Senate Bill sb1062e3
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  1                      A bill to be entitled
  2         An act relating to health care facilities;
  3         creating s. 400.0712, F.S.; authorizing the
  4         Agency for Health Care Administration to issue
  5         inactive licenses to nursing homes for all or a
  6         portion of their beds under certain
  7         circumstances; providing requirements for
  8         application for and issuance of such licenses;
  9         providing rulemaking authority; amending s.
10         400.071, F.S.; deleting a provision relating to
11         issuance of inactive licenses, to conform;
12         amending s. 400.021, F.S.; redefining the term
13         "resident care plan," as used in part II of ch.
14         400, F.S.; amending s. 400.23, F.S.; providing
15         that certain information from the agency must
16         be promptly updated to reflect the most current
17         agency actions; amending s. 400.211, F.S.;
18         revising inservice training requirements for
19         persons employed as nursing assistants in a
20         nursing home facility; amending s. 400.235,
21         F.S.; providing for financial stability for
22         Gold Seal for certain nursing facilities;
23         amending s. 400.441, F.S.; requiring facilities
24         to conduct resident elopement prevention and
25         response drills; providing documentation
26         thereof; amending s. 400.619, F.S.; removing
27         the requirement that certain moneys deposited
28         into the Department of Elderly Affairs
29         Administrative Trust Fund be used to offset the
30         expenses of departmental training and education
31         for adult family-care home providers; amending
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 1         s. 408.034, F.S.; requiring the
 2         nursing-home-bed-need methodology established
 3         by the agency by rule to include a goal of
 4         maintaining a specified subdistrict average
 5         occupancy rate; amending s. 408.036, F.S.,
 6         relating to health-care-related projects
 7         subject to review for a certificate of need;
 8         subjecting certain projects relating to
 9         replacement of a nursing home and relocation of
10         nursing home beds to expedited review; revising
11         requirements for certain projects relating to
12         the addition of nursing home beds which are
13         exempt from review; exempting from review
14         certain projects relating to replacement of a
15         licensed nursing home bed on the same site or
16         nearby and consolidation or combination of
17         licensed nursing homes or transfer of beds
18         between licensed nursing homes within the same
19         planning subdistrict; providing rulemaking
20         authority; providing for assessment of
21         exemption-request fees; amending s. 430.701,
22         F.S.; authorizing the agency to seek federal
23         approval prior to seeking a certain waiver
24         relating to the long-term care diversion
25         provider network; amending s. 52, ch. 2001-45,
26         Laws of Florida; specifying nonapplication of a
27         moratorium on certificates of need and
28         authorizing approval of certain certificates of
29         need for certain counties; specifying
30         nonapplication of the moratorium for the
31         addition of nursing home beds in certain
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 1         counties; providing requirements and
 2         limitations; providing for repeal upon
 3         expiration of the moratorium; amending s.
 4         651.118, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
 5         use of sheltered nursing home beds at a
 6         continuing care facility by persons who are not
 7         residents of the continuing care facility;
 8         amending s. 400.9905, F.S.; revising and
 9         providing definitions; amending s. 400.991,
10         F.S.; revising health care clinic licensing
11         requirements; requiring separate licenses for
12         each mobile clinic; providing licensing
13         requirements for portable equipment providers;
14         providing for retroactive effect; amending s.
15         400.9935, F.S.; providing that a chief
16         financial officer may assume responsibility for
17         clinic billings under certain circumstances;
18         providing that an exemption is not
19         transferable; authorizing a fee for a
20         certificate of exemption; allowing the agency
21         to deny or revoke a license; amending s.
22         400.995, F.S.; allowing the agency to deny the
23         renewal of a license or to revoke or suspend a
24         license; prohibiting extension of a temporary
25         license under certain circumstances; requiring
26         the Agency for Health Care Administration to
27         refund certain application fees; providing
28         exceptions for certain late filed applications;
29         providing an effective date.
30  
31  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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 1         Section 1.  Section 400.0712, Florida Statutes, is
 2  created to read:
 3         400.0712  Application for inactive license.--
 4         (1)  As specified in this section, the agency may issue
 5  an inactive license to a nursing home facility for all or a
 6  portion of its beds. Any request by a licensee that a nursing
 7  home or portion of a nursing home become inactive must be
 8  submitted to the agency in the approved format. The facility
 9  may not initiate any suspension of services, notify residents,
10  or initiate facility closure before receiving approval from
11  the agency; and a facility that violates this provision shall
12  not be issued an inactive license. Upon agency approval of an
13  inactive license, the nursing home shall notify residents of
14  any necessary discharge or transfer as provided in s.
15  400.0255.
16         (2)  The agency may issue an inactive license to a
17  nursing home that chooses to use an unoccupied contiguous
18  portion of the facility for an alternative use to meet the
19  needs of elderly persons through the use of less restrictive,
20  less institutional services.
21         (a)  An inactive license issued under this subsection
22  may be granted for a period not to exceed 12 months but may be
23  renewed annually by the agency for 12 months.
