Senate Bill sb1950c1

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950

    By the Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care; and
    Senator Sullivan




    317-2061A-02

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to health regulation;

  3         transferring to the Department of Health the

  4         powers, duties, functions, and assets that

  5         relate to the consumer complaint services,

  6         investigations, and prosecutorial services

  7         performed by the Agency for Health Care

  8         Administration under contract with the

  9         department; amending s. 20.43, F.S.; deleting a

10         provision authorizing the department to enter

11         into such contract with the agency, to conform;

12         updating a reference to provide the name of a

13         regulatory board under the Division of Medical

14         Quality Assurance; requiring a joint audit of

15         hearings and their billing formulas and a

16         report to the Legislature; repealing s.

17         456.047, F.S.; terminating the standardized

18         credentialing program for health care

19         practitioners; prohibiting the refund of moneys

20         collected through the credentialing program;

21         amending ss. 456.039, 456.0391, 456.072,

22         456.077, F.S.; removing references, to conform;

23         amending s. 458.309, F.S.; requiring

24         accreditation of physician offices in which

25         surgery is performed; amending s. 459.005,

26         F.S.; requiring accreditation of osteopathic

27         physician offices in which surgery is

28         performed; amending s. 456.004, F.S., relating

29         to powers and duties of the department;

30         requiring performance measures for certain

31         entities; providing procedures for considering

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1         board requests to privatize regulatory

  2         functions; amending s. 456.009, F.S.; requiring

  3         performance measures for certain legal and

  4         investigative services and annual review of

  5         such services to determine whether such

  6         performance measures are being met; amending s.

  7         456.011, F.S.; requiring regulatory board

  8         committee meetings, including probable cause

  9         panels, to be held electronically unless

10         certain conditions are met; amending s.

11         456.026, F.S.; requiring inclusion of

12         performance measures for certain entities in

13         the department's annual report to the

14         Legislature; creating s. 458.3093, F.S.;

15         requiring submission of credentials for initial

16         physician licensure to a national licensure

17         verification service; requiring verification of

18         such credentials by that service or an

19         equivalent program; creating s. 459.0053, F.S.;

20         requiring submission of credentials for initial

21         osteopathic physician licensure to a national

22         licensure verification service; requiring

23         verification of such credentials by that

24         service, a specified association, or an

25         equivalent program; amending ss. 458.331,

26         459.015, F.S.; revising the definition of the

27         term "repeated malpractice" for purposes of

28         disciplinary action against physicians and

29         osteopaths; increasing the monetary limits of

30         claims against certain health care providers

31         which result in investigation; amending s.

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1         627.912, F.S.; raising the malpractice closed

  2         claims reporting requirement amount; requiring

  3         a study of the field office structure and

  4         organization of the Agency for Health Care

  5         Administration and a report to the Legislature;

  6         amending s. 456.025, F.S.; eliminating certain

  7         restrictions on the setting of licensure

  8         renewal fees for health care practitioners;

  9         creating s. 456.0165, F.S.; restricting the

10         costs that may be charged by educational

11         institutions hosting health care practitioner

12         licensure examinations; amending s. 468.302,

13         F.S.; exempting certain persons from radiologic

14         technologist certification and providing

15         certain training requirements for such

16         exemption; amending s. 468.352, F.S.; revising

17         and providing definitions applicable to the

18         regulation of respiratory therapy; amending s.

19         468.355, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

20         respiratory therapy licensure and testing

21         requirements; amending s. 468.368, F.S.;

22         revising exemptions from respiratory therapy

23         licensure requirements; repealing s. 468.356,

24         F.S., relating to the approval of educational

25         programs; repealing s. 468.357, F.S., relating

26         to licensure by examination; renumbering ss.

27         381.0602, 381.6021, 381.6022, 381.6023,

28         381.6024, 381.6026, F.S., and renumbering and

29         amending ss. 381.60225, 381.6025, F.S., to move

30         provisions relating to organ and tissue

31         procurement, donation, and transplantation to

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1         part V, ch. 765, F.S., relating to anatomical

  2         gifts; conforming cross-references; amending

  3         ss. 395.2050, 409.815, 765.5216, 765.522, F.S.;

  4         conforming cross-references; amending s.

  5         395.002, F.S.; defining the term "medically

  6         unnecessary procedure"; amending s. 395.0161,

  7         F.S.; requiring the Agency for Health Care

  8         Administration to adopt rules governing the

  9         conduct of inspections or investigations;

10         amending s. 395.0197, F.S.; revising provisions

11         governing the internal risk management program;

12         amending s. 456.0375, F.S.; redefining the term

13         "clinic"; amending s. 456.072, F.S.; revising

14         grounds for which a licensee may be

15         disciplined; amending s. 465.019, F.S.;

16         revising definitions; amending s. 631.57, F.S.;

17         exempting medical professional liability

18         insurance premiums from an assessment; amending

19         s. 766.101, F.S.; redefining the term "medical

20         review committee"; requiring the Office of

21         Legislative Services to develop a business plan

22         for the Board of Dentistry; appropriating

23         funds; providing effective dates.

24

25  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

26

27         Section 1.  (1)  Effective July 1, 2002, all powers,

28  duties, functions, records, personnel, property, and

29  unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other

30  funds of the Agency for Health Care Administration which

31  relate to consumer complaint services, investigations, and

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1  prosecutorial services currently provided by the Agency for

  2  Health Care Administration under a contract with the

  3  Department of Health are transferred to the Department of

  4  Health by a type two transfer, as defined in section 20.06(2),

  5  Florida Statutes. This transfer of funds shall include all

  6  advance payments made from the Medical Quality Assurance Trust

  7  Fund to the Agency for Health Care Administration.

  8         (2)(a)  Effective July 1, 2002, 259 full-time

  9  equivalent positions are eliminated from the Agency for Health

10  Care Administration's total number of authorized positions and

11  are transferred to the Department of Health. Any such position

12  transferred to the Department of Health which remains unfilled

13  90 days after the transfer shall be eliminated.

14         (b)  All records, personnel, and funds of the consumer

15  complaint and investigative services units of the agency are

16  transferred and assigned to the Division of Medical Quality

17  Assurance of the Department of Health.

18         (c)  All records, personnel, and funds of the health

19  care practitioner prosecutorial unit of the agency are

20  transferred and assigned to the Office of the General Counsel

21  of the Department of Health.

22         (3)  The Department of Health is deemed the successor

23  in interest in all legal proceedings and contracts currently

24  involving the Agency for Health Care Administration and

25  relating to health care practitioner regulation.  Except as

26  provided in this section, no legal proceeding shall be

27  dismissed, nor any contract terminated, on the basis of this

28  type two transfer.  The interagency agreement between the

29  Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care

30  Administration shall terminate on June 30, 2002.

31

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1         Section 2.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (3) of section

  2  20.43, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         20.43  Department of Health.--There is created a

  4  Department of Health.

  5         (3)  The following divisions of the Department of

  6  Health are established:

  7         (g)  Division of Medical Quality Assurance, which is

  8  responsible for the following boards and professions

  9  established within the division:

10         1.  The Board of Acupuncture, created under chapter

11  457.

12         2.  The Board of Medicine, created under chapter 458.

13         3.  The Board of Osteopathic Medicine, created under

14  chapter 459.

15         4.  The Board of Chiropractic Medicine, created under

16  chapter 460.

17         5.  The Board of Podiatric Medicine, created under

18  chapter 461.

19         6.  Naturopathy, as provided under chapter 462.

20         7.  The Board of Optometry, created under chapter 463.

21         8.  The Board of Nursing, created under part I of

22  chapter 464.

23         9.  Nursing assistants, as provided under part II of

24  chapter 464.

25         10.  The Board of Pharmacy, created under chapter 465.

