled in nationally
19  accredited graduate medical education programs, as defined in
20  paragraph (a).  Full-time equivalents are computed using the
21  fraction of the year during which each trainee is primarily
22  assigned to the given institution, over the state fiscal year
23  preceding the date on which the allocation fraction is
24  calculated. The numerical value of this factor is the fraction
25  that the hospital represents of the total number of full-time
26  equivalent trainees enrolled in accredited graduate programs,
27  where the total is computed for all state statutory teaching
28  hospitals.
29         2.  The number of medical students enrolled in
30  accredited colleges of medicine and engaged in clinical
31  activities, including required clinical clerkships and
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  1  clinical electives.  Full-time equivalents are computed using
  2  the fraction of the year during which each trainee is
  3  primarily assigned to the given institution, over the course
  4  of the state fiscal year preceding the date on which the
  5  allocation fraction is calculated. The numerical value of this
  6  factor is the fraction that the given hospital represents of
  7  the total number of full-time equivalent students enrolled in
  8  accredited colleges of medicine, where the total is computed
  9  for all state statutory teaching hospitals.
10
11  The primary factor for full-time equivalent trainees is
12  computed as the sum of these two components, divided by two.
13         (c)  A service index that which comprises three
14  components:
15         1.  The Agency for Health Care Administration Health
16  Care Cost Containment Board Service Index, computed by
17  applying the standard Service Inventory Scores established by
18  the Agency for Health Care Administration Health Care Cost
19  Containment Board to services offered by the given hospital,
20  as reported on the Health Care Cost Containment Board
21  Worksheet A-2 for the last fiscal year reported to the agency
22  board before the date on which the allocation fraction is
23  calculated.  The numerical value of this factor is the
24  fraction that the given hospital represents of the total
25  Agency for Health Care Administration Health Care Cost
26  Containment Board Service Index values, where the total is
27  computed for all state statutory teaching hospitals.
28         2.  A volume-weighted service index, computed by
29  applying the standard Service Inventory Scores established by
30  the Agency for Health Care Administration Health Care Cost
31  Containment Board to the volume of each service, expressed in
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  1  terms of the standard units of measure reported on the Health
  2  Care Cost Containment Board Worksheet A-2 for the last fiscal
  3  year reported to the agency board before the date on which the
  4  allocation factor is calculated.  The numerical value of this
  5  factor is the fraction that the given hospital represents of
  6  the total volume-weighted service index values, where the
  7  total is computed for all state statutory teaching hospitals.
  8         3.  Total Medicaid payments to each hospital for direct
  9  inpatient and outpatient services during the fiscal year
10  preceding the date on which the allocation factor is
11  calculated.  This includes payments made to each hospital for
12  such services by Medicaid prepaid health plans, whether the
13  plan was administered by the hospital or not.  The numerical
14  value of this factor is the fraction that each hospital
15  represents of the total of such Medicaid payments, where the
16  total is computed for all state statutory teaching hospitals.
17
18  The primary factor for the service index is computed as the
19  sum of these three components, divided by three.
20         (2)  By October 1 of each year, the agency shall use
21  the following formula shall be utilized by the department to
22  calculate the maximum additional disproportionate share
23  payment for statutorily defined teaching hospitals:
24
25                          TAP = THAF x A
26
27  Where:
28         TAP = total additional payment.
29         THAF = teaching hospital allocation factor.
30         A = amount appropriated for a teaching hospital
31  disproportionate share program.
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  1
  2         (3)  The Health Care Cost Containment Board shall
  3  report to the department the statutory teaching hospital
  4  allocation fraction prior to October 1 of each year.
  5         Section 19.  Subsection (9) of section 395.403, Florida
  6  Statutes, subsection (3) of section 395.806, Florida Statutes,
  7  and sections 407.61, 408.003, 408.072, and 408.085, Florida
  8  Statutes, are repealed.
  9         Section 20.  The repeal of laws governing the review of
10  hospital budgets and related penalties contained in this act
11  operates retroactively and applies to any hospital budget
12  prepared for a fiscal year that ended during the 1996 calendar
13  year.
14         Section 21.  Subsection (6) of section 381.026, Florida
15  Statutes, is amended to read:
16         381.026  Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and
17  Responsibilities.--
18         (6)  SUMMARY OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.--Any
19  health care provider who treats a patient in an office or any
20  health care facility licensed under chapter 395 that provides
21  emergency services and care or outpatient services and care to
22  a patient, or admits and treats a patient, shall adopt and
23  make available to the patient public, in writing, a statement
24  of the rights and responsibilities of patients, including:
25
26              SUMMARY OF THE FLORIDA PATIENT'S BILL
27                  OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
28
29         Florida law requires that your health care provider or
30  health care facility recognize your rights while you are
31  receiving medical care and that you respect the health care
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  1  provider's or health care facility's right to expect certain
  2  behavior on the part of patients.  You may request a copy of
  3  the full text of this law from your health care provider or
  4  health care facility.  A summary of your rights and
  5  responsibilities follows:
  6         A patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and
  7  respect, with appreciation of his or her individual dignity,
  8  and with protection of his or her need for privacy.
  9         A patient has the right to a prompt and reasonable
10  response to questions and requests.
11         A patient has the right to know who is providing
12  medical services and who is responsible for his or her care.
13         A patient has the right to know what patient support
14  services are available, including whether an interpreter is
15  available if he or she does not speak English.
16         A patient has the right to know what rules and
17  regulations apply to his or her conduct.
18         A patient has the right to be given by the health care
19  provider information concerning diagnosis, planned course of
20  treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
21         A patient has the right to refuse any treatment, except
22  as otherwise provided by law.
23         A patient has the right to be given, upon request, full
24  information and necessary counseling on the availability of
25  known financial resources for his or her care.
26         A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to
27  know, upon request and in advance of treatment, whether the
28  health care provider or health care facility accepts the
29  Medicare assignment rate.
30
31
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  1         A patient has the right to receive, upon request, prior
  2  to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical
  3  care.
  4         A patient has the right to receive a copy of a
  5  reasonably clear and understandable, itemized bill and, upon
  6  request, to have the charges explained.
  7         A patient has the right to impartial access to medical
  8  treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national
  9  origin, religion, physical handicap, or source of payment.
10         A patient has the right to treatment for any emergency
11  medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to
12  provide treatment.
13         A patient has the right to know if medical treatment is
14  for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her
15  consent or refusal to participate in such experimental
16  research.
17         A patient has the right to express grievances regarding
18  any violation of his or her rights, as stated in Florida law,
19  through the grievance procedure of the health care provider or
20  health care facility which served him or her and to the
21  appropriate state licensing agency.
22         A patient is responsible for providing to the health
23  care provider, to the best of his or her knowledge, accurate
24  and complete information about present complaints, past
25  illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters
26  relating to his or her health.
27         A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected
28  changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
29         A patient is responsible for reporting to the health
30  care provider whether he or she comprehends a contemplated
31  course of action and what is expected of him or her.
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  1         A patient is responsible for following the treatment
  2  plan recommended by the health care provider.
  3         A patient is responsible for keeping appointments and,
  4  when he or she is unable to do so for any reason, for
  5  notifying the health care provider or health care facility.
  6         A patient is responsible for his or her actions if he
  7  or she refuses treatment or does not follow the health care
  8  provider's instructions.
  9         A patient is responsible for assuring that the
10  financial obligations of his or her health care are fulfilled
11  as promptly as possible.
12         A patient is responsible for following health care
13  facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and
14  conduct.