24         (b)  A request to extend the inactive license must be
25  submitted to the agency in the approved format and approved by
26  the agency in writing.
27         (c)  Nursing homes that receive an inactive license to
28  provide alternative services shall not receive preference for
29  participation in the Assisted Living for the Elderly Medicaid
30  waiver.
31  
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 1         (3)  The agency may issue an inactive license to a
 2  nursing home that will be temporarily unable to provide
 3  services but is reasonably expected to resume services.
 4         (a)  An inactive license issued under this subsection
 5  may be issued for a period not to exceed 12 months and may be
 6  renewed by the agency for an additional 6 months upon
 7  demonstration of progress toward reopening.
 8         (b)  All licensure fees must be current and paid in
 9  full, and may be prorated as provided by agency rule, before
10  the inactive license is issued.
11         (c)  Reactivation of an inactive license requires that
12  the applicant pay all licensure fees and be inspected by the
13  agency to confirm that all of the requirements of this part
14  and applicable rules are met.
15         (4)  The agency shall adopt rules pursuant to ss.
16  120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to implement this section.
17         Section 2.  Subsections (10), (11), and (12) of section
18  400.071, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
19         400.071  Application for license.--
20         (10)  The agency may issue an inactive license to a
21  nursing home that will be temporarily unable to provide
22  services but that is reasonably expected to resume services.
23  Such designation may be made for a period not to exceed 12
24  months but may be renewed by the agency for up to 6 additional
25  months. Any request by a licensee that a nursing home become
26  inactive must be submitted to the agency and approved by the
27  agency prior to initiating any suspension of service or
28  notifying residents. Upon agency approval, the nursing home
29  shall notify residents of any necessary discharge or transfer
30  as provided in s. 400.0255.
31  
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 1         (10)(11)  As a condition of licensure, each facility
 2  must establish and submit with its application a plan for
 3  quality assurance and for conducting risk management.
 4         (11)(12)  The applicant must provide the agency with
 5  proof of a legal right to occupy the property before a license
 6  may be issued. Proof may include, but is not limited to,
 7  copies of warranty deeds, lease or rental agreements,
 8  contracts for deeds, or quitclaim deeds.
 9         Section 3.  Subsection (17) of section 400.021, Florida
10  Statutes, is amended to read:
11         400.021  Definitions.--When used in this part, unless
12  the context otherwise requires, the term:
13         (17)  "Resident care plan" means a written plan
14  developed, maintained, and reviewed not less than quarterly by
15  a registered nurse, with participation from other facility
16  staff and the resident or his or her designee or legal
17  representative, which includes a comprehensive assessment of
18  the needs of an individual resident; the type and frequency of
19  services required to provide the necessary care for the
20  resident to attain or maintain the highest practicable
21  physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being; a listing of
22  services provided within or outside the facility to meet those
23  needs; and an explanation of service goals. The resident care
24  plan must be signed by the director of nursing or another
25  registered nurse employed by the facility to whom
26  institutional responsibilities have been delegated and by the
27  resident, the resident's designee, or the resident's legal
28  representative. The facility may not use an agency or
29  temporary registered nurse to satisfy the foregoing
30  requirement and must document the institutional
31  
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 1  responsibilities that have been delegated to the registered
 2  nurse.
 3         Section 4.  Subsection (10) is added to section 400.23,
 4  Florida Statutes, to read:
 5         400.23  Rules; evaluation and deficiencies; licensure
 6  status.--
 7         (10)  Agency records, reports, ranking systems,
 8  Internet information, and publications must be promptly
 9  updated to reflect the most current agency actions.
10         Section 5.  Subsection (4) of section 400.211, Florida
11  Statutes, is amended to read:
12         400.211  Persons employed as nursing assistants;
13  certification requirement.--
14         (4)  When employed by a nursing home facility for a
15  12-month period or longer, a nursing assistant, to maintain
16  certification, shall submit to a performance review every 12
17  months and must receive regular inservice education based on
18  the outcome of such reviews. The inservice training must:
19         (a)  Be sufficient to ensure the continuing competence
20  of nursing assistants and must meet the standard specified in
21  s. 464.203(7), must be at least 18 hours per year, and may
22  include hours accrued under s. 464.203(8);
23         (b)  Include, at a minimum:
24         1.  Techniques for assisting with eating and proper
25  feeding;
26         2.  Principles of adequate nutrition and hydration;
27         3.  Techniques for assisting and responding to the
28  cognitively impaired resident or the resident with difficult
29  behaviors;
30         4.  Techniques for caring for the resident at the
31  end-of-life; and
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 1         5.  Recognizing changes that place a resident at risk
 2  for pressure ulcers and falls; and
 3         (c)  Address areas of weakness as determined in nursing
 4  assistant performance reviews and may address the special
 5  needs of residents as determined by the nursing home facility
 6  staff.
 7  
 8  Costs associated with this training may not be reimbursed from
 9  additional Medicaid funding through interim rate adjustments.