26         11.  The Board of Dentistry, created under chapter 466.

27         12.  Midwifery, as provided under chapter 467.

28         13.  The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and

29  Audiology, created under part I of chapter 468.

30         14.  The Board of Nursing Home Administrators, created

31  under part II of chapter 468.

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  1         15.  The Board of Occupational Therapy, created under

  2  part III of chapter 468.

  3         16.  The Board of Respiratory Care therapy, as created

  4  provided under part V of chapter 468.

  5         17.  Dietetics and nutrition practice, as provided

  6  under part X of chapter 468.

  7         18.  The Board of Athletic Training, created under part

  8  XIII of chapter 468.

  9         19.  The Board of Orthotists and Prosthetists, created

10  under part XIV of chapter 468.

11         20.  Electrolysis, as provided under chapter 478.

12         21.  The Board of Massage Therapy, created under

13  chapter 480.

14         22.  The Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel,

15  created under part III of chapter 483.

16         23.  Medical physicists, as provided under part IV of

17  chapter 483.

18         24.  The Board of Opticianry, created under part I of

19  chapter 484.

20         25.  The Board of Hearing Aid Specialists, created

21  under part II of chapter 484.

22         26.  The Board of Physical Therapy Practice, created

23  under chapter 486.

24         27.  The Board of Psychology, created under chapter

25  490.

26         28.  School psychologists, as provided under chapter

27  490.

28         29.  The Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and

29  Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, created under

30  chapter 491.

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  1  The department may contract with the Agency for Health Care

  2  Administration who shall provide consumer complaint,

  3  investigative, and prosecutorial services required by the

  4  Division of Medical Quality Assurance, councils, or boards, as

  5  appropriate.

  6         Section 3.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

  7  Government Accountability and the Auditor General shall

  8  conduct a joint audit of all hearings and billings therefor

  9  conducted by the Division of Administrative Hearings for all

10  state agencies and nonstate agencies and shall present a

11  report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the

12  House of Representatives on or before January 1, 2003, which

13  contains findings and recommendations regarding the manner in

14  which the division charges for its services. The report shall

15  recommend alternative billing formulas.

16         Section 4.  Section 456.047, Florida Statutes, is

17  repealed.

18         Section 5.  All revenues associated with section

19  456.047, Florida Statutes, and collected by the Department of

20  Health on or before July 1, 2002, shall remain in the Medical

21  Quality Assurance Trust Fund, and no refunds shall be given.

22         Section 6.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section

23  456.039, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

24         456.039  Designated health care professionals;

25  information required for licensure.--

26         (4)

27         (d)  Any applicant for initial licensure or renewal of

28  licensure as a health care practitioner who submits to the

29  Department of Health a set of fingerprints or information

30  required for the criminal history check required under this

31  section shall not be required to provide a subsequent set of

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    Florida Senate - 2002                           CS for SB 1950
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  1  fingerprints or other duplicate information required for a

  2  criminal history check to the Agency for Health Care

  3  Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the

  4  Department of Children and Family Services for employment or

  5  licensure with such agency or department if the applicant has

  6  undergone a criminal history check as a condition of initial

  7  licensure or licensure renewal as a health care practitioner

  8  with the Department of Health or any of its regulatory boards,

  9  notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary. In

10  lieu of such duplicate submission, the Agency for Health Care

11  Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the

12  Department of Children and Family Services shall obtain

13  criminal history information for employment or licensure of

14  health care practitioners by such agency and departments from

15  the Department of Health Health's health care practitioner

16  credentialing system.

17         Section 7.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section

18  456.0391, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         456.0391  Advanced registered nurse practitioners;

20  information required for certification.--

21         (4)

22         (d)  Any applicant for initial certification or renewal

23  of certification as an advanced registered nurse practitioner

24  who submits to the Department of Health a set of fingerprints

25  and information required for the criminal history check

26  required under this section shall not be required to provide a

27  subsequent set of fingerprints or other duplicate information

28  required for a criminal history check to the Agency for Health

29  Care Administration, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or

30  the Department of Children and Family Services for employment

31  or licensure with such agency or department, if the applicant

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  1  has undergone a criminal history check as a condition of

  2  initial certification or renewal of certification as an

  3  advanced registered nurse practitioner with the Department of

  4  Health, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the

  5  contrary. In lieu of such duplicate submission, the Agency for

  6  Health Care Administration, the Department of Juvenile

  7  Justice, and the Department of Children and Family Services

  8  shall obtain criminal history information for employment or

  9  licensure of persons certified under s. 464.012 by such agency

10  or department from the Department of Health Health's health

11  care practitioner credentialing system.

12         Section 8.  Paragraph (v) of subsection (1) of section

13  456.072, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

14         456.072  Grounds for discipline; penalties;

15  enforcement.--

16         (1)  The following acts shall constitute grounds for

17  which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may

18  be taken:

19         (v)  Failing to comply with the requirements for

20  profiling and credentialing, including, but not limited to,

21  failing to provide initial information, failing to timely

22  provide updated information, or making misleading, untrue,

23  deceptive, or fraudulent representations on a profile,

24  credentialing, or initial or renewal licensure application.

25         Section 9.  Subsection (2) of section 456.077, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         456.077  Authority to issue citations.--

28         (2)  The board, or the department if there is no board,

29  shall adopt rules designating violations for which a citation

30  may be issued. Such rules shall designate as citation

31  violations those violations for which there is no substantial

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  1  threat to the public health, safety, and welfare. Violations

  2  for which a citation may be issued shall include violations of

  3  continuing education requirements; failure to timely pay

  4  required fees and fines; failure to comply with the

  5  requirements of ss. 381.026 and 381.0261 regarding the

  6  dissemination of information regarding patient rights; failure

  7  to comply with advertising requirements; failure to timely

  8  update practitioner profile and credentialing files; failure

  9  to display signs, licenses, and permits; failure to have

10  required reference books available; and all other violations

11  that do not pose a direct and serious threat to the health and

12  safety of the patient.

13         Section 10.  Subsection (3) of section 458.309, Florida

14  Statutes, is amended to read:

15         458.309  Authority to make rules.--

16         (3)  All physicians who perform level 2 procedures

17  lasting more than 5 minutes and all level 3 surgical

18  procedures in an office setting must register the office with

19  the department unless that office is licensed as a facility

20  pursuant to chapter 395. Each office that is required under

21  this subsection to be registered must be The department shall

22  inspect the physician's office annually unless the office is

23  accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency

24  approved by the Board of Medicine by rule or an accrediting

25  organization subsequently approved by the Board of Medicine by

26  rule.  Each office registered but not accredited as required

27  by this subsection must achieve full and unconditional

28  accreditation no later than July 1, 2003, and must maintain

29  unconditional accreditation as long as procedures described in

30  this subsection which require the office to be registered and

31  accredited are performed.  Accreditation reports shall be

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  1  submitted to the department. The actual costs for registration

  2  and inspection or accreditation shall be paid by the person

  3  seeking to register and operate the office setting in which

  4  office surgery is performed.  The board may adopt rules

  5  pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this

  6  subsection.

  7         Section 11.  Subsection (2) of section 459.005, Florida

  8  Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         459.005  Rulemaking authority.--

10         (2)  All osteopathic physicians who perform level 2

11  procedures lasting more than 5 minutes and all level 3

12  surgical procedures in an office setting must register the

13  office with the department unless that office is licensed as a

14  facility pursuant to chapter 395.  Each office that is

15  required under this subsection to be registered must be The

16  department shall inspect the physician's office annually

17  unless the office is accredited by a nationally recognized

18  accrediting agency approved by the Board of Medicine or the

19  Board of Osteopathic Medicine by rule or an accrediting

20  organization subsequently approved by the Board of Medicine or

21  the Board of Osteopathic Medicine by rule.  Each office

22  registered but not accredited as required by this subsection

23  must achieve full and unconditional accreditation no later

24  than July 1, 2003, and must maintain unconditional

25  accreditation as long as procedures described in this

26  subsection which require the office to be registered and

27  accredited are performed. Accreditation reports shall be

28  submitted to the department. The actual costs for registration

29  and inspection or accreditation shall be paid by the person

30  seeking to register and operate the office setting in which

31  office surgery is performed.  The Board of Osteopathic

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  1  Medicine may adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54

  2  to implement this subsection.