15         Section 22.  Section 381.0261, Florida Statutes, is
16  amended to read:
17         381.0261  Distribution of Summary of patient's bill of
18  rights; distribution; penalty.--
19         (1)  The Agency for Health Care Administration
20  Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services shall have
21  printed and made continuously available to health care
22  facilities licensed under chapter 395, physicians licensed
23  under chapter 458, osteopathic physicians licensed under
24  chapter 459, and podiatrists licensed under chapter 461 a
25  summary of the Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and
26  Responsibilities.  In adopting and making available to
27  patients public the summary of the Florida Patient's Bill of
28  Rights and Responsibilities, health care providers and health
29  care facilities are not limited to the format in which the
30  Agency for Health Care Administration Department of Health and
31  Rehabilitative Services prints and distributes the summary.
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  1         (2)  Health care providers and health care facilities,
  2  if requested, shall inform patients of the address and
  3  telephone number of each state agency responsible for
  4  responding to patient complaints about a health care provider
  5  or health care facility's alleged noncompliance with state
  6  licensing requirements established pursuant to law.
  7         (3)  Health care facilities shall adopt policies and
  8  procedures to ensure that inpatients are provided the
  9  opportunity during the course of admission to receive
10  information regarding their rights and how to file complaints
11  with the facility and appropriate state agencies.
12         (4)  An administrative fine may be imposed by the
13  agency when any health care provider or health care facility
14  fails to make available to patients a summary of their rights,
15  pursuant to ss. 381.026 and this section.  Initial nonwillful
16  violations shall be subject to corrective action and shall not
17  be subject to an administrative fine. The agency may levy a
18  fine against a health care facility of up to $5,000 for
19  nonwillful violations, and up to $25,000 for intentional and
20  willful violations. The agency may levy a fine against a
21  health care provider of up to $100 for nonwillful violations
22  and up to $500 for willful violations. Each intentional and
23  willful violation constitutes a separate violation and is
24  subject to a separate fine.
25         (5)  In determining the amount of fine to be levied for
26  a violation, as provided in subsection (4), the following
27  factors shall be considered:
28         (a)  The scope and severity of the violation, including
29  the number of patients found to not have received notice of
30  patient rights, and whether the failure to provide notice to
31  patients was willful.
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  1         (b)  Actions taken by the health care provider or
  2  health care facility to correct the violations or to remedy
  3  complaints.
  4         (c)  Any previous violations of this section by the
  5  health care provider or health care facility.
  6         Section 23.  Subsections (2) and (15) of section
  7  395.002, Florida Statutes, are repealed:
  8         395.002  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:
  9         (2)  "Adverse or untoward incident," for purposes of
10  reporting to the agency, means an event over which health care
11  personnel could exercise control, which is probably associated
12  in whole or in part with medical intervention rather than the
13  condition for which such intervention occurred, and which
14  causes injury to a patient, and which:
15         (a)  Is not consistent with or expected to be a
16  consequence of such medical intervention;
17         (b)  Occurs as a result of medical intervention to
18  which the patient has not given his or her informed consent;
19         (c)  Occurs as the result of any other action or lack
20  of any other action on the part of the hospital or personnel
21  of the hospital;
22         (d)  Results in a surgical procedure being performed on
23  the wrong patient; or
24         (e)  Results in a surgical procedure being performed
25  that is unrelated to the patient's diagnosis or medical needs.
26         (15)  "Injury," for purposes of reporting to the
27  agency, means any of the following outcomes if caused by an
28  adverse or untoward incident:
29         (a)  Death;
30         (b)  Brain damage;
31         (c)  Spinal damage;
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  1         (d)  Permanent disfigurement;
  2         (e)  Fracture or dislocation of bones or joints;
  3         (f)  Any condition requiring definitive or specialized
  4  medical attention which is not consistent with the routine
  5  management of the patient's case or patient's preexisting
  6  physical condition;
  7         (g)  Any condition requiring surgical intervention to
  8  correct or control;
  9         (h)  Any condition resulting in transfer of the
10  patient, within or outside the facility, to a unit providing a
11  more acute level of care;
12         (i)  Any condition that extends the patient's length of
13  stay; or
14         (j)  Any condition that results in a limitation of
15  neurological, physical, or sensory function which continues
16  after discharge from the facility.
17         Section 24.  Present subsections (3), (4), (5), and (7)
18  of section 395.0193, Florida Statutes, are amended, present
19  subsections (6), (7), (8), and (9) are renumbered as
20  subsections (7), (8), (9), and (10), respectively, and a new
21  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
22         395.0193  Licensed facilities; peer review;
23  disciplinary powers; agency or partnership with physicians.--
24         (3)  If reasonable belief exists that conduct by a
25  staff member or physician who delivers health care services at
26  the licensed facility may constitute one or more grounds for
27  discipline as provided in this subsection, a peer review panel
28  shall investigate and determine whether grounds for discipline
29  exist with respect to such staff member or physician.  The
30  governing board of any licensed facility, after considering
31  the recommendations of its peer review panel, shall suspend,
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  1  deny, revoke, or curtail the privileges, or reprimand,
  2  counsel, or require education, of any such staff member or
  3  physician after a final determination has been made that one
  4  or more of the following grounds exist:
  5         (a)  Incompetence.
  6         (b)  Being found to be a habitual user of intoxicants
  7  or drugs to the extent that he or she is deemed dangerous to
  8  himself, herself, or others.
  9         (c)  Mental or physical impairment which may adversely
10  affect patient care.
11         (d)  Being found liable by a court of competent
12  jurisdiction for medical negligence or malpractice involving
13  negligent conduct.
14         (e)  One or more settlements exceeding $10,000 for
15  medical negligence or malpractice involving negligent conduct
16  by the staff member.
17         (f)  Medical negligence other than as specified in
18  paragraph (d) or paragraph (e).
19         (g)  Failure to comply with the policies, procedures,
20  or directives of the risk management program or any quality
21  assurance committees of any licensed facility.
22
23  However, the grounds specified in paragraphs (a)-(g) are not
24  the only grounds for discipline of a practitioner. procedures
25  for such actions shall comply with the standards outlined by
26  the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
27  Organizations, the American Osteopathic Association, the
28  Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the
29  Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc.,
30  and the "Medicare/Medicaid Conditions of Participation," and
31
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  1  rules of the agency and the department.  The procedures shall
  2  be adopted pursuant to hospital bylaws.
  3         (4)  Pursuant to ss. 458.337 and 459.016, any
  4  disciplinary actions taken under subsection (3) shall be
  5  reported in writing to the Division of Health Quality
  6  Assurance of the agency within 30 working days after its
  7  initial occurrence, regardless of the pendency of appeals to
  8  the governing board of the hospital. The notification shall
  9  identify the disciplined practitioner, the action taken, and
10  the reason for such action. All final disciplinary actions
11  taken under subsection (3), if different than those which were
12  reported to the agency within 30 days after the initial
13  occurrence, shall be reported within 10 working days to the
14  Division of Health Quality Assurance of the agency in writing
15  and shall specify the disciplinary action taken and the
16  specific grounds therefor.  The division shall review each
17  report and determine whether it potentially involved conduct
18  by the licensee that is subject to disciplinary action, in
19  which case s. 455.225 shall apply. The reports are not report
20  shall not be subject to inspection under s. 119.07(1) even if
21  the division's investigation results in a finding of probable
22  cause.
23         (5)  There shall be no monetary liability on the part
24  of, and no cause of action for damages against, any licensed
25  facility, its governing board or governing board members, peer
26  review panel, medical staff, or disciplinary body, or its
27  agents, investigators, witnesses, or employees; a committee of
28  a hospital;, or any other person, for any action taken without
29  intentional fraud in carrying out the provisions of this
30  section.