10         Section 6.  Subsection (5) of section 400.235, Florida
11  Statutes, is amended to read:
12         400.235  Nursing home quality and licensure status;
13  Gold Seal Program.--
14         (5)  Facilities must meet the following additional
15  criteria for recognition as a Gold Seal Program facility:
16         (a)  Had no class I or class II deficiencies within the
17  30 months preceding application for the program.
18         (b)  Evidence financial soundness and stability
19  according to standards adopted by the agency in administrative
20  rule. Such standards must include, but not be limited to,
21  criteria for the use of financial statements that are prepared
22  in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
23  and that are reviewed or audited by certified public
24  accountants. A nursing home that is part of the same corporate
25  entity as a continuing care facility licensed under chapter
26  651 which meets the minimum liquid reserve requirements
27  specified in s. 651.035 and is accredited by a recognized
28  accrediting organization under s. 651.028 and rules of the
29  Office of Insurance Regulation satisfies this requirement as
30  long as the accreditation is not provisional. Facilities
31  
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 1  operated by a federal or state agency are deemed to be
 2  financially stable for purposes of applying for the Gold Seal.
 3         (c)  Participate in a consumer satisfaction process,
 4  and demonstrate that information is elicited from residents,
 5  family members, and guardians about satisfaction with the
 6  nursing facility, its environment, the services and care
 7  provided, the staff's skills and interactions with residents,
 8  attention to resident's needs, and the facility's efforts to
 9  act on information gathered from the consumer satisfaction
10  measures.
11         (d)  Evidence the involvement of families and members
12  of the community in the facility on a regular basis.
13         (e)  Have a stable workforce, as described in s.
14  400.141, as evidenced by a relatively low rate of turnover
15  among certified nursing assistants and licensed nurses within
16  the 30 months preceding application for the Gold Seal Program,
17  and demonstrate a continuing effort to maintain a stable
18  workforce and to reduce turnover of licensed nurses and
19  certified nursing assistants.
20         (f)  Evidence an outstanding record regarding the
21  number and types of substantiated complaints reported to the
22  State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council within the 30 months
23  preceding application for the program.
24         (g)  Provide targeted inservice training provided to
25  meet training needs identified by internal or external quality
26  assurance efforts.
27  
28  A facility assigned a conditional licensure status may not
29  qualify for consideration for the Gold Seal Program until
30  after it has operated for 30 months with no class I or class
31  
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 1  II deficiencies and has completed a regularly scheduled
 2  relicensure survey.
 3         Section 7.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 4  400.441, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 5         400.441  Rules establishing standards.--
 6         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature that rules
 7  published and enforced pursuant to this section shall include
 8  criteria by which a reasonable and consistent quality of
 9  resident care and quality of life may be ensured and the
10  results of such resident care may be demonstrated. Such rules
11  shall also ensure a safe and sanitary environment that is
12  residential and noninstitutional in design or nature. It is
13  further intended that reasonable efforts be made to
14  accommodate the needs and preferences of residents to enhance
15  the quality of life in a facility. In order to provide safe
16  and sanitary facilities and the highest quality of resident
17  care accommodating the needs and preferences of residents, the
18  department, in consultation with the agency, the Department of
19  Children and Family Services, and the Department of Health,
20  shall adopt rules, policies, and procedures to administer this
21  part, which must include reasonable and fair minimum standards
22  in relation to:
23         (a)  The requirements for and maintenance of
24  facilities, not in conflict with the provisions of chapter
25  553, relating to plumbing, heating, cooling, lighting,
26  ventilation, living space, and other housing conditions, which
27  will ensure the health, safety, and comfort of residents and
28  protection from fire hazard, including adequate provisions for
29  fire alarm and other fire protection suitable to the size of
30  the structure. Uniform firesafety standards shall be
31  established and enforced by the State Fire Marshal in
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 1  cooperation with the agency, the department, and the
 2  Department of Health.
 3         1.  Evacuation capability determination.--
 4         a.  The provisions of the National Fire Protection
 5  Association, NFPA 101A, Chapter 5, 1995 edition, shall be used
 6  for determining the ability of the residents, with or without
 7  staff assistance, to relocate from or within a licensed
 8  facility to a point of safety as provided in the fire codes
 9  adopted herein. An evacuation capability evaluation for
10  initial licensure shall be conducted within 6 months after the
11  date of licensure. For existing licensed facilities that are
12  not equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system, the
13  administrator shall evaluate the evacuation capability of
14  residents at least annually. The evacuation capability
15  evaluation for each facility not equipped with an automatic
16  fire sprinkler system shall be validated, without liability,
17  by the State Fire Marshal, by the local fire marshal, or by
18  the local authority having jurisdiction over firesafety,
19  before the license renewal date. If the State Fire Marshal,
20  local fire marshal, or local authority having jurisdiction
21  over firesafety has reason to believe that the evacuation
22  capability of a facility as reported by the administrator may
23  have changed, it may, with assistance from the facility
24  administrator, reevaluate the evacuation capability through
25  timed exiting drills. Translation of timed fire exiting drills
26  to evacuation capability may be determined:
27         (I)  Three minutes or less: prompt.