  3         Section 12.  Subsections (11) and (12) are added to

  4  section 456.004, Florida Statutes, to read:

  5         456.004  Department; powers and duties.--The

  6  department, for the professions under its jurisdiction, shall:

  7         (11)  Require objective performance measures for all

  8  bureaus, units, boards, contracted entities, and board

  9  executive directors which reflect the expected quality and

10  quantity of services.

11         (12)  Consider all board requests to use private

12  vendors for particular regulatory functions.  In considering a

13  board request, the department shall conduct an analysis to

14  determine if the function could be appropriately and

15  successfully performed by a private entity at a lower cost or

16  with improved efficiency. If after reviewing the department's

17  analysis the board desires to contract with a vendor for a

18  particular regulatory function and the board has a positive

19  cash balance, the department shall enter into a contract for

20  the service. The contract shall include objective performance

21  measures that reflect the expected quality and quantity of the

22  service and shall include a provision that terminates the

23  contract if the service falls below expected levels.  For

24  purposes of this subsection, a "regulatory function" shall be

25  defined to include licensure, licensure renewal, examination,

26  complaint analysis, investigation, or prosecution.

27         Section 13.  Subsection (1) of section 456.009, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         456.009  Legal and investigative services.--

30         (1)  The department shall provide board counsel for

31  boards within the department by contracting with the

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  1  Department of Legal Affairs, by retaining private counsel

  2  pursuant to s. 287.059, or by providing department staff

  3  counsel. The primary responsibility of board counsel shall be

  4  to represent the interests of the citizens of the state. A

  5  board shall provide for the periodic review and evaluation of

  6  the services provided by its board counsel. Fees and costs of

  7  such counsel shall be paid from a trust fund used by the

  8  department to implement this chapter, subject to the

  9  provisions of s. 456.025. All contracts for independent

10  counsel shall provide for periodic review and evaluation by

11  the board and the department of services provided. All legal

12  and investigative services shall be reviewed by the department

13  annually to determine if such services are meeting the

14  performance measures specified in law and in the contract. All

15  contracts for legal and investigative services must include

16  objective performance measures that reflect the expected

17  quality and quantity of the contracted services.

18         Section 14.  Subsection (6) is added to section

19  456.011, Florida Statutes, to read:

20         456.011  Boards; organization; meetings; compensation

21  and travel expenses.--

22         (6)  Meetings of board committees, including probable

23  cause panels, shall be conducted electronically unless held

24  concurrently with, or on the day immediately before or after,

25  a regularly scheduled in-person board meeting.  However, if a

26  particular committee meeting is expected to last more than 5

27  hours and cannot be held before or after the in-person board

28  meeting, the chair of the committee may request special

29  permission from the director of the Division of Medical

30  Quality Assurance to hold an in-person committee meeting in

31  Tallahassee.

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  1         Section 15.  Subsection (11) is added to section

  2  456.026, Florida Statutes, to read:

  3         456.026  Annual report concerning finances,

  4  administrative complaints, disciplinary actions, and

  5  recommendations.--The department is directed to prepare and

  6  submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker

  7  of the House of Representatives by November 1 of each year. In

  8  addition to finances and any other information the Legislature

  9  may require, the report shall include statistics and relevant

10  information, profession by profession, detailing:

11         (11)  The performance measures for all bureaus, units,

12  boards, and contracted entities required by the department to

13  reflect the expected quality and quantity of services, and a

14  description of any effort to improve the performance of such

15  services.

16         Section 16.  Section 458.3093, Florida Statutes, is

17  created to read:

18         458.3093  Licensure credentials verification.--All

19  applicants for initial physician licensure pursuant to this

20  chapter must submit their credentials to the Federation of

21  State Medical Boards.  Effective January 1, 2003, the board

22  and the department shall only consider applications for

23  initial physician licensure pursuant to this chapter which

24  have been verified by the Federation of State Medical Boards

25  Credentials Verification Service or an equivalent program

26  approved by the board.

27         Section 17.  Section 459.0053, Florida Statutes, is

28  created to read:

29         459.0053  Licensure credentials verification.--All

30  applicants for initial osteopathic physician licensure

31  pursuant to this chapter must submit their credentials to the

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  1  Federation of State Medical Boards.  Effective January 1,

  2  2003, the board and the department shall only consider

  3  applications for initial osteopathic physician licensure

  4  pursuant to this chapter which have been verified by the

  5  Federation of State Medical Boards Credentials Verification

  6  Service, the American Osteopathic Association, or an

  7  equivalent program approved by the board.

  8         Section 18.  Paragraph (t) of subsection (1) and

  9  subsection (6) of section 458.331, Florida Statutes, are

10  amended to read:

11         458.331  Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the

12  board and department.--

13         (1)  The following acts constitute grounds for denial

14  of a license or disciplinary action, as specified in s.

15  456.072(2):

16         (t)  Gross or repeated malpractice or the failure to

17  practice medicine with that level of care, skill, and

18  treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar

19  physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and

20  circumstances.  The board shall give great weight to the

21  provisions of s. 766.102 when enforcing this paragraph.  As

22  used in this paragraph, "repeated malpractice" includes, but

23  is not limited to, three or more claims for medical

24  malpractice within the previous 5-year period resulting in

25  indemnities being paid in excess of $50,000 $25,000 each to

26  the claimant in a judgment or settlement and which incidents

27  involved negligent conduct by the physician. As used in this

28  paragraph, "gross malpractice" or "the failure to practice

29  medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment which

30  is recognized by a reasonably prudent similar physician as

31  being acceptable under similar conditions and circumstances,"

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  1  shall not be construed so as to require more than one

  2  instance, event, or act.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be

  3  construed to require that a physician be incompetent to

  4  practice medicine in order to be disciplined pursuant to this

  5  paragraph.

  6         (6)  Upon the department's receipt from an insurer or

  7  self-insurer of a report of a closed claim against a physician

  8  pursuant to s. 627.912 or from a health care practitioner of a

  9  report pursuant to s. 456.049, or upon the receipt from a

10  claimant of a presuit notice against a physician pursuant to

11  s. 766.106, the department shall review each report and

12  determine whether it potentially involved conduct by a

13  licensee that is subject to disciplinary action, in which case

14  the provisions of s. 456.073 shall apply. However, if it is

15  reported that a physician has had three or more claims with

16  indemnities exceeding $50,000 $25,000 each within the previous

17  5-year period, the department shall investigate the

18  occurrences upon which the claims were based and determine

19  whether if action by the department against the physician is

20  warranted.

21         Section 19.  Paragraph (x) of subsection (1) and

22  subsection (6) of section 459.015, Florida Statutes, are

23  amended to read:

24         459.015  Grounds for disciplinary action; action by the

25  board and department.--

26         (1)  The following acts constitute grounds for denial

27  of a license or disciplinary action, as specified in s.