31
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  1         (6)  For a single incident or series of isolated
  2  incidents that are nonwillful violations of the reporting
  3  requirements of this section, the agency shall first seek to
  4  obtain corrective action by the facility. If correction is not
  5  demonstrated within the timeframe established by the agency or
  6  if there is a pattern of nonwillful violations of this
  7  section, the agency may impose an administrative fine, not to
  8  exceed $5,000 for any violation of the reporting requirements
  9  of this section. The administrative fine for repeated
10  nonwillful violations shall not exceed $10,000 for any
11  violation. The administrative fine for each intentional and
12  willful violation may not exceed $25,000 per violation, per
13  day. The fine for an intentional and willful violation of this
14  section may not exceed $250,000. In determining the amount of
15  fine to be levied, the agency shall be guided by s.
16  395.1065(2)(b).
17         (8)(7)  The investigations, proceedings, and records of
18  the peer review panel, a committee of a hospital, a
19  disciplinary board, or a governing board, or agent thereof
20  with whom there is a specific written contract for that
21  purpose, as described in this section shall not be subject to
22  discovery or introduction into evidence in any civil or
23  administrative action against a provider of professional
24  health services arising out of the matters which are the
25  subject of evaluation and review by such group or its agent,
26  and a person who was in attendance at a meeting of such group
27  or its agent may not be permitted or required to testify in
28  any such civil or administrative action as to any evidence or
29  other matters produced or presented during the proceedings of
30  such group or its agent or as to any findings,
31  recommendations, evaluations, opinions, or other actions of
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  1  such group or its agent or any members thereof. However,
  2  information, documents, or records otherwise available from
  3  original sources are not to be construed as immune from
  4  discovery or use in any such civil or administrative action
  5  merely because they were presented during proceedings of such
  6  group, and any person who testifies before such group or who
  7  is a member of such group may not be prevented from testifying
  8  as to matters within his or her knowledge, but such witness
  9  may not be asked about his or her testimony before such a
10  group or opinions formed by him or her as a result of such
11  group hearings.
12         Section 25.  Section 395.0197, Florida Statutes, is
13  amended to read:
14         395.0197  Internal risk management program.--
15         (1)  Every licensed facility shall, as a part of its
16  administrative functions, establish an internal risk
17  management program that includes all of the following
18  components:
19         (a)  The investigation and analysis of the frequency
20  and causes of general categories and specific types of adverse
21  incidents causing injury to patients.
22         (b)  The development of appropriate measures to
23  minimize the risk of injuries and adverse incidents to
24  patients, including, but not limited to:
25         1.  Risk management and risk prevention education and
26  training of all nonphysician personnel as follows:
27         a.  Such education and training of all nonphysician
28  personnel as part of their initial orientation; and
29         b.  At least 1 hour of such education and training
30  annually for all nonphysician personnel of the licensed
31  facility working in clinical areas and providing patient care.
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  1         2.  A prohibition, except when emergency circumstances
  2  require otherwise, against a staff member of the licensed
  3  facility attending a patient in the recovery room, unless the
  4  staff member is authorized to attend the patient in the
  5  recovery room and is in the company of at least one other
  6  person.  However, a licensed facility hospital is exempt from
  7  the two-person requirement if it has:
  8         a.  Live visual observation;
  9         b.  Electronic observation; or
10         c.  Any other reasonable measure taken to ensure
11  patient protection and privacy.
12         (c)  The analysis of patient grievances that relate to
13  patient care and the quality of medical services.
14         (d)  The development and implementation of an incident
15  reporting system based upon the affirmative duty of all health
16  care providers and all agents and employees of the licensed
17  health care facility to report adverse incidents to the risk
18  manager, or to his or her designee, within 3 business days
19  after its occurrence.
20         (2)  The internal risk management program is the
21  responsibility of the governing board of the health care
22  facility. Each licensed facility shall hire a risk manager,
23  licensed under part IX of chapter 626, who is responsible for
24  implementation and oversight of such facility's internal risk
25  management program as required by this section.  A risk
26  manager must not be made responsible for more than four
27  internal risk management programs in separate licensed
28  facilities, unless the facilities are under one corporate
29  ownership or the risk management programs are in rural
30  hospitals.
31
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  1         (3)  In addition to the programs mandated by this
  2  section, other innovative approaches intended to reduce the
  3  frequency and severity of medical malpractice and patient
  4  injury claims shall be encouraged and their implementation and
  5  operation facilitated. Such additional approaches may include
  6  extending internal risk management programs to health care
  7  providers' offices and the assuming of provider liability by a
  8  licensed health care facility for acts or omissions occurring
  9  within the licensed facility.
10         (4)  The agency shall, after consulting with the
11  Department of Insurance, adopt rules governing the
12  establishment of internal risk management programs to meet the
13  needs of individual licensed facilities.  Each internal risk
14  management program shall include the use of incident reports
15  to be filed with an individual of responsibility who is
16  competent in risk management techniques in the employ of each
17  licensed facility, such as an insurance coordinator, or who is
18  retained by the licensed facility as a consultant.  The
19  individual responsible for the risk management program shall
20  have free access to all medical records of the licensed
21  facility.  The incident reports are part of the workpapers of
22  the attorney defending the licensed facility in litigation
23  relating to the licensed facility and are subject to
24  discovery, but are not admissible as evidence in court.  A
25  person filing an incident report is not subject to civil suit
26  by virtue of such incident report.  As a part of each internal
27  risk management program, the incident reports shall be used to
28  develop categories of incidents which identify problem areas.
29  Once identified, procedures shall be adjusted to correct the
30  problem areas.
31
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  1         (5)  For purposes of reporting to the agency pursuant
  2  to this section, the term "adverse incident" means an event
  3  over which health care personnel could exercise control and
  4  which is associated in whole or in part with medical
  5  intervention, rather than the condition for which such
  6  intervention occurred, and which:
  7         (a)  Results in one of the following injuries:
  8         1.  Death;
  9         2.  Brain or spinal damage;
10         3.  Permanent disfigurement;
11         4.  Fracture or dislocation of bones or joints;
12         5.  A resulting limitation of neurological, physical,
13  or sensory function which continues after discharge from the
14  facility;
15         6.  Any condition that required specialized medical
16  attention or surgical intervention resulting from nonemergency
17  medical intervention, other than an emergency medical
18  condition, to which the patient has not given his or her
19  informed consent; or
20         7.  Any condition that required the transfer of the
21  patient, within or outside the facility, to a unit providing a
22  more acute level of care due to the adverse incident, rather
23  than the patient's condition prior to the adverse incident;
24         (b)  Was the performance of a surgical procedure on the
25  wrong patient, a wrong surgical procedure, a wrong-site
26  surgical procedure, or a surgical procedure otherwise
27  unrelated to the patient's diagnosis or medical condition;
28         (c)  Required the surgical repair of damage resulting
29  to a patient from a planned surgical procedure, where the
30  damage was not a recognized specific risk, as disclosed to the
31
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  1  patient and documented through the informed-consent process;
  2  or
  3         (d)  Was a procedure to remove unplanned foreign
  4  objects remaining from a surgical procedure.
  5         (6)(5)(a)  Each licensed facility subject to this
  6  section shall submit an annual report to the agency
  7  summarizing the incident reports that have been filed in the
  8  facility for that year. The report shall include:
  9         1.  The total number of adverse incidents causing
10  injury to patients.
11         2.  A listing, by category, of the types of operations,
12  diagnostic or treatment procedures, or other actions causing
13  the injuries, and the number of incidents occurring within
14  each category.
15         3.  A listing, by category, of the types of injuries
16  caused and the number of incidents occurring within each
17  category.