28         (II)  More than 3 minutes, but not more than 13
29  minutes: slow.
30         (III)  More than 13 minutes: impractical.
31  
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 1         b.  The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide
 2  or cause the provision of training and education on the proper
 3  application of Chapter 5, NFPA 101A, 1995 edition, to its
 4  employees, to staff of the Agency for Health Care
 5  Administration who are responsible for regulating facilities
 6  under this part, and to local governmental inspectors. The
 7  Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide or cause the
 8  provision of this training within its existing budget, but may
 9  charge a fee for this training to offset its costs. The
10  initial training must be delivered within 6 months after July
11  1, 1995, and as needed thereafter.
12         c.  The Office of the State Fire Marshal, in
13  cooperation with provider associations, shall provide or cause
14  the provision of a training program designed to inform
15  facility operators on how to properly review bid documents
16  relating to the installation of automatic fire sprinklers. The
17  Office of the State Fire Marshal shall provide or cause the
18  provision of this training within its existing budget, but may
19  charge a fee for this training to offset its costs. The
20  initial training must be delivered within 6 months after July
21  1, 1995, and as needed thereafter.
22         d.  The administrator of a licensed facility shall sign
23  an affidavit verifying the number of residents occupying the
24  facility at the time of the evacuation capability evaluation.
25         2.  Firesafety requirements.--
26         a.  Except for the special applications provided
27  herein, effective January 1, 1996, the provisions of the
28  National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code, NFPA
29  101, 1994 edition, Chapter 22 for new facilities and Chapter
30  23 for existing facilities shall be the uniform fire code
31  
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 1  applied by the State Fire Marshal for assisted living
 2  facilities, pursuant to s. 633.022.
 3         b.  Any new facility, regardless of size, that applies
 4  for a license on or after January 1, 1996, must be equipped
 5  with an automatic fire sprinkler system. The exceptions as
 6  provided in section 22-2.3.5.1, NFPA 101, 1994 edition, as
 7  adopted herein, apply to any new facility housing eight or
 8  fewer residents. On July 1, 1995, local governmental entities
 9  responsible for the issuance of permits for construction shall
10  inform, without liability, any facility whose permit for
11  construction is obtained prior to January 1, 1996, of this
12  automatic fire sprinkler requirement. As used in this part,
13  the term "a new facility" does not mean an existing facility
14  that has undergone change of ownership.
15         c.  Notwithstanding any provision of s. 633.022 or of
16  the National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 101A, Chapter
17  5, 1995 edition, to the contrary, any existing facility
18  housing eight or fewer residents is not required to install an
19  automatic fire sprinkler system, nor to comply with any other
20  requirement in Chapter 23, NFPA 101, 1994 edition, that
21  exceeds the firesafety requirements of NFPA 101, 1988 edition,
22  that applies to this size facility, unless the facility has
23  been classified as impractical to evacuate. Any existing
24  facility housing eight or fewer residents that is classified
25  as impractical to evacuate must install an automatic fire
26  sprinkler system within the timeframes granted in this
27  section.
28         d.  Any existing facility that is required to install
29  an automatic fire sprinkler system under this paragraph need
30  not meet other firesafety requirements of Chapter 23, NFPA
31  101, 1994 edition, which exceed the provisions of NFPA 101,
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 1  1988 edition. The mandate contained in this paragraph which
 2  requires certain facilities to install an automatic fire
 3  sprinkler system supersedes any other requirement.
 4         e.  This paragraph does not supersede the exceptions
 5  granted in NFPA 101, 1988 edition or 1994 edition.
 6         f.  This paragraph does not exempt facilities from
 7  other firesafety provisions adopted under s. 633.022 and local
 8  building code requirements in effect before July 1, 1995.
 9         g.  A local government may charge fees only in an
10  amount not to exceed the actual expenses incurred by local
11  government relating to the installation and maintenance of an
12  automatic fire sprinkler system in an existing and properly
13  licensed assisted living facility structure as of January 1,
14  1996.
15         h.  If a licensed facility undergoes major
16  reconstruction or addition to an existing building on or after
17  January 1, 1996, the entire building must be equipped with an
18  automatic fire sprinkler system. Major reconstruction of a
19  building means repair or restoration that costs in excess of
20  50 percent of the value of the building as reported on the tax
21  rolls, excluding land, before reconstruction. Multiple
22  reconstruction projects within a 5-year period the total costs
23  of which exceed 50 percent of the initial value of the
24  building at the time the first reconstruction project was
25  permitted are to be considered as major reconstruction.
26  Application for a permit for an automatic fire sprinkler
27  system is required upon application for a permit for a
28  reconstruction project that creates costs that go over the
29  50-percent threshold.
30         i.  Any facility licensed before January 1, 1996, that
31  is required to install an automatic fire sprinkler system
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 1  shall ensure that the installation is completed within the
 2  following timeframes based upon evacuation capability of the
 3  facility as determined under subparagraph 1.:
 4         (I)  Impractical evacuation capability, 24 months.