28  456.072(2):

29         (x)  Gross or repeated malpractice or the failure to

30  practice osteopathic medicine with that level of care, skill,

31  and treatment which is recognized by a reasonably prudent

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  1  similar osteopathic physician as being acceptable under

  2  similar conditions and circumstances. The board shall give

  3  great weight to the provisions of s. 766.102 when enforcing

  4  this paragraph. As used in this paragraph, "repeated

  5  malpractice" includes, but is not limited to, three or more

  6  claims for medical malpractice within the previous 5-year

  7  period resulting in indemnities being paid in excess of

  8  $50,000 $25,000 each to the claimant in a judgment or

  9  settlement and which incidents involved negligent conduct by

10  the osteopathic physician. As used in this paragraph, "gross

11  malpractice" or "the failure to practice osteopathic medicine

12  with that level of care, skill, and treatment which is

13  recognized by a reasonably prudent similar osteopathic

14  physician as being acceptable under similar conditions and

15  circumstances" shall not be construed so as to require more

16  than one instance, event, or act. Nothing in this paragraph

17  shall be construed to require that an osteopathic physician be

18  incompetent to practice osteopathic medicine in order to be

19  disciplined pursuant to this paragraph.  A recommended order

20  by an administrative law judge or a final order of the board

21  finding a violation under this paragraph shall specify whether

22  the licensee was found to have committed "gross malpractice,"

23  "repeated malpractice," or "failure to practice osteopathic

24  medicine with that level of care, skill, and treatment which

25  is recognized as being acceptable under similar conditions and

26  circumstances," or any combination thereof, and any

27  publication by the board shall so specify.

28         (6)  Upon the department's receipt from an insurer or

29  self-insurer of a report of a closed claim against an

30  osteopathic physician pursuant to s. 627.912 or from a health

31  care practitioner of a report pursuant to s. 456.049, or upon

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  1  the receipt from a claimant of a presuit notice against an

  2  osteopathic physician pursuant to s. 766.106, the department

  3  shall review each report and determine whether it potentially

  4  involved conduct by a licensee that is subject to disciplinary

  5  action, in which case the provisions of s. 456.073 shall

  6  apply.  However, if it is reported that an osteopathic

  7  physician has had three or more claims with indemnities

  8  exceeding $50,000 $25,000 each within the previous 5-year

  9  period, the department shall investigate the occurrences upon

10  which the claims were based and determine whether if action by

11  the department against the osteopathic physician is warranted.

12         Section 20.  Subsection (1) of section 627.912, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         627.912  Professional liability claims and actions;

15  reports by insurers.--

16         (1)  Each self-insurer authorized under s. 627.357 and

17  each insurer or joint underwriting association providing

18  professional liability insurance to a practitioner of medicine

19  licensed under chapter 458, to a practitioner of osteopathic

20  medicine licensed under chapter 459, to a podiatric physician

21  licensed under chapter 461, to a dentist licensed under

22  chapter 466, to a hospital licensed under chapter 395, to a

23  crisis stabilization unit licensed under part IV of chapter

24  394, to a health maintenance organization certificated under

25  part I of chapter 641, to clinics included in chapter 390, to

26  an ambulatory surgical center as defined in s. 395.002, or to

27  a member of The Florida Bar shall report in duplicate to the

28  Department of Insurance any claim or action for damages for

29  personal injuries claimed to have been caused by error,

30  omission, or negligence in the performance of such insured's

31  professional services or based on a claimed performance of

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  1  professional services without consent, if the claim resulted

  2  in:

  3         (a)  A final judgment in any amount.

  4         (b)  A settlement in any amount.

  5

  6  Reports shall be filed with the Department of Insurance. and,

  7  If the insured party is licensed under chapter 458, chapter

  8  459, or chapter 461, or chapter 466, with the Department of

  9  Health, and the final judgment or settlement was in an amount

10  exceeding $50,000, the report shall also be filed with the

11  Department of Health. If the insured is licensed under chapter

12  466 and the final judgment or settlement was in an amount

13  exceeding $25,000, the report shall also be filed with the

14  Department of Health. Reports must be filed no later than 30

15  days following the occurrence of any event listed in this

16  subsection paragraph (a) or paragraph (b). The Department of

17  Health shall review each report and determine whether any of

18  the incidents that resulted in the claim potentially involved

19  conduct by the licensee that is subject to disciplinary

20  action, in which case the provisions of s. 456.073 shall

21  apply. The Department of Health, as part of the annual report

22  required by s. 456.026, shall publish annual statistics,

23  without identifying licensees, on the reports it receives,

24  including final action taken on such reports by the Department

25  of Health or the appropriate regulatory board.

26         Section 21.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

27  Governmental Accountability shall review the investigative

28  field office structure and organization of the Agency for

29  Health Care Administration to determine the feasibility of

30  eliminating all or some field offices, the feasibility of

31  combining field offices, and the feasibility of requiring

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  1  field inspectors and investigators to telecommute from home in

  2  lieu of paying for office space. The review shall include all

  3  agency programs that have field offices including health

  4  practitioner regulation, even if health practitioner

  5  regulation is transferred to the Department of Health. The

  6  review shall be completed and a report issued to the President

  7  of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives

  8  no later than January 1, 2003.

  9         Section 22.  Subsection (1) of section 456.025, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         456.025  Fees; receipts; disposition.--

12         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that all costs

13  of regulating health care professions and practitioners shall

14  be borne solely by licensees and licensure applicants. It is

15  also the intent of the Legislature that fees should be

16  reasonable and not serve as a barrier to licensure. Moreover,

17  it is the intent of the Legislature that the department

18  operate as efficiently as possible and regularly report to the

19  Legislature additional methods to streamline operational

20  costs. Therefore, the boards in consultation with the

21  department, or the department if there is no board, shall, by

22  rule, set renewal fees which:

23         (a)  Shall be based on revenue projections prepared

24  using generally accepted accounting procedures;

25         (b)  Shall be adequate to cover all expenses relating

26  to that board identified in the department's long-range policy

27  plan, as required by s. 456.005;

28         (c)  Shall be reasonable, fair, and not serve as a

29  barrier to licensure;

30         (d)  Shall be based on potential earnings from working

31  under the scope of the license;

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  1         (e)  Shall be similar to fees imposed on similar

  2  licensure types; and

  3         (f)  Shall not be more than 10 percent greater than the

  4  fee imposed for the previous biennium;

  5         (g)  Shall not be more than 10 percent greater than the

  6  actual cost to regulate that profession for the previous

  7  biennium; and

  8         (f)(h)  Shall be subject to challenge pursuant to

  9  chapter 120.

10         Section 23.  Section 456.0165, Florida Statutes, is

11  created to read:

12         456.0165  Examination location.--A college, university,

13  or vocational school in this state may serve as the host

14  school for a health care practitioner licensure examination.

15  However, the college, university, or vocational school may not

16  charge the department for rent, space, reusable equipment,

17  utilities, or janitorial services.  The college, university,

18  or vocational school may charge the department only the actual

19  cost of nonreusable supplies provided by the school at the

20  request of the department.

21         Section 24.  Subsection (6) of section 468.302, Florida

22  Statutes, is amended to read:

23         468.302  Use of radiation; identification of certified

24  persons; limitations; exceptions.--

25         (6)  Requirement for certification does not apply to:

26         (a)  A hospital resident who is not a licensed

27  practitioner in this state or a student enrolled in and

28  attending a school or college of medicine, osteopathic

29  medicine, chiropody, podiatric medicine, or chiropractic

30  medicine or a radiologic technology educational program and

31

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  1  who applies radiation to a human being while under the direct

  2  supervision of a licensed practitioner.

  3         (b)  A person who is engaged in performing the duties

  4  of a radiologic technologist in his or her employment by a

  5  governmental agency of the United States.

  6         (c)  A person who is trained and skilled in invasive

  7  cardiovascular cardiopulmonary technology, including the

  8  radiologic technology duties associated with such procedures,

  9  and who provides invasive cardiovascular cardiopulmonary

10  technology services at the direction, and under the direct

11  supervision, of a licensed practitioner who is trained and

12  skilled in performing invasive cardiovascular procedures. Such

13  persons must have successfully completed a didactic and

14  clinical training program in the following areas before

15  performing radiologic technology duties:

16         1.  Principles of X-ray production and equipment

17  operation.