18         4.  A code number using the health care professional's
19  licensure number and a separate code number identifying all
20  other individuals directly involved in adverse incidents
21  causing injury to patients, the relationship of the individual
22  to the licensed facility, and the number of incidents in which
23  each individual has been directly involved.  Each licensed
24  facility shall maintain names of the health care professionals
25  and individuals identified by code numbers for purposes of
26  this section.
27         5.  A description of all malpractice claims filed
28  against the licensed facility, including the total number of
29  pending and closed claims and the nature of the incident which
30  led to, the persons involved in, and the status and
31
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  1  disposition of each claim. Each report shall update status and
  2  disposition for all prior reports.
  3         6.  A report of all disciplinary actions pertaining to
  4  patient care taken against any medical staff member, including
  5  the nature and cause of the action.
  6         (b)  The information reported to the agency pursuant to
  7  paragraph (a) which relates to persons licensed under chapter
  8  458, chapter 459, chapter 461, or chapter 466 shall be
  9  reviewed by the agency.  The agency shall determine whether
10  any of the incidents potentially involved conduct by a health
11  care professional who is subject to disciplinary action, in
12  which case the provisions of s. 455.225 shall apply.
13         (c)  The report submitted to the agency shall also
14  contain the name and license number of the risk manager of the
15  licensed facility, a copy of its policy and procedures which
16  govern the measures taken by the facility and its risk manager
17  to reduce the risk of injuries and adverse or untoward
18  incidents, and the results of such measures.  The annual
19  report is confidential and is not available to the public
20  pursuant to s. 119.07(1) or any other law providing access to
21  public records. The annual report is not discoverable or
22  admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in
23  disciplinary proceedings by the agency or the appropriate
24  regulatory board.  The annual report is not available to the
25  public as part of the record of investigation for and
26  prosecution in disciplinary proceedings made available to the
27  public by the agency or the appropriate regulatory board.
28  However, the agency or the appropriate regulatory board shall
29  make available, upon written request by a health care
30  professional against whom probable cause has been found, any
31
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  1  such records which form the basis of the determination of
  2  probable cause.
  3         (7)  The licensed facility shall notify the agency no
  4  later than 1 business day after the risk manager or his or her
  5  designee has received a report pursuant to paragraph (1)(d)
  6  and is able to determine within 1 business day that any of the
  7  following adverse incidents has occurred, whether occurring in
  8  the licensed facility or arising from health care prior to
  9  admission in the licensed facility. Notification is not
10  required if the risk manager is unable to determine within 1
11  business day that any of the following incidents occurred:
12         (a)  The death of a patient;
13         (b)  Brain or spinal damage to a patient;
14         (c)  The performance of a surgical procedure on the
15  wrong patient;
16         (d)  The performance of a wrong-site surgical
17  procedure; or
18         (e)  The performance of a wrong surgical procedure.
19
20  The notification must be made in writing and be provided by
21  facsimile device or overnight mail delivery. The notification
22  must include information regarding the identity of the
23  affected patient, the type of adverse incident, the initiation
24  of an investigation by the facility, and whether the events
25  causing or resulting in the adverse incident represent a
26  potential risk to other patients.
27         (8)(6)  Any of the following adverse incidents, whether
28  occurring in the licensed facility or arising from health care
29  prior to admission in the licensed facility, shall be reported
30  by the facility to the agency within 15 calendar days after
31  its occurrence: If an adverse or untoward incident, whether
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  1  occurring in the licensed facility or arising from health care
  2  prior to admission in the licensed facility, results in:
  3         (a)  The death of a patient;
  4         (b)  Brain or spinal damage to a patient;
  5         (c)  The performance of a surgical procedure on the
  6  wrong patient; or
  7         (d)  The performance of a wrong-site surgical
  8  procedure;
  9         (e)  The performance of a wrong surgical procedure;
10         (f)  The performance of a surgical procedure that is
11  medically unnecessary or otherwise unrelated to the patient's
12  diagnosis or medical condition;
13         (g)  The surgical repair of damage resulting to a
14  patient from a planned surgical procedure, where the damage is
15  not a recognized specific risk, as disclosed to the patient
16  and documented through the informed-consent process; or
17         (h)  The performance of procedures to remove unplanned
18  foreign objects remaining from a surgical procedure.
19         (d)  A surgical procedure unrelated to the patient's
20  diagnosis or medical needs being performed on any patient,
21  including the surgical repair of injuries or damage resulting
22  from the planned surgical procedure, wrong site or wrong
23  procedure surgeries, and procedures to remove foreign objects
24  remaining from surgical procedures,
25
26  the licensed facility shall report this incident to the agency
27  within 15 calendar days after its occurrence. The agency may
28  grant extensions to this reporting requirement for more than
29  15 days upon justification submitted in writing by the
30  facility administrator to the agency. The agency may require
31  an additional, final report.  These reports shall not be
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  1  available to the public pursuant to s. 119.07(1) or any other
  2  law providing access to public records, nor be discoverable or
  3  admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in
  4  disciplinary proceedings by the agency or the appropriate
  5  regulatory board, nor shall they be available to the public as
  6  part of the record of investigation for and prosecution in
  7  disciplinary proceedings made available to the public by the
  8  agency or the appropriate regulatory board. However, the
  9  agency or the appropriate regulatory board shall make
10  available, upon written request by a health care professional
11  against whom probable cause has been found, any such records
12  which form the basis of the determination of probable cause.
13  The agency may investigate, as it deems appropriate, any such
14  incident and prescribe measures that must or may be taken in
15  response to the incident. The agency shall review each
16  incident and determine whether it potentially involved conduct
17  by the health care professional who is subject to disciplinary
18  action, in which case the provisions of s. 455.225 shall
19  apply.
20         (9)(7)  The internal risk manager of each licensed
21  facility shall:
22         (a)(b)  Investigate every allegation of sexual
23  misconduct which is made against a member of the facility's
24  personnel who has direct patient contact, when the allegation
25  is that the sexual misconduct occurred at the facility or on
26  the grounds of the facility; and
27         (b)(c)  Report every allegation of sexual misconduct to
28  the administrator of the licensed facility.
29         (c)(a)  Notify the family or guardian of the victim, if
30  a minor, that an allegation of sexual misconduct has been made
31  and that an investigation is being conducted;
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  1         (10)(8)  Any witness who witnessed or who possesses
  2  actual knowledge of the act that is the basis of an allegation
  3  of sexual abuse shall:
  4         (a)  Notify the local police; and
  5         (b)  Notify the hospital risk manager and the
  6  administrator.
  7
  8  For purposes of this subsection, "sexual abuse" means acts of
  9  a sexual nature committed for the sexual gratification of
10  anyone upon, or in the presence of, a vulnerable adult,
11  without the vulnerable adult's informed consent, or a minor.
12  "Sexual abuse" includes, but is not limited to, the acts
13  defined in s. 794.011(1)(h), fondling, exposure of a
14  vulnerable adult's or minor's sexual organs, or the use of the
15  vulnerable adult or minor to solicit for or engage in
16  prostitution or sexual performance. "Sexual abuse" does not
17  include any act intended for a valid medical purpose or any
18  act which may reasonably be construed to be a normal
19  caregiving action.
20         (11)(9)  A person who, with malice or with intent to
21  discredit or harm a licensed facility or any person, makes a
22  false allegation of sexual misconduct against a member of a
23  licensed facility's personnel is guilty of a misdemeanor of
24  the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
25  775.083.