 5         (II)  Slow evacuation capability, 48 months.
 6         (III)  Prompt evacuation capability, 60 months.
 7  
 8  The beginning date from which the deadline for the automatic
 9  fire sprinkler installation requirement must be calculated is
10  upon receipt of written notice from the local fire official
11  that an automatic fire sprinkler system must be installed. The
12  local fire official shall send a copy of the document
13  indicating the requirement of a fire sprinkler system to the
14  Agency for Health Care Administration.
15         j.  It is recognized that the installation of an
16  automatic fire sprinkler system may create financial hardship
17  for some facilities. The appropriate local fire official
18  shall, without liability, grant two 1-year extensions to the
19  timeframes for installation established herein, if an
20  automatic fire sprinkler installation cost estimate and proof
21  of denial from two financial institutions for a construction
22  loan to install the automatic fire sprinkler system are
23  submitted. However, for any facility with a class I or class
24  II, or a history of uncorrected class III, firesafety
25  deficiencies, an extension must not be granted. The local fire
26  official shall send a copy of the document granting the time
27  extension to the Agency for Health Care Administration.
28         k.  A facility owner whose facility is required to be
29  equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system under Chapter
30  23, NFPA 101, 1994 edition, as adopted herein, must disclose
31  to any potential buyer of the facility that an installation of
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 1  an automatic fire sprinkler requirement exists. The sale of
 2  the facility does not alter the timeframe for the installation
 3  of the automatic fire sprinkler system.
 4         l.  Existing facilities required to install an
 5  automatic fire sprinkler system as a result of
 6  construction-type restrictions in Chapter 23, NFPA 101, 1994
 7  edition, as adopted herein, or evacuation capability
 8  requirements shall be notified by the local fire official in
 9  writing of the automatic fire sprinkler requirement, as well
10  as the appropriate date for final compliance as provided in
11  this subparagraph. The local fire official shall send a copy
12  of the document to the Agency for Health Care Administration.
13         m.  Except in cases of life-threatening fire hazards,
14  if an existing facility experiences a change in the evacuation
15  capability, or if the local authority having jurisdiction
16  identifies a construction-type restriction, such that an
17  automatic fire sprinkler system is required, it shall be
18  afforded time for installation as provided in this
19  subparagraph.
20  
21  Facilities that are fully sprinkled and in compliance with
22  other firesafety standards are not required to conduct more
23  than one of the required fire drills between the hours of 11
24  p.m. and 7 a.m., per year. In lieu of the remaining drills,
25  staff responsible for residents during such hours may be
26  required to participate in a mock drill that includes a review
27  of evacuation procedures. Such standards must be included or
28  referenced in the rules adopted by the State Fire Marshal.
29  Pursuant to s. 633.022(1)(b), the State Fire Marshal is the
30  final administrative authority for firesafety standards
31  established and enforced pursuant to this section. All
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 1  licensed facilities must have an annual fire inspection
 2  conducted by the local fire marshal or authority having
 3  jurisdiction.
 4         3.  Resident elopement requirements.--Facilities are
 5  required to conduct a minimum of two resident elopement
 6  prevention and response drills per year. All administrators
 7  and direct care staff must participate in the drills which
 8  shall include a review of procedures to address resident
 9  elopement. Facilities must document the implementation of the
10  drills and ensure that the drills are conducted in a manner
11  consistent with the facility's resident elopement policies and
12  procedures.
13         Section 8.  Subsection (13) of section 400.619, Florida
14  Statutes, is amended to read:
15         400.619  Licensure application and renewal.--
16         (13)  All moneys collected under this section must be
17  deposited into the Department of Elderly Affairs
18  Administrative Trust Fund and used to offset the expenses of
19  departmental training and education for adult family-care home
20  providers.
21         Section 9.  Subsection (5) of section 408.034, Florida
22  Statutes, is amended to read:
23         408.034  Duties and responsibilities of agency;
24  rules.--
25         (5)  The agency shall establish by rule a
26  nursing-home-bed-need methodology that has a goal of
27  maintaining a subdistrict average occupancy rate of 94 percent
28  and that reduces the community nursing home bed need for the
29  areas of the state where the agency establishes pilot
30  community diversion programs through the Title XIX aging
31  waiver program.
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1         Section 10.  Paragraphs (g) and (h) are added to
 2  subsection (2) of section 408.036, Florida Statutes, paragraph
 3  (p) of subsection (3) is amended, paragraphs (u) and (v) are
 4  added to subsection (3) of said section, and subsection (4) is
 5  reenacted to read:
 6         408.036  Projects subject to review; exemptions.--
 7         (2)  PROJECTS SUBJECT TO EXPEDITED REVIEW.--Unless
 8  exempt pursuant to subsection (3), projects subject to an
 9  expedited review shall include, but not be limited to:
10         (g)  Replacement of a nursing home within the same
11  district, provided the proposed project site is located within
12  a geographic area that contains at least 65 percent of the
13  facility's current residents and is within a 30-mile radius of
14  the replaced nursing home.