18         2.  Biological effects of radiation.

19         3.  Radiation exposure and monitoring.

20         4.  Radiation safety and protection.

21         5.  Evaluation of radiographic equipment and

22  accessories.

23         6.  Radiographic exposure and technique factors.

24         7.  Film processing.

25         8.  Image quality assurance.

26         9.  Patient positioning.

27         10.  Administration and complications of contrast

28  media.

29         11.  Specific fluoroscopic and digital X-ray imaging

30  procedures related to invasive cardiovascular technology.

31

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  1         Section 25.  Section 468.352, Florida Statutes, is

  2  amended to read:

  3         (Substantial rewording of section. See

  4         s. 468.352, F.S., for present text.)

  5         468.352  Definitions.--As used in this part the term:

  6         (1)  "Board" means the Board of Respiratory Care.

  7         (2)  "Certified respiratory therapist" means any person

  8  licensed pursuant to this part who is certified by the

  9  National Board for Respiratory Care or its successor; who is

10  employed to deliver respiratory care services, under the order

11  of a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter

12  459, in accordance with protocols established by a hospital or

13  other health care provider or the board; and who functions in

14  situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring

15  individual judgment.

16         (3)  "Critical care" means care given to a patient in

17  any setting involving a life-threatening emergency.

18         (4)  "Department" means the Department of Health.

19         (5)  "Direct supervision" means practicing under the

20  direction of a licensed, registered, or certified respiratory

21  therapist who is physically on the premises and readily

22  available, as defined by the board.

23         (6)  "Physician supervision" means supervision and

24  control by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter

25  459 who assumes the legal liability for the services rendered

26  by the personnel employed in his or her office. Except in the

27  case of an emergency, physician supervision requires the easy

28  availability of the physician within the office or the

29  physical presence of the physician for consultation and

30  direction of the actions of the persons who deliver

31  respiratory care services.

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  1         (7)  "Practice of respiratory care" or "respiratory

  2  therapy" means the allied health specialty associated with the

  3  cardiopulmonary system that is practiced under the orders of a

  4  physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 and in

  5  accordance with protocols, policies, and procedures

  6  established by a hospital or other health care provider or the

  7  board, including the assessment, diagnostic evaluation,

  8  treatment, management, control, rehabilitation, education, and

  9  care of patients.

10         (8)  "Registered respiratory therapist" means any

11  person licensed under this part who is registered by the

12  National Board for Respiratory Care or its successor, and who

13  is employed to deliver respiratory care services under the

14  order of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter

15  459, in accordance with protocols established by a hospital or

16  other health care provider or the board, and who functions in

17  situations of unsupervised patient contact requiring

18  individual judgment.

19         (9)  "Respiratory care practitioner" means any person

20  licensed under this part who is employed to deliver

21  respiratory care services, under direct supervision, pursuant

22  to the order of a physician licensed under chapter 458 or

23  chapter 459.

24         (10)  "Respiratory care services" includes:

25         (a)  Evaluation and disease management.

26         (b)  Diagnostic and therapeutic use of respiratory

27  equipment, devices, or medical gas.

28         (c)  Administration of drugs, as duly ordered or

29  prescribed by a physician licensed under chapter 458 or

30  chapter 459 and in accordance with protocols, policies, and

31

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  1  procedures established by a hospital or other health care

  2  provider or the board.

  3         (d)  Initiation, management, and maintenance of

  4  equipment to assist and support ventilation and respiration.

  5         (e)  Diagnostic procedures, research, and therapeutic

  6  treatment and procedures, including measurement of ventilatory

  7  volumes, pressures, and flows; specimen collection and

  8  analysis of blood for gas transport and acid/base

  9  determinations; pulmonary-function testing; and other related

10  physiological monitoring of cardiopulmonary systems.

11         (f)  Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation.

12         (g)  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced cardiac

13  life support, neonatal resuscitation, and pediatric advanced

14  life support, or equivalent functions.

15         (h)  Insertion and maintenance of artificial airways

16  and intravascular catheters.

17         (i)  Performing sleep-disorder studies.

18         (j)  Education of patients, families, the public, or

19  other health care providers, including disease process and

20  management programs and smoking prevention and cessation

21  programs.

22         (k)  Initiation and management of hyperbaric oxygen.

23         Section 26.  Section 468.355, Florida Statutes, is

24  amended to read:

25         (Substantial rewording of section. See

26         s. 468.355, F.S., for present text.)

27         468.355  Licensure requirements.--To be eligible for

28  licensure by the board, an applicant must be certified as a

29  "Certified Respiratory Therapist" or be registered as a

30  "Registered Respiratory Therapist" by the National Board for

31  Respiratory Care, or its successor.

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  1         Section 27.  Section 468.368, Florida Statutes, is

  2  amended to read:

  3         (Substantial rewording of section. See

  4         s. 468.368, F.S., for present text.)

  5         468.368  Exemptions.--This part may not be construed to

  6  prevent or restrict the practice, service, or activities of:

  7         (1)  Any person licensed in this state by any other law

  8  from engaging in the profession or occupation for which he or

  9  she is licensed.

10         (2)  Any legally qualified person in the state or

11  another state or territory who is employed by the United

12  States Government or any agency thereof while such person is

13  discharging his or her official duties.

14         (3)  A friend or family member who is providing

15  respiratory care services to an ill person and who does not

16  represent himself or herself to be a respiratory care

17  practitioner or respiratory therapist.

18         (4)  An individual providing respiratory care services

19  in an emergency who does not represent himself or herself as a

20  respiratory care practitioner or respiratory therapist.

21         (5)  Any individual employed to deliver, assemble, set

22  up, or test equipment for use in a home, upon the order of a

23  physician licensed pursuant to chapter 458 or chapter 459.

24  This subsection does not, however, authorize the practice of

25  respiratory care without a license.

26         (6)  Any individual credentialed by the Board of

27  Registered Polysomnographic Technologists as a registered

28  polysomnographic technologist, as related to the diagnosis and

29  evaluation of treatment for sleep disorders.

30         (7)  Any individual certified or registered as a

31  pulmonary function technologist who is credentialed by the

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  1  National Board for Respiratory Care for performing

  2  cardiopulmonary diagnostic studies.

  3         (8)  Any student who is enrolled in an accredited

  4  respiratory care program approved by the board, while

  5  performing respiratory care as an integral part of a required

  6  course.

  7         (9)  The delivery of incidental respiratory care to

  8  noninstitutionalized persons by surrogate family members who

  9  do not represent themselves as registered or certified

10  respiratory care therapists.

11         (10)  Any individual credentialed by the Underseas

12  Hyperbaric Society in hyperbaric medicine or its equivalent as

13  determined by the board, while performing related duties. This

14  subsection does not, however, authorize the practice of

15  respiratory care without a license.

16         Section 28.  Sections 468.356 and 468.357, Florida

17  Statutes, are repealed.

18         Section 29.  Sections 381.0602, 381.6021, 381.6022,

19  381.6023, 381.6024, and 381.6026, Florida Statutes, are

20  renumbered as sections 765.53, 765.541, 765.542, 765.544,

21  765.545, and 765.547, Florida Statutes, respectively.

22         Section 30.  Section 381.60225, Florida Statutes, is

23  renumbered as section 765.543, Florida Statutes, and is

24  amended to read:

25         765.543 381.60225  Background screening.--

26         (1)  Each applicant for certification must comply with

27  the following requirements:

28         (a)  Upon receipt of a completed, signed, and dated

29  application, the Agency for Health Care Administration shall

30  require background screening, in accordance with the level 2

31  standards for screening set forth in chapter 435, of the

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  1  managing employee, or other similarly titled individual

  2  responsible for the daily operation of the organization,

  3  agency, or entity, and financial officer, or other similarly

  4  titled individual who is responsible for the financial

  5  operation of the organization, agency, or entity, including

  6  billings for services.  The applicant must comply with the

  7  procedures for level 2 background screening as set forth in

  8  chapter 435, as well as the requirements of s. 435.03(3).