26         (12)(10)  In addition to any penalty imposed pursuant
27  to this section, the agency shall require a written plan of
28  correction from the facility.  For a single incident or series
29  of isolated incidents that are nonwillful violations of the
30  reporting requirements of this section, the agency shall first
31  seek to obtain corrective action by the facility.  If the
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  1  correction is not demonstrated within the timeframe
  2  established by the agency or if there is a pattern of
  3  nonwillful violations of this section, the agency may impose
  4  an administrative fine, not to exceed $5,000 for any violation
  5  of the reporting requirements of this section.  The
  6  administrative fine for repeated nonwillful violations shall
  7  not exceed $10,000 for any violation.  The administrative fine
  8  for each intentional and willful violation may not exceed
  9  $25,000 per violation, per day.  The fine for an intentional
10  and willful violation of this section may not exceed $250,000.
11  In determining the amount of fine to be levied, the agency
12  shall be guided by s. 395.1065(2)(b) may impose an
13  administrative fine, not to exceed $5,000, for any violation
14  of the reporting requirements of this section.
15         (13)(11)  The agency shall have access to all licensed
16  facility records necessary to carry out the provisions of this
17  section.  The records obtained by the agency under subsection
18  (6), subsection (8), or subsection (9) are not available to
19  the public under s. 119.07(1), nor shall they be discoverable
20  or admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in
21  disciplinary proceedings by the agency or the appropriate
22  regulatory board, nor shall records obtained pursuant to s.
23  455.223 be available to the public as part of the record of
24  investigation for and prosecution in disciplinary proceedings
25  made available to the public by the agency or the appropriate
26  regulatory board. However, the agency or the appropriate
27  regulatory board shall make available, upon written request by
28  a health care professional against whom probable cause has
29  been found, any such records which form the basis of the
30  determination of probable cause, except that, with respect to
31  medical review committee records, s. 766.101 controls.
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  1         (14)(12)  The meetings of the committees and governing
  2  board of a licensed facility held solely for the purpose of
  3  achieving the objectives of risk management as provided by
  4  this section shall not be open to the public under the
  5  provisions of chapter 286. The records of such meetings are
  6  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1), except as provided
  7  in subsection (13)(11).
  8         (15)(13)  The agency shall review, as part of its
  9  licensure inspection process, the internal risk management
10  program at each licensed facility regulated by this section to
11  determine whether the program meets standards established in
12  statutes and rules, whether the program is being conducted in
13  a manner designed to reduce adverse incidents, and whether the
14  program is appropriately reporting incidents under subsections
15  (5), and (6), (7), and (8).
16         (16)(14)  There shall be no monetary liability on the
17  part of, and no cause of action for damages shall arise
18  against, any risk manager, licensed under part IX of chapter
19  626, for the implementation and oversight of the internal risk
20  management program in a facility licensed under this chapter
21  or chapter 390 as required by this section, for any act or
22  proceeding undertaken or performed within the scope of the
23  functions of such internal risk management program if the risk
24  manager acts without intentional fraud.
25         (17)(15)  If the agency, through its receipt of the
26  annual reports prescribed in subsection (6)(5) or through any
27  investigation, has a reasonable belief that conduct by a staff
28  member or employee of a licensed facility is grounds for
29  disciplinary action by the appropriate regulatory board, the
30  agency shall report this fact to such regulatory board.
31
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  1         (18)(16)  The agency shall annually publish a report
  2  summarizing the information contained in the annual incident
  3  reports submitted by licensed facilities pursuant to
  4  subsection (6) and disciplinary actions reported to the agency
  5  pursuant to s. 395.0193 any serious incident reports submitted
  6  by licensed facilities. The report must, at a minimum,
  7  summarize:
  8         (a)  Adverse and serious incidents, by service district
  9  of the department as defined in s. 20.19, by category of
10  reported incident, and by type of professional involved.
11         (b)  Types of malpractice claims filed, by service
12  district of the department as defined in s. 20.19, and by type
13  of professional involved.
14         (c)  Disciplinary actions taken against professionals,
15  by service district of the department as defined in s. 20.19,
16  and by type of professional involved.
17         Section 26.  Effective January 1, 1999, section
18  626.941, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as section 395.10971,
19  Florida Statutes.
20         Section 27.  Effective January 1, 1999, section
21  626.942, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as section 395.10972,
22  Florida Statutes, and amended to read:
23         395.10972 626.942  Health Care Risk Manager Advisory
24  Council.--The Director of Health Care Administration Insurance
25  Commissioner may appoint a five-member advisory council to
26  advise the agency department on matters pertaining to health
27  care risk managers.  The members of the council shall serve at
28  the pleasure of the director Insurance Commissioner. The
29  council shall designate a chair.  The council shall meet at
30  the call of the director Insurance Commissioner or at those
31  times as may be required by rule of the agency department.
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  1  The members of the advisory council shall receive no
  2  compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for
  3  travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. The council shall
  4  consist of individuals representing the following areas:
  5         (1)  Two shall be active health care risk managers.
  6         (2)  One shall be an active hospital administrator.
  7         (3)  One shall be an employee of an insurer or
  8  self-insurer of medical malpractice coverage.
  9         (4)  One shall be a representative of the
10  health-care-consuming public.
11         Section 28.  Effective January 1, 1999, section
12  626.943, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as section 395.10973,
13  Florida Statutes, and amended to read:
14         395.10973 626.943  Powers and duties of the agency
15  department.--It is the function of the agency department to:
16         (1)  Adopt Promulgate rules necessary to carry out the
17  duties conferred upon it under this part to protect the public
18  health, safety, and welfare.
19         (2)  Develop, impose, and enforce specific standards
20  within the scope of the general qualifications established by
21  this part which must be met by individuals in order to receive
22  licenses as health care risk managers.  These standards shall
23  be designed to ensure that health care risk managers are
24  individuals of good character and otherwise suitable and, by
25  training or experience in the field of health care risk
26  management, qualified in accordance with the provisions of
27  this part to serve as health care risk managers, within
28  statutory requirements.
29         (3)  Develop a method for determining whether an
30  individual meets the standards set forth in s. 395.10974 s.
31  626.944.
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  1         (4)  Issue licenses, beginning on June 1, 1986, to
  2  qualified individuals meeting the standards set forth in s.
  3  395.10974 s. 626.944.
  4         (5)  Receive, investigate, and take appropriate action
  5  with respect to any charge or complaint filed with the agency
  6  department to the effect that a certified health care risk
  7  manager has failed to comply with the requirements or
  8  standards adopted by rule by the agency department or to
  9  comply with the provisions of this part.
10         (6)  Establish procedures for providing the Department
11  of Health and Rehabilitative Services with periodic reports on
12  persons certified or disciplined by the agency department
13  under this part.
14         (7)  Develop a model risk management program for health
15  care facilities which will satisfy the requirements of s.
16  395.0197.
17         Section 29.  Effective January 1, 1999, section
18  626.944, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as section 395.10974,
19  Florida Statutes, and amended to read:
20         395.10974 626.944  Qualifications for health care risk
21  managers.--
22         (1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as a health
23  care risk manager shall submit an application on a form
24  provided by the agency department.  In order to qualify, the
25  applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the agency
26  department which demonstrates the applicant's competence, by
27  education or experience, in the following areas:
28         (a)  Applicable standards of health care risk
29  management.
30         (b)  Applicable federal, state, and local health and
31  safety laws and rules.
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  1         (c)  General risk management administration.
  2         (d)  Patient care.
  3         (e)  Medical care.
  4         (f)  Personal and social care.
  5         (g)  Accident prevention.
  6         (h)  Departmental organization and management.
  7         (i)  Community interrelationships.
  8         (j)  Medical terminology.
  9
10  The agency department may require such additional information,
11  from the applicant or any other person, as may be reasonably
12  required to verify the information contained in the
13  application.