15         (h)  Relocation of a portion of a nursing home's
16  licensed beds to a facility within the same district, provided
17  the relocation is within a 30-mile radius of the existing
18  facility and the total number of nursing home beds in the
19  district does not increase.
20  
21  The agency shall develop rules to implement the provisions for
22  expedited review, including time schedule, application content
23  which may be reduced from the full requirements of s.
24  408.037(1), and application processing.
25         (3)  EXEMPTIONS.--Upon request, the following projects
26  are subject to exemption from the provisions of subsection
27  (1):
28         (p)  For the addition of nursing home beds licensed
29  under chapter 400 in a number not exceeding 10 total beds or
30  10 percent of the number of beds licensed in the facility
31  being expanded, whichever is greater, or for the addition of
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  nursing home beds licensed under chapter 400 at a facility
 2  that has been designated as a Gold Seal nursing home under s.
 3  400.235 in a number not exceeding 20 total beds or 10 percent
 4  of the number of beds licensed in the facility being expanded,
 5  whichever is greater.
 6         1.  In addition to any other documentation required by
 7  the agency, a request for exemption submitted under this
 8  paragraph must:
 9         a.  Effective until June 30, 2001, Certify that the
10  facility has not had any class I or class II deficiencies
11  within the 30 months preceding the request for addition.
12         b.  Effective on July 1, 2001, certify that the
13  facility has been designated as a Gold Seal nursing home under
14  s. 400.235.
15         b.c.  Certify that the prior 12-month average occupancy
16  rate for the nursing home beds at the facility meets or
17  exceeds 96 percent.
18         c.d.  Certify that any beds authorized for the facility
19  under this paragraph before the date of the current request
20  for an exemption have been licensed and operational for at
21  least 12 months.
22         2.  The timeframes and monitoring process specified in
23  s. 408.040(2)(a)-(c) apply to any exemption issued under this
24  paragraph.
25         3.  The agency shall count beds authorized under this
26  paragraph as approved beds in the published inventory of
27  nursing home beds until the beds are licensed.
28         (u)  For replacement of a licensed nursing home on the
29  same site, or within 3 miles of the same site, provided the
30  number of licensed beds does not increase.
31  
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1         (v)  For consolidation or combination of licensed
 2  nursing homes or transfer of beds between licensed nursing
 3  homes within the same planning subdistrict, by providers that
 4  operate multiple nursing homes within that planning
 5  subdistrict, provided there is no increase in the planning
 6  subdistrict total of nursing home beds and the relocation does
 7  not exceed 30 miles from the original location.
 8         (4)  A request for exemption under subsection (3) may
 9  be made at any time and is not subject to the batching
10  requirements of this section. The request shall be supported
11  by such documentation as the agency requires by rule. The
12  agency shall assess a fee of $250 for each request for
13  exemption submitted under subsection (3).
14         Section 11.  Section 430.701, Florida Statutes, is
15  amended to read:
16         430.701  Legislative findings and intent.--
17         (1)  The Legislature finds that state expenditures for
18  long-term care services continue to increase at a rapid rate
19  and that Florida faces increasing pressure in its efforts to
20  meet the long-term care needs of the public. It is the intent
21  of the Legislature that the Department of Elderly Affairs, in
22  consultation with the Agency for Health Care Administration,
23  implement long-term care community diversion pilot projects to
24  test the effectiveness of managed care and outcome-based
25  reimbursement principles when applied to long-term care.
26         (2)  The agency may seek federal approval in advance of
27  its formal waiver application to limit the diversion provider
28  network by freezing enrollment of providers at current levels
29  when an area already has three or more providers or, in an
30  expansion area, when enrollment reaches a level of three
31  providers. This subsection does not prevent the department
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  from approving a provider to expand service to additional
 2  counties within a planning and service area for which the
 3  provider is already approved to serve.
 4         Section 12.  Section 52 of chapter 2001-45, Laws of
 5  Florida, as amended by section 1693 of chapter 2003-261, Laws
 6  of Florida, is amended to read:
 7         Section 52.  (1)  Notwithstanding the establishment of
 8  need as provided for in chapter 408, Florida Statutes, no
 9  certificate of need for additional community nursing home beds
10  shall be approved by the agency until July 1, 2006.
11         (2)  The Legislature finds that the continued growth in
12  the Medicaid budget for nursing home care has constrained the
13  ability of the state to meet the needs of its elderly
14  residents through the use of less restrictive and less
15  institutional methods of long-term care. It is therefore the
16  intent of the Legislature to limit the increase in Medicaid
17  nursing home expenditures in order to provide funds to invest
18  in long-term care that is community-based and provides
19  supportive services in a manner that is both more
20  cost-effective and more in keeping with the wishes of the
21  elderly residents of this state.
22         (3)  This moratorium on certificates of need shall not
23  apply to sheltered nursing home beds in a continuing care
24  retirement community certified by the former Department of
25  Insurance or by the Office of Insurance Regulation pursuant to
26  chapter 651, Florida Statutes.