  9         (b)  The Agency for Health Care Administration may

10  require background screening of any other individual who is an

11  applicant if the Agency for Health Care Administration has

12  probable cause to believe that he or she has been convicted of

13  a crime or has committed any other offense prohibited under

14  the level 2 standards for screening set forth in chapter 435.

15         (c)  Proof of compliance with the level 2 background

16  screening requirements of chapter 435 which has been submitted

17  within the previous 5 years in compliance with any other

18  health care licensure requirements of this state is acceptable

19  in fulfillment of the requirements of paragraph (a).

20         (d)  A provisional certification may be granted to the

21  organization, agency, or entity when each individual required

22  by this section to undergo background screening has met the

23  standards for the Department of Law Enforcement background

24  check, but the agency has not yet received background

25  screening results from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or

26  a request for a disqualification exemption has been submitted

27  to the agency as set forth in chapter 435, but a response has

28  not yet been issued. A standard certification may be granted

29  to the organization, agency, or entity upon the agency's

30  receipt of a report of the results of the Federal Bureau of

31  Investigation background screening for each individual

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  1  required by this section to undergo background screening which

  2  confirms that all standards have been met, or upon the

  3  granting of a disqualification exemption by the agency as set

  4  forth in chapter 435. Any other person who is required to

  5  undergo level 2 background screening may serve in his or her

  6  capacity pending the agency's receipt of the report from the

  7  Federal Bureau of Investigation. However, the person may not

  8  continue to serve if the report indicates any violation of

  9  background screening standards and a disqualification

10  exemption has not been requested of and granted by the agency

11  as set forth in chapter 435.

12         (e)  Each applicant must submit to the agency, with its

13  application, a description and explanation of any exclusions,

14  permanent suspensions, or terminations of the applicant from

15  the Medicare or Medicaid programs. Proof of compliance with

16  the requirements for disclosure of ownership and control

17  interests under the Medicaid or Medicare programs shall be

18  accepted in lieu of this submission.

19         (f)  Each applicant must submit to the agency a

20  description and explanation of any conviction of an offense

21  prohibited under the level 2 standards of chapter 435 by a

22  member of the board of directors of the applicant, its

23  officers, or any individual owning 5 percent or more of the

24  applicant. This requirement does not apply to a director of a

25  not-for-profit corporation or organization if the director

26  serves solely in a voluntary capacity for the corporation or

27  organization, does not regularly take part in the day-to-day

28  operational decisions of the corporation or organization,

29  receives no remuneration for his or her services on the

30  corporation or organization's board of directors, and has no

31  financial interest and has no family members with a financial

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  1  interest in the corporation or organization, provided that the

  2  director and the not-for-profit corporation or organization

  3  include in the application a statement affirming that the

  4  director's relationship to the corporation satisfies the

  5  requirements of this paragraph.

  6         (g)  The agency may not certify any organization,

  7  agency, or entity if any applicant or managing employee has

  8  been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or has

  9  entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, any offense

10  prohibited under the level 2 standards for screening set forth

11  in chapter 435, unless an exemption from disqualification has

12  been granted by the agency as set forth in chapter 435.

13         (h)  The agency may deny or revoke certification of any

14  organization, agency, or entity if the applicant:

15         1.  Has falsely represented a material fact in the

16  application required by paragraph (e) or paragraph (f), or has

17  omitted any material fact from the application required by

18  paragraph (e) or paragraph (f); or

19         2.  Has had prior action taken against the applicant

20  under the Medicaid or Medicare program as set forth in

21  paragraph (e).

22         (i)  An application for renewal of certification must

23  contain the information required under paragraphs (e) and (f).

24         (2)  An organ procurement organization, tissue bank, or

25  eye bank certified by the Agency for Health Care

26  Administration in accordance with ss. 381.6021 and 765.542

27  381.6022 is not subject to the requirements of this section if

28  the entity has no direct patient care responsibilities and

29  does not bill patients or insurers directly for services under

30  the Medicare or Medicaid programs, or for privately insured

31  services.

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  1         Section 31.  Section 381.6025, Florida Statutes, is

  2  renumbered as section 765.546, Florida Statutes, and amended

  3  to read:

  4         765.546 381.6025  Physician supervision of cadaveric

  5  organ and tissue procurement coordinators.--Organ procurement

  6  organizations, tissue banks, and eye banks may employ

  7  coordinators, who are registered nurses, physician's

  8  assistants, or other medically trained personnel who meet the

  9  relevant standards for organ procurement organizations, tissue

10  banks, or eye banks as adopted by the Agency for Health Care

11  Administration under s. 765.541 381.6021, to assist in the

12  medical management of organ donors or in the surgical

13  procurement of cadaveric organs, tissues, or eyes for

14  transplantation or research. A coordinator who assists in the

15  medical management of organ donors or in the surgical

16  procurement of cadaveric organs, tissues, or eyes for

17  transplantation or research must do so under the direction and

18  supervision of a licensed physician medical director pursuant

19  to rules and guidelines to be adopted by the Agency for Health

20  Care Administration. With the exception of organ procurement

21  surgery, this supervision may be indirect supervision. For

22  purposes of this section, the term "indirect supervision"

23  means that the medical director is responsible for the medical

24  actions of the coordinator, that the coordinator is operating

25  under protocols expressly approved by the medical director,

26  and that the medical director or his or her physician designee

27  is always available, in person or by telephone, to provide

28  medical direction, consultation, and advice in cases of organ,

29  tissue, and eye donation and procurement. Although indirect

30  supervision is authorized under this section, direct physician

31  supervision is to be encouraged when appropriate.

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  1         Section 32.  Subsection (2) of section 395.2050,

  2  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         395.2050  Routine inquiry for organ and tissue

  4  donation; certification for procurement activities.--

  5         (2)  Every hospital licensed under this chapter that is

  6  engaged in the procurement of organs, tissues, or eyes shall

  7  comply with the certification requirements of ss.

  8  765.541-765.547 381.6021-381.6026.

  9         Section 33.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section

10  409.815, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         409.815  Health benefits coverage; limitations.--

12         (2)  BENCHMARK BENEFITS.--In order for health benefits

13  coverage to qualify for premium assistance payments for an

14  eligible child under ss. 409.810-409.820, the health benefits

15  coverage, except for coverage under Medicaid and Medikids,

16  must include the following minimum benefits, as medically

17  necessary.

18         (e)  Organ transplantation services.--Covered services

19  include pretransplant, transplant, and postdischarge services

20  and treatment of complications after transplantation for

21  transplants deemed necessary and appropriate within the

22  guidelines set by the Organ Transplant Advisory Council under

23  s. 765.53 381.0602 or the Bone Marrow Transplant Advisory

24  Panel under s. 627.4236.

25         Section 34.  Subsection (2) of section 765.5216,

26  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

27         765.5216  Organ and tissue donor education panel.--

28         (2)  There is created within the Agency for Health Care

29  Administration a statewide organ and tissue donor education

30  panel, consisting of 12 members, to represent the interests of

31  the public with regard to increasing the number of organ and

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  1  tissue donors within the state.  The panel and the Organ and

  2  Tissue Procurement and Transplantation Advisory Board

  3  established in s. 765.544 381.6023 shall jointly develop,

  4  subject to the approval of the Agency for Health Care

  5  Administration, education initiatives pursuant to s. 732.9215,

  6  which the agency shall implement.  The membership must be

  7  balanced with respect to gender, ethnicity, and other

  8  demographic characteristics so that the appointees reflect the

  9  diversity of the population of this state.  The panel members

10  must include:

11         (a)  A representative from the Agency for Health Care

12  Administration, who shall serve as chairperson of the panel.

13         (b)  A representative from a Florida licensed organ

14  procurement organization.