14         (2)  The agency department shall not grant or issue a
15  license as a health care risk manager to any individual unless
16  from the application it affirmatively appears that the
17  applicant:
18         (a)  Is 18 years of age or over;
19         (b)  Is a high school graduate or equivalent; and
20         (c)1.  Has fulfilled the requirements of a 1-year
21  program or its equivalent in health care risk management
22  training which may be developed or approved by the agency
23  department;
24         2.  Has completed 2 years of college-level studies
25  which would prepare the applicant for health care risk
26  management, to be further defined by rule; or
27         3.  Has obtained 1 year of practical experience in
28  health care risk management.
29         (3)  The agency department shall issue a license,
30  beginning on June 1, 1986, to practice health care risk
31  management to any applicant who qualifies under this section
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  1  and submits an application fee of not more than $75, a
  2  fingerprinting fee of not more than $75, and a license fee of
  3  not more than $100. The agency shall by rule establish fees
  4  and procedures for the issuance and cancellation of licenses.
  5  the license fee as set forth in s. 624.501.  Licenses shall be
  6  issued and canceled in the same manner as provided in part I
  7  of this chapter.
  8         (4)  The agency department shall renew a health care
  9  risk manager license upon receipt of a biennial renewal
10  application and fees. The agency shall by rule establish a
11  procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses in accordance
12  with procedures prescribed in s. 626.381 for agents in
13  general.
14         Section 30.  Effective January 1, 1999, section
15  626.945, Florida Statutes, is renumbered as section 395.10975,
16  Florida Statutes, and amended to read:
17         395.10975 626.945  Grounds for denial, suspension, or
18  revocation of a health care risk manager's license;
19  administrative fine.--
20         (1)  The agency department may, in its discretion,
21  deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the
22  license of any health care risk manager or applicant, if it
23  finds that as to such applicant or licensee any one or more of
24  the following grounds exist:
25         (a)  Any cause for which issuance of the license could
26  have been refused had it then existed and been known to the
27  agency department.
28         (b)  Giving false or forged evidence to the agency
29  department for the purpose of obtaining a license.
30         (c)  Having been found guilty of, or having pleaded
31  guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime in this state or any
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  1  other state relating to the practice of risk management or the
  2  ability to practice risk management, whether or not a judgment
  3  or conviction has been entered.
  4         (d)  Having been found guilty of, or having pleaded
  5  guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony, or a crime involving
  6  moral turpitude punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more
  7  under the law of the United States, under the law of any
  8  state, or under the law of any other country, without regard
  9  to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered by the
10  court having jurisdiction of such cases.
11         (e)  Making or filing a report or record which the
12  licensee knows to be false; or intentionally failing to file a
13  report or record required by state or federal law; or
14  willfully impeding or obstructing, or inducing another person
15  to impede or obstruct, the filing of a report or record
16  required by state or federal law. Such reports or records
17  shall include only those which are signed in the capacity of a
18  licensed health care risk manager.
19         (f)  Fraud or deceit, negligence, incompetence, or
20  misconduct in the practice of health care risk management.
21         (g)  Violation of any provision of this part or any
22  other law applicable to the business of health care risk
23  management.
24         (h)  Violation of any lawful order or rule of the
25  agency department or failure to comply with a lawful subpoena
26  issued by the department.
27         (i)  Practicing with a revoked or suspended health care
28  risk manager license.
29         (j)  Repeatedly acting in a manner inconsistent with
30  the health and safety of the patients of the licensed facility
31  in which the licensee is the health care risk manager.
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  1         (k)  Being unable to practice health care risk
  2  management with reasonable skill and safety to patients by
  3  reason of illness; drunkenness; or use of drugs, narcotics,
  4  chemicals, or any other material or substance or as a result
  5  of any mental or physical condition.  Any person affected
  6  under this paragraph shall have the opportunity, at reasonable
  7  intervals, to demonstrate that he or she can resume the
  8  competent practices of health care risk manager with
  9  reasonable skill and safety to patients.
10         (l)  Willfully permitting unauthorized disclosure of
11  information relating to a patient or a patient's records.
12         (m)  Discriminating in respect to patients, employees,
13  or staff on account of race, religion, color, sex, or national
14  origin.
15         (2)  If the agency department finds that one or more of
16  the grounds set forth in subsection (1) exist, it may, in lieu
17  of or in addition to suspension or revocation, enter an order
18  imposing one or more of the following penalties:
19         (a)  Imposition of an administrative fine not to exceed
20  $2,500 for each count or separate offense.
21         (b)  Issuance of a reprimand.
22         (c)  Placement of the licensee on probation for a
23  period of time and subject to such conditions as the agency
24  department may specify, including requiring the licensee to
25  attend continuing education courses or to work under the
26  supervision of another licensee.
27         (3)  The agency department may reissue the license of a
28  disciplined licensee in accordance with the provisions of this
29  part.
30         Section 31.  Subsection (1) of section 766.101, Florida
31  Statutes, is amended to read:
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  1         766.101  Medical review committee, immunity from
  2  liability.--
  3         (1)  As used in this section:
  4         (a)  The term "medical review committee" or "committee"
  5  means:
  6         1.a.  A committee of a hospital or ambulatory surgical
  7  center licensed under chapter 395 or a health maintenance
  8  organization certificated under part I of chapter 641,
  9         b.  A committee of a physician-hospital organization, a
10  provider-sponsored organization, or an integrated delivery
11  system,
12         c.b.  A committee of a state or local professional
13  society of health care providers,
14         d.c.  A committee of a medical staff of a licensed
15  hospital or nursing home, provided the medical staff operates
16  pursuant to written bylaws that have been approved by the
17  governing board of the hospital or nursing home,
18         e.d.  A committee of the Department of Corrections or
19  the Correctional Medical Authority as created under s.
20  945.602, or employees, agents, or consultants of either the
21  department or the authority or both,
22         f.e.  A committee of a professional service corporation
23  formed under chapter 621 or a corporation organized under
24  chapter 607 or chapter 617, which is formed and operated for
25  the practice of medicine as defined in s. 458.305(3), and
26  which has at least 25 health care providers who routinely
27  provide health care services directly to patients,
28         g.f.  A committee of a mental health treatment facility
29  licensed under chapter 394 or a community mental health center
30  as defined in s. 394.907, provided the quality assurance
31
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  1  program operates pursuant to the guidelines which have been
  2  approved by the governing board of the agency,
  3         h.g.  A committee of a substance abuse treatment and
  4  education prevention program licensed under chapter 397
  5  provided the quality assurance program operates pursuant to
  6  the guidelines which have been approved by the governing board
  7  of the agency,
  8         i.h.  A peer review or utilization review committee
  9  organized under chapter 440, or
10         j.i.  A committee of a county health department,
11  healthy start coalition, or certified rural health network,
12  when reviewing quality of care, or employees of these entities
13  when reviewing mortality records,
14
15  which committee is formed to evaluate and improve the quality
16  of health care rendered by providers of health service or to
17  determine that health services rendered were professionally
18  indicated or were performed in compliance with the applicable
19  standard of care or that the cost of health care rendered was
20  considered reasonable by the providers of professional health
21  services in the area; or
22         2.  A committee of an insurer, self-insurer, or joint
23  underwriting association of medical malpractice insurance, or
24  other persons conducting review under s. 766.106.
25         (b)  The term "health care providers" means physicians
26  licensed under chapter 458, osteopathic physicians licensed
27  under chapter 459, podiatrists licensed under chapter 461,
28  optometrists licensed under chapter 463, dentists licensed
29  under chapter 466, chiropractors licensed under chapter 460,
30  pharmacists licensed under chapter 465, or hospitals or
31  ambulatory surgical centers licensed under chapter 395.