27         (4)(a)  The moratorium on certificates of need does not
28  apply and a certificate of need for additional community
29  nursing home beds may be approved for a county that meets the
30  following circumstances:
31         1.  The county has no community nursing home beds; and
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1         2.  The lack of community nursing home beds occurs
 2  because all nursing home beds in the county that were licensed
 3  on July 1, 2001, have subsequently closed.
 4         (b)  The certificate-of-need review for such
 5  circumstances shall be subject to the comparative review
 6  process consistent with the provisions of section 408.039,
 7  Florida Statutes, and the number of beds may not exceed the
 8  number of beds lost by the county after July 1, 2001.
 9  
10  This subsection shall be repealed upon the expiration of the
11  moratorium established in subsection (1).
12         (5)  The moratorium on certificates of need does not
13  apply for the addition of nursing home beds licensed under
14  chapter 400, Florida Statutes, to a nursing home located in a
15  county having up to 50,000 residents, in a number not
16  exceeding 10 total beds or 10 percent of the number of beds
17  licensed in the facility being expanded, whichever is greater.
18  In addition to any other documentation required by the agency,
19  a request submitted under this subsection must:
20         (a)  Certify that the facility has not had any class I
21  or class II deficiencies within the 30 months preceding the
22  request for addition.
23         (b)  Certify that the prior 12-month average occupancy
24  rate for the nursing home beds at the facility meets or
25  exceeds 94 percent.
26         (c)  For a facility that has been licensed for less
27  than 24 months, certify that the prior 6-month average
28  occupancy rate for the nursing home beds at the facility meets
29  or exceeds 94 percent and that the facility has not had any
30  class I or class II deficiencies since its initial licensure.
31  
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  This subsection shall be repealed upon the expiration of the
 2  moratorium established in subsection (1).
 3         Section 13.  Subsection (7) of section 651.118, Florida
 4  Statutes, is amended to read:
 5         651.118  Agency for Health Care Administration;
 6  certificates of need; sheltered beds; community beds.--
 7         (7)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2),
 8  at the discretion of the continuing care provider, sheltered
 9  nursing home beds may be used for persons who are not
10  residents of the continuing care facility and who are not
11  parties to a continuing care contract for a period of up to 5
12  years after the date of issuance of the initial nursing home
13  license. A provider whose 5-year period has expired or is
14  expiring may request the Agency for Health Care Administration
15  for an extension, not to exceed 30 percent of the total
16  sheltered nursing home beds, if the utilization by residents
17  of the nursing home facility in the sheltered beds will not
18  generate sufficient income to cover nursing home facility
19  expenses, as evidenced by one of the following:
20         (a)  The nursing home facility has a net loss for the
21  most recent fiscal year as determined under generally accepted
22  accounting principles, excluding the effects of extraordinary
23  or unusual items, as demonstrated in the most recently audited
24  financial statement; or
25         (b)  The nursing home facility would have had a pro
26  forma loss for the most recent fiscal year, excluding the
27  effects of extraordinary or unusual items, if revenues were
28  reduced by the amount of revenues from persons in sheltered
29  beds who were not residents, as reported on by a certified
30  public accountant.
31  
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  The agency shall be authorized to grant an extension to the
 2  provider based on the evidence required in this subsection.
 3  The agency may request a continuing care facility to use up to
 4  25 percent of the patient days generated by new admissions of
 5  nonresidents during the extension period to serve Medicaid
 6  recipients for those beds authorized for extended use if there
 7  is a demonstrated need in the respective service area and if
 8  funds are available. A provider who obtains an extension is
 9  prohibited from applying for additional sheltered beds under
10  the provision of subsection (2), unless additional residential
11  units are built or the provider can demonstrate need by
12  continuing care facility residents to the Agency for Health
13  Care Administration. The 5-year limit does not apply to up to
14  five sheltered beds designated for inpatient hospice care as
15  part of a contractual arrangement with a hospice licensed
16  under part VI of chapter 400. A continuing care facility that
17  uses such beds after the 5-year period shall report such use
18  to the Agency for Health Care Administration. For purposes of
19  this subsection, "resident" means a person who, upon admission
20  to the continuing care facility, initially resides in a part
21  of the continuing care facility not licensed under part II of
22  chapter 400.
23         Section 14.  Subsections (3) and (4) of section
24  400.9905, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (4)
25  and (5), respectively, and amended, and new subsections (3),
26  (6), and (7) are added to said section, to read:
27         400.9905  Definitions.--
28         (3)  "Chief financial officer" means an individual who
29  has a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in
30  accounting or finance, or a related field, and who is the
31  person responsible for the preparation of a clinic's billing.