15         (c)  A representative from a Florida licensed tissue

16  bank.

17         (d)  A representative from a Florida licensed eye bank.

18         (e)  A representative from a Florida licensed hospital.

19         (f)  A representative from the Division of Driver

20  Licenses of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor

21  Vehicles, who possesses experience and knowledge in dealing

22  with the public.

23         (g)  A representative from the family of an organ,

24  tissue, or eye donor.

25         (h)  A representative who has been the recipient of a

26  transplanted organ, tissue, or eye, or is a family member of a

27  recipient.

28         (i)  A representative who is a minority person as

29  defined in s. 381.81.

30         (j)  A representative from a professional association

31  or public relations or advertising organization.

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  1         (k)  A representative from a community service club or

  2  organization.

  3         (l)  A representative from the Department of Education.

  4         Section 35.  Subsection (5) of section 765.522, Florida

  5  Statutes, is amended to read:

  6         765.522  Duty of certain hospital administrators;

  7  liability of hospital administrators, organ procurement

  8  organizations, eye banks, and tissue banks.--

  9         (5)  There shall be no civil or criminal liability

10  against any organ procurement organization, eye bank, or

11  tissue bank certified under s. 765.542 381.6022, or against

12  any hospital or hospital administrator or designee, when

13  complying with the provisions of this part and the rules of

14  the Agency for Health Care Administration or when, in the

15  exercise of reasonable care, a request for organ donation is

16  inappropriate and the gift is not made according to this part

17  and the rules of the Agency for Health Care Administration.

18         Section 36.  Present subsections (11) through (33) of

19  section 395.002, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as

20  subsections (12) through (34), respectively, and a new

21  subsection (11) is added to that section, to read:

22         395.002  Definitions.--As used in this chapter:

23         (11)  "Medically unnecessary procedure" means a

24  surgical or other invasive procedure that no reasonable

25  physician, in light of the patient's history and available

26  diagnostic information, would deem to be indicated in order to

27  treat, cure, or palliate the patient's condition or disease.

28         Section 37.  Subsection (5) is added to section

29  395.0161, Florida Statutes, to read:

30         395.0161  Licensure inspection.--

31

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  1         (5)(a)  The agency shall adopt rules governing the

  2  conduct of inspections or investigations it initiates in

  3  response to:

  4         1.  Reports filed pursuant to s. 395.0197.

  5         2.  Complaints alleging violations of state or federal

  6  emergency access laws.

  7         3.  Complaints made by the public alleging violations

  8  of law by licensed facilities or personnel.

  9         (b)  The rules must set forth the procedures to be used

10  in the investigations or inspections in order to protect the

11  due process rights of licensed facilities and personnel and to

12  minimize, to the greatest reasonable extent possible, the

13  disruption of facility operations and the cost to facilities

14  resulting from those investigations.

15         Section 38.  Subsections (2), (14), and (16) of section

16  395.0197, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

17         395.0197  Internal risk management program.--

18         (2)  The internal risk management program is the

19  responsibility of the governing board of the health care

20  facility. Each licensed facility shall use the services of

21  hire  a risk manager, licensed under s. 395.10974, who is

22  responsible for implementation and oversight of such

23  facility's internal risk management program as required by

24  this section. A risk manager must not be made responsible for

25  more than four internal risk management programs in separate

26  licensed facilities, unless the facilities are under one

27  corporate ownership or the risk management programs are in

28  rural hospitals.

29         (14)  The agency shall have access, as set forth in

30  rules adopted under s. 395.0161(5), to all licensed facility

31  records necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

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  1  The records obtained by the agency under subsection (6),

  2  subsection (8), or subsection (10) are not available to the

  3  public under s. 119.07(1), nor shall they be discoverable or

  4  admissible in any civil or administrative action, except in

  5  disciplinary proceedings by the agency or the appropriate

  6  regulatory board, nor shall records obtained pursuant to s.

  7  456.071 be available to the public as part of the record of

  8  investigation for and prosecution in disciplinary proceedings

  9  made available to the public by the agency or the appropriate

10  regulatory board. However, the agency or the appropriate

11  regulatory board shall make available, upon written request by

12  a health care professional against whom probable cause has

13  been found, any such records which form the basis of the

14  determination of probable cause, except that, with respect to

15  medical review committee records, s. 766.101 controls.

16         (16)  The agency shall review, as part of its licensure

17  inspection process, the internal risk management program at

18  each licensed facility regulated by this section to determine

19  whether the program meets standards established in statutes

20  and rules, whether the program is being conducted in a manner

21  designed to reduce adverse incidents, and whether the program

22  is appropriately reporting incidents under this section. Only

23  a risk manager, licensed under s. 395.10974 and employed by

24  the Agency for Health Care Administration has the authority to

25  conduct inspections necessary to determine whether a program

26  meets the requirements of this section. A determination must

27  be based on the care, skill, and judgment which, in light of

28  all relevant surrounding circumstances, is recognized as

29  acceptable and appropriate by reasonably prudent similar

30  licensed risk managers.

31

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  1         Section 39.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

  2  456.0375, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         456.0375  Registration of certain clinics;

  4  requirements; discipline; exemptions.--

  5         (1)

  6         (b)  For purposes of this section, the term "clinic"

  7  does not include and the registration requirements herein do

  8  not apply to:

  9         1.  Entities licensed or registered by the state

10  pursuant to chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter 395, chapter

11  397, chapter 400, chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter 466,

12  chapter 478, chapter 480, or chapter 484.

13         2.  Entities exempt from federal taxation under 26

14  U.S.C. s. 501(c)(3) and community college and university

15  clinics.

16         3.  Sole proprietorships, group practices,

17  partnerships, or corporations that provide health care

18  services by licensed health care practitioners pursuant to

19  chapters 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 466, 467, 484,

20  486, 490, 491, or part I, part III, part X, part XIII, or part

21  XIV of chapter 468, or s. 464.012, which are wholly owned by

22  licensed health care practitioners or the licensed health care

23  practitioner and the spouse, parent, or child of a licensed

24  health care practitioner, so long as one of the owners who is

25  a licensed health care practitioner is supervising the

26  services performed therein and is legally responsible for the

27  entity's compliance with all federal and state laws. However,

28  no health care practitioner may supervise the delivery of

29  health care services beyond the scope of the practitioner's

30  license. This section does not prohibit a health care

31

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  1  practitioner from providing administrative or managerial

  2  supervision for personnel purposes.

  3         Section 40.  Paragraphs (aa) and (bb) of subsection (1)

  4  of section 456.072, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  5         456.072  Grounds for discipline; penalties;

  6  enforcement.--

  7         (1)  The following acts shall constitute grounds for

  8  which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (2) may

  9  be taken:

10         (aa)  Performing or attempting to perform health care

11  services on the wrong patient, a wrong-site procedure, a wrong

12  procedure, or an unauthorized procedure or a procedure that is

13  medically unnecessary or otherwise unrelated to the patient's

14  diagnosis or medical condition. For the purposes of this

15  paragraph, performing or attempting to perform health care

16  services includes the preparation of the patient.

17         (bb)  Leaving a foreign body in a patient, such as a

18  sponge, clamp, forceps, surgical needle, or other

19  paraphernalia commonly used in surgical, examination, or other

20  diagnostic procedures, unless leaving the foreign body is

21  medically indicated and documented in the patient record. For

22  the purposes of this paragraph, it shall be legally presumed

23  that retention of a foreign body is not in the best interest

24  of the patient and is not within the standard of care of the

25  profession, unless medically indicated and documented in the

26  patient record regardless of the intent of the professional.