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  1         Section 32.  Subsection (7) of section 394.4787,
  2  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  3         394.4787  Definitions.--As used in this section and ss.
  4  394.4786, 394.4788, and 394.4789:
  5         (7)  "Specialty psychiatric hospital" means a hospital
  6  licensed by the agency pursuant to s. 395.002(25) s.
  7  395.002(27) as a specialty psychiatric hospital.
  8         Section 33.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section
  9  395.602, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
10         395.602  Rural hospitals.--
11         (2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this part:
12         (c)  "Inactive rural hospital bed" means a licensed
13  acute care hospital bed, as defined in s. 395.002(12) s.
14  395.002(13), that is inactive in that it cannot be occupied by
15  acute care inpatients.
16         Section 34.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
17  400.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
18         400.051  Homes or institutions exempt from the
19  provisions of this part.--
20         (1)  The following shall be exempt from the provisions
21  of this part:
22         (b)  Any hospital, as defined in s. 395.002(9) s.
23  395.002(10), that is licensed under chapter 395.
24         Section 35.  Subsection (8) of section 409.905, Florida
25  Statutes, is amended to read:
26         409.905  Mandatory Medicaid services.--The agency may
27  make payments for the following services, which are required
28  of the state by Title XIX of the Social Security Act,
29  furnished by Medicaid providers to recipients who are
30  determined to be eligible on the dates on which the services
31  were provided.  Any service under this section shall be
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  1  provided only when medically necessary and in accordance with
  2  state and federal law. Nothing in this section shall be
  3  construed to prevent or limit the agency from adjusting fees,
  4  reimbursement rates, lengths of stay, number of visits, number
  5  of services, or any other adjustments necessary to comply with
  6  the availability of moneys and any limitations or directions
  7  provided for in the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.
  8         (8)  NURSING FACILITY SERVICES.--The agency shall pay
  9  for 24-hour-a-day nursing and rehabilitative services for a
10  recipient in a nursing facility licensed under part II of
11  chapter 400 or in a rural hospital, as defined in s. 395.602,
12  or in a Medicare certified skilled nursing facility operated
13  by a hospital, as defined by s. 395.002(9) s. 395.002(10),
14  that is licensed under part I of chapter 395, and in
15  accordance with provisions set forth in s. 409.908(2)(a),
16  which services are ordered by and provided under the direction
17  of a licensed physician.  However, if a nursing facility has
18  been destroyed or otherwise made uninhabitable by natural
19  disaster or other emergency and another nursing facility is
20  not available, the agency must pay for similar services
21  temporarily in a hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395
22  provided federal funding is approved and available.
23         Section 36.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section
24  440.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
25         440.13  Medical services and supplies; penalty for
26  violations; limitations.--
27         (1)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
28         (g)  "Emergency services and care" means emergency
29  services and care as defined in s. 395.002(9).
30         Section 37.  Subsection (9) of section 458.331, Florida
31  Statutes, is amended to read:
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  1         458.331  Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the
  2  board and department.--
  3         (9)  When an investigation of a physician is
  4  undertaken, the department shall promptly furnish to the
  5  physician or the physician's attorney a copy of the complaint
  6  or document which resulted in the initiation of the
  7  investigation.  For purposes of this subsection, such
  8  documents include, but are not limited to:  the pertinent
  9  portions of an annual report submitted to the department
10  pursuant to s. 395.0197(6) s. 395.0197(5)(b); a report of an
11  adverse or untoward incident which is provided to the
12  department pursuant to s. 395.0197(8) the provisions of s.
13  395.0197(6); a report of peer review disciplinary action
14  submitted to the department pursuant to the provisions of s.
15  395.0193(4) or s. 458.337, providing that the investigations,
16  proceedings, and records relating to such peer review
17  disciplinary action shall continue to retain their privileged
18  status even as to the licensee who is the subject of the
19  investigation, as provided by ss. 395.0193(8) 395.0193(7) and
20  458.337(3); a report of a closed claim submitted pursuant to
21  s. 627.912; a presuit notice submitted pursuant to s.
22  766.106(2); and a petition brought under the Florida
23  Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Plan, pursuant
24  to s. 766.305(2).  The physician may submit a written response
25  to the information contained in the complaint or document
26  which resulted in the initiation of the investigation within
27  45 days after service to the physician of the complaint or
28  document. The physician's written response shall be considered
29  by the probable cause panel.
30         Section 38.  Subsection (9) of section 459.015, Florida
31  Statutes, is amended to read:
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  1         459.015  Grounds for disciplinary action by the
  2  board.--
  3         (9)  When an investigation of an osteopathic physician
  4  is undertaken, the department shall promptly furnish to the
  5  osteopathic physician or his or her attorney a copy of the
  6  complaint or document which resulted in the initiation of the
  7  investigation. For purposes of this subsection, such documents
  8  include, but are not limited to:  the pertinent portions of an
  9  annual report submitted to the department pursuant to s.
10  395.0197(6) s. 395.0197(5)(b); a report of an adverse or
11  untoward incident which is provided to the department pursuant
12  to s. 395.0197(8) the provisions of s. 395.0197(6); a report
13  of peer review disciplinary action submitted to the department
14  pursuant to the provisions of s. 395.0193(4) or s. 459.016,
15  provided that the investigations, proceedings, and records
16  relating to such peer review disciplinary action shall
17  continue to retain their privileged status even as to the
18  licensee who is the subject of the investigation, as provided
19  by ss. 395.0193(8) 395.0193(7) and 459.016(3); a report of a
20  closed claim submitted pursuant to s. 627.912; a presuit
21  notice submitted pursuant to s. 766.106(2); and a petition
22  brought under the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury
23  Compensation Plan, pursuant to s. 766.305(2).  The osteopathic
24  physician may submit a written response to the information
25  contained in the complaint or document which resulted in the
26  initiation of the investigation within 45 days after service
27  to the osteopathic physician of the complaint or document. The
28  osteopathic physician's written response shall be considered
29  by the probable cause panel.
30         Section 39.  Subsection (1) of section 468.505, Florida
31  Statutes, is amended to read:
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  1         468.505  Exemptions; exceptions.--
  2         (1)  Nothing in this part may be construed as
  3  prohibiting or restricting the practice, services, or
  4  activities of:
  5         (a)  A person licensed in this state under chapter 457,
  6  chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter
  7  462, chapter 463, chapter 464, chapter 465, chapter 466,
  8  chapter 480, chapter 490, or chapter 491, when engaging in the
  9  profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed, or
10  of any person employed by and under the supervision of the
11  licensee when rendering services within the scope of the
12  profession or occupation of the licensee.;
13         (b)  A person employed as a dietitian by the government
14  of the United States, if the person engages in dietetics
15  solely under direction or control of the organization by which
16  the person is employed.;
17         (c)  A person employed as a cooperative extension home
18  economist.;
19         (d)  A person pursuing a course of study leading to a
20  degree in dietetics and nutrition from a program or school
21  accredited pursuant to s. 468.509(2), if the activities and
22  services constitute a part of a supervised course of study and
23  if the person is designated by a title that clearly indicates
24  the person's status as a student or trainee.;
25         (e)  A person fulfilling the supervised experience
26  component of s. 468.509, if the activities and services
27  constitute a part of the experience necessary to meet the
28  requirements of s. 468.509.;
29         (f)  Any dietitian or nutritionist from another state
30  practicing dietetics or nutrition incidental to a course of
31  study when taking or giving a postgraduate course or other
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  1  course of study in this state, provided such dietitian or
  2  nutritionist is licensed in another jurisdiction or is a
  3  registered dietitian or holds an appointment on the faculty of
  4  a school accredited pursuant to s. 468.509(2).;
  5         (g)  A person who markets or distributes food, food
  6  materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages
  7  in the explanation of the use and benefits of those products
  8  or the preparation of those products, if that person does not
  9  engage for a fee in dietetics and nutrition practice or
10  nutrition counseling.;
11         (h)  A person who markets or distributes food, food
12  materials, or dietary supplements, or any person who engages
13  in the explanation of the use of those products or the
14  preparation of those products, as an employee of an
15  establishment permitted pursuant to chapter 465.;
16         (i)  An educator who is in the employ of a nonprofit
17  organization approved by the council; a federal, state,
18  county, or municipal agency, or other political subdivision;
19  an elementary or secondary school; or an accredited
20  institution of higher education the definition of which, as
21  provided in s. 468.509(2), applies to other sections of this
22  part, insofar as the activities and services of the educator
23  are part of such employment.;
24         (j)  Any person who provides weight control services or
25  related weight control products, provided the program has been
26  reviewed by, consultation is available from, and no program
27  change can be initiated without prior approval by a licensed
28  dietitian/nutritionist, a dietitian or nutritionist licensed
29  in another state that has licensure requirements considered by
30  the council to be at least as stringent as the requirements
31  for licensure under this part, or a registered dietitian.;
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  1         (k)  A person employed by a hospital licensed under
  2  chapter 395, or by a nursing home or assisted living facility
  3  licensed under part II or part III of chapter 400, or by a
  4  continuing care facility certified under chapter 651, if the
  5  person is employed in compliance with the laws and rules
  6  adopted thereunder regarding the operation of its dietetic
  7  department.;
  8         (l)  A person employed by a nursing facility exempt
  9  from licensing under s. 395.002(11) s. 395.002(12), or a
10  person exempt from licensing under s. 464.022.; or
11         (m)  A person employed as a dietetic technician.
12         Section 40.  Effective January 1, 1999, subsection (2)
13  of section 641.55, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
14         641.55  Internal risk management program.--
15         (2)  The risk management program shall be the
16  responsibility of the governing authority or board of the
17  organization. Every organization which has an annual premium
18  volume of $10 million or more and which directly provides
19  health care in a building owned or leased by the organization
20  shall hire a risk manager, certified under ss.
21  395.10971-395.10975 ss. 626.941-626.945, who shall be
22  responsible for implementation of the organization's risk
23  management program required by this section.  A part-time risk
24  manager shall not be responsible for risk management programs
25  in more than four organizations or facilities. Every
26  organization which does not directly provide health care in a
27  building owned or leased by the organization and every
28  organization with an annual premium volume of less than $10
29  million shall designate an officer or employee of the
30  organization to serve as the risk manager.
31
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  1  The gross data compiled under this section or s. 395.0197
  2  shall be furnished by the agency upon request to organizations
  3  to be utilized for risk management purposes.  The agency shall
  4  adopt rules necessary to carry out the provisions of this
  5  section.
  6         Section 41.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (4) of section
  7  766.1115, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  8         766.1115  Health care providers; creation of agency
  9  relationship with governmental contractors.--
10         (4)  CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.--A health care provider
11  that executes a contract with a governmental contractor to
12  deliver health care services on or after April 17, 1992, as an
13  agent of the governmental contractor is an agent for purposes
14  of s. 768.28(9), while acting within the scope of duties
15  pursuant to the contract, if the contract complies with the
16  requirements of this section.  A health care provider under
17  contract with the state may not be named as a defendant in any
18  action arising out of the medical care or treatment provided
19  on or after April 17, 1992, pursuant to contracts entered into
20  under this section.  The contract must provide that:
21         (c)  Adverse incidents and information on treatment
22  outcomes must be reported by any health care provider to the
23  governmental contractor if such incidents and information
24  pertain to a patient treated pursuant to the contract. The
25  health care provider shall annually submit an adverse incident
26  report that includes all information required by s.
27  395.0197(6)(a) s. 395.0197(5)(a), unless the adverse incident
28  involves a result described by s. 395.0197(8) s. 395.0197(6),
29  in which case it shall be reported within 15 days after of the
30  occurrence of such incident. If an incident involves a
31  professional licensed by the Department of Health Business and
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  1  Professional Regulation or a facility licensed by the Agency
  2  for Health Care Administration Department of Health and
  3  Rehabilitative Services, the governmental contractor shall
  4  submit such incident reports to the appropriate department or
  5  agency, which shall review each incident and determine whether
  6  it involves conduct by the licensee that is subject to
  7  disciplinary action. All patient medical records and any
  8  identifying information contained in adverse incident reports
  9  and treatment outcomes which are obtained by governmental
10  entities pursuant to this paragraph are confidential and
11  exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art.
12  I of the State Constitution.
13
14  A governmental contractor that is also a health care provider
15  is not required to enter into a contract under this section
16  with respect to the health care services delivered by its
17  employees.
18         Section 42.  Effective January 1, 1999, all powers,
19  duties and functions, rules, records, personnel, property, and
20  unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, or other
21  funds of the Department of Insurance related to the health
22  care risk manager licensure program, as established in part IX
23  of chapter 626, Florida Statutes, are transferred by a type
24  two transfer, as defined in section 20.06(2), Florida
25  Statutes, from the Department of Insurance to the Agency for
26  Health Care Administration.
27         Section 43.  The sum of $100,281 is appropriated from
28  the Health Care Trust Fund to the Agency for Health Care
29  Administration, and one full-time position is authorized, to
30  administer the provisions of this act.
31
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  1         Section 44.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in
  2  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 1998.
  3
  4          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  5                              SB 314
  6
  7  Changes the applicability of the repeal of hospital budget
    review from hospital budgets ending in 1995 to hospital
  8  budgets ending in 1996.
  9  Clarifies that all outpatient facilities that provide surgical
    treatments requiring general anesthesia or IV conscious
10  sedation, that provide cardiac catheterization services, or
    that are to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers must
11  submit plans and specifications to AHCA for review. All other
    outpatient facilities must be reviewed, except that plans and
12  specifications relating to the construction or alteration of
    outpatient facilities that are physically detached from the
13  hospital on whose campus it is located, have no utility
    connections with the hospital, and do not block emergency
14  egress from or create a fire hazard to the hospital are made
    exempt from review.
15
    The effective date of authority for the Agency for Health Care
16  Administration to enforce emergency preparedness requirements
    applicable to new facilities and new wings and floors added to
17  existing facilities is changed from July 1, 1998 to July 1,
    1999. Restrictions on use of hospitals as emergency shelters
18  are expanded to include families of patients. Also, the date
    by which the Agency for Health Care Administration must report
19  to the Governor and Legislature its recommendations for
    cost-effective renovation standards for existing health care
20  facilities is changed from March 1, 1999, to April 1, 1998.
21  The Florida Patients Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is
    further amended to require health care providers and health
22  care facilities to inform patients of the telephone number and
    address of each state agency responsible for responding to
23  patient complaints only if requested. Penalties against health
    care providers for failure to provide patients with a summary
24  of the rights are reduced to up to $100 for nonwillful
    violations and up to $500 for willful violations. The $5,000
25  and $25,000 limits remain applicable to health care
    facilities.
26
    Amends s. 766.101, F.S., relating to medical review committees
27  to provide for protection from liability for medical review
    committees and committees of physician-hospital organizations,
28  provider-sponsored organizations, and integrated delivery
    systems.
29
    Appropriates $100,281 from the Health Care Trust Fund to the
30  Agency for Health Care Administration and authorizes one
    full-time equivalent position for the agency.
31
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