27         Section 41.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

28  465.019, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         465.019  Institutional pharmacies; permits.--

30         (2)  The following classes of institutional pharmacies

31  are established:

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  1         (b)  "Class II institutional pharmacies" are those

  2  institutional pharmacies which employ the services of a

  3  registered pharmacist or pharmacists who, in practicing

  4  institutional pharmacy, shall provide dispensing and

  5  consulting services on the premises to patients of that

  6  institution and to patients receiving care in a hospice

  7  licensed under part IV of chapter 400 which is located on the

  8  premises of that institution, for use on the premises of that

  9  institution. However, an institutional pharmacy located in an

10  area or county included in an emergency order or proclamation

11  of a state of emergency declared by the Governor may provide

12  dispensing and consulting services to individuals who are not

13  patients of the institution. However, a single dose of a

14  medicinal drug may be obtained and administered to a patient

15  on a valid physician's drug order under the supervision of a

16  physician or charge nurse, consistent with good institutional

17  practice procedures.  The obtaining and administering of such

18  single dose of a medicinal drug shall be pursuant to

19  drug-handling procedures established by a consultant

20  pharmacist.  Medicinal drugs may be dispensed in a Class II

21  institutional pharmacy, but only in accordance with the

22  provisions of this section.

23         Section 42.  Subsection (7) is added to section 631.57,

24  Florida Statutes, to read:

25         631.57  Powers and duties of the association.--

26         (7)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the

27  net direct written premiums of medical malpractice insurance

28  are not subject to assessment under this section to cover

29  claims and administrative costs for the type of insurance

30  defined in s. 624.604.

31

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  1         Section 43.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section

  2  766.101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         766.101  Medical review committee, immunity from

  4  liability.--

  5         (1)  As used in this section:

  6         (a)  The term "medical review committee" or "committee"

  7  means:

  8         1.a.  A committee of a hospital or ambulatory surgical

  9  center licensed under chapter 395 or a health maintenance

10  organization certificated under part I of chapter 641,

11         b.  A committee of a physician-hospital organization, a

12  provider-sponsored organization, or an integrated delivery

13  system,

14         c.  A committee of a state or local professional

15  society of health care providers,

16         d.  A committee of a medical staff of a licensed

17  hospital or nursing home, provided the medical staff operates

18  pursuant to written bylaws that have been approved by the

19  governing board of the hospital or nursing home,

20         e.  A committee of the Department of Corrections or the

21  Correctional Medical Authority as created under s. 945.602, or

22  employees, agents, or consultants of either the department or

23  the authority or both,

24         f.  A committee of a professional service corporation

25  formed under chapter 621 or a corporation organized under

26  chapter 607 or chapter 617, which is formed and operated for

27  the practice of medicine as defined in s. 458.305(3), and

28  which has at least 25 health care providers who routinely

29  provide health care services directly to patients,

30         g.  A committee of a mental health treatment facility

31  licensed under chapter 394 or a community mental health center

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  1  as defined in s. 394.907, provided the quality assurance

  2  program operates pursuant to the guidelines which have been

  3  approved by the governing board of the agency,

  4         h.  A committee of a substance abuse treatment and

  5  education prevention program licensed under chapter 397

  6  provided the quality assurance program operates pursuant to

  7  the guidelines which have been approved by the governing board

  8  of the agency,

  9         i.  A peer review or utilization review committee

10  organized under chapter 440,

11         j.  A committee of the Department of Health, a county

12  health department, healthy start coalition, or certified rural

13  health network, when reviewing quality of care, or employees

14  of these entities when reviewing mortality records, or

15         k.  A continuous quality improvement committee of a

16  pharmacy licensed pursuant to chapter 465,

17         l.  A committee established by a university board of

18  trustees, or

19         m.  A committee comprised of faculty, residents,

20  students, and administrators of an accredited college of

21  medicine, nursing, or other health care discipline,

22

23  which committee is formed to evaluate and improve the quality

24  of health care rendered by providers of health service or to

25  determine that health services rendered were professionally

26  indicated or were performed in compliance with the applicable

27  standard of care or that the cost of health care rendered was

28  considered reasonable by the providers of professional health

29  services in the area; or

30

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  1         2.  A committee of an insurer, self-insurer, or joint

  2  underwriting association of medical malpractice insurance, or

  3  other persons conducting review under s. 766.106.

  4         Section 44.  The Office of Legislative Services shall

  5  develop a business plan, with accompanying revenue and cost

  6  analysis, for the Board of Dentistry with regard to

  7  outsourcing of administrative, investigative, legal, and

  8  prosecutorial functions and other tasks and services that are

  9  necessary to carry out the regulatory responsibilities of the

10  board; employing its own executive director and other staff;

11  and obtaining authority over collections and expenditures of

12  funds paid by dentists and dental hygienists into the Medical

13  Quality Assurance Trust Fund. The sum of $50,000 is

14  appropriated to the Office of Legislative Services from the

15  Board of Dentistry account within the Medical Quality

16  Assurance Trust Fund for the purpose of developing this

17  business plan. The completed business plan shall be submitted

18  to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the

19  House of Representatives no later than January 1, 2003, for

20  review by the appropriate legislative committees.

21         Section 45.  Except as otherwise provided in this act,

22  this act shall take effect July 1, 2002.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                         Senate Bill 1950

  3

  4  The committee substitute no longer:

  5  -     revises the administrative procedures applicable to
          disciplinary complaints filed against licensed health
  6        care practitioners and requires the assessment of
          specified costs;
  7
    -     provides for specified costs to be assessed from
  8        participants in the impaired practitioner program;

  9  -     requires licensure and licensure renewal applicants for
          health professions regulated by the Department of Health
10        (DOH) to submit application forms electronically via the
          World Wide Web;
11
    -     requires the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
12        to follow a prescribed fee schedule for its assessment
          of costs to DOH;
13
    -     requires fees to be set for health care professions
14        regulated by DOH at the profession's statutory fee cap
          or at the actual per-licensee cost to regulate that
15        profession, whichever is less;

16  -     requires the Division of Statutory Revision of the
          Legislature, beginning with the 2004 Regular Session of
17        the Legislature, to prepare a reviser's bill for each
          regular legislative session that proposes to increase by
18        2.5 percent the statutory fee caps set forth in
          provisions for health care professions regulated by DOH;
19
    -     revises the definition of class I pharmacies for
20        dispensing to hospice patients; and

21  -     prohibits organizations from pooling human cells or
          tissue from two or more donors.
22
    The committee substitute:
23
    -     defines "medically unnecessary procedure" for purposes
24        of the regulation of hospitals, ambulatory surgical
          centers, and mobile surgical facilities and revises
25        requirements on internal risk management programs in
          such facilities;
26
    -     revises exemptions to registration requirements for
27        certain clinics;

28  -     revises grounds for which a health care practitioner may
          be disciplined for performing health care services on
29        the wrong patient and establishes an exception to
          discipline for leaving a foreign body in a patient;
30
    -     revises the definition of class II pharmacies for
31        dispensing to hospice patients;

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  1  -     exempts medical malpractice insurance premiums from an
          assessment from the Florida Insurance Guaranty
  2        Association, Inc;

  3  -     redefines "medical review committee" to add a committee
          established by a university board of trustees, and a
  4        committee comprised of faculty, residents, students and
          administrators of an accredited college of medicine,
  5        nursing, or other health care discipline; and

  6  -     requires the Office of Legislative Services to develop a
          business plan for the outsourcing of regulatory
  7        functions of the Board of Dentistry and appropriates
          funds to do so.
  8

  9

10

11

12

13

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15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

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