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1         (4)(3)  "Clinic" means an entity at which health care
 2  services are provided to individuals and which tenders charges
 3  for reimbursement for such services, including a mobile clinic
 4  and a portable equipment provider. For purposes of this part,
 5  the term does not include and the licensure requirements of
 6  this part do not apply to:
 7         (a)  Entities licensed or registered by the state under
 8  chapter 395; or entities licensed or registered by the state
 9  and providing only health care services within the scope of
10  services authorized under their respective licenses granted
11  under s. 383.30-383.335, chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter
12  395, chapter 397, this chapter except part XIII, chapter 463,
13  chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 478, part I of chapter 483
14  chapter 480, chapter 484, or chapter 651; end-stage renal
15  disease providers authorized under 42 C.F.R. part 405, subpart
16  U; or providers certified under 42 C.F.R. part 485, subpart B
17  or subpart H, or any entity that provides neonatal or
18  pediatric hospital-based healthcare services by licensed
19  practitioners solely within a hospital licensed under chapter
20  395.
21         (b)  Entities that own, directly or indirectly,
22  entities licensed or registered by the state pursuant to
23  chapter 395; or entities that own, directly or indirectly,
24  entities licensed or registered by the state and providing
25  only health care services within the scope of services
26  authorized pursuant to their respective licenses granted under
27  s. 383.30-383.335, chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter 395,
28  chapter 397, this chapter except part XIII, chapter 463,
29  chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 478, part I of chapter 483
30  chapter 480, chapter 484, or chapter 651, end-stage renal
31  disease providers authorized under 42 C.F.R. part 405, subpart
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  U, or providers certified under 42 C.F.R. part 485, subpart B
 2  or subpart H, or any entity that provides neonatal or
 3  pediatric hospital-based healthcare services by licensed
 4  practitioners solely within a hospital licensed under chapter
 5  395.
 6         (c)  Entities that are owned, directly or indirectly,
 7  by an entity licensed or registered by the state pursuant to
 8  chapter 395; or entities that are owned, directly or
 9  indirectly, by an entity licensed or registered by the state
10  and providing only health care services within the scope of
11  services authorized pursuant to their respective licenses
12  granted under s. 383.30-383.335, chapter 390, chapter 394,
13  chapter 395, chapter 397, this chapter except part XIII ,
14  chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter 466, chapter 478, part I of
15  chapter 483 chapter 480, chapter 484, or chapter 651;
16  end-stage renal disease providers authorized under 42 C.F.R.
17  part 405, subpart U; or providers certified under 42 C.F.R.
18  part 485, subpart B or subpart H, or any entity that provides
19  neonatal or pediatric hospital-based healthcare services by
20  licensed practitioners solely within a hospital under chapter
21  395.
22         (d)  Entities that are under common ownership, directly
23  or indirectly, with an entity licensed or registered by the
24  state pursuant to chapter 395; or entities that are under
25  common ownership, directly or indirectly, with an entity
26  licensed or registered by the state and providing only health
27  care services within the scope of services authorized pursuant
28  to their respective licenses granted under s. 383.30-383.335,
29  chapter 390, chapter 394, chapter 395, chapter 397, this
30  chapter except part XIII, chapter 463, chapter 465, chapter
31  466, chapter 478, part I of chapter 483 480, chapter 484, or
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  chapter 651; end-stage renal disease providers authorized
 2  under 42 C.F.R. part 405, subpart U; or providers certified
 3  under 42 C.F.R. part 485, subpart B or subpart H or any entity
 4  that provides neonatal or pediatric hospital-based healthcare
 5  services by licensed practitioners solely within a hospital
 6  licensed under chapter 395.
 7         (e)  An entity that is exempt from federal taxation
 8  under 26 U.S.C. s. 501(c)(3) or s. 501(c)(4) and any community
 9  college or university clinic, and any entity owned or operated
10  by federal or state government, including agencies,
11  subdivisions, or municipalities thereof.
12         (f)  A sole proprietorship, group practice,
13  partnership, or corporation that provides health care services
14  by physicians covered by s. 627.419, that is directly
15  supervised by one or more of such physicians, and that is
16  wholly owned by one or more of those physicians or by a
17  physician and the spouse, child, or sibling of that physician.
18         (g)(f)  A sole proprietorship, group practice,
19  partnership, or corporation that provides health care services
20  by licensed health care practitioners under chapter 457,
21  chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, chapter 461, chapter
22  462, chapter 463, chapter 466, chapter 467, chapter 480,
23  chapter 484, chapter 486, chapter 490, chapter 491, or part I,
24  part III, part X, part XIII, or part XIV of chapter 468, or s.
25  464.012, which are wholly owned by one or more a licensed
26  health care practitioners practitioner, or the licensed health
27  care practitioners set forth in this paragraph practitioner
28  and the spouse, parent, or child, or sibling of a licensed
29  health care practitioner, so long as one of the owners who is
30  a licensed health care practitioner is supervising the
31  business activities services performed therein and is legally
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  responsible for the entity's compliance with all federal and
 2  state laws. However, a health care practitioner may not
 3  supervise services beyond the scope of the practitioner's
 4  license, except that, for the purposes of this part, a clinic
 5  owned by a licensee in s. 456.053(3)(b) that provides only
 6  services authorized pursuant to s. 456.053(3)(b) may be
 7  supervised by a licensee specified in s. 456.053(3)(b).
 8         (h)(g)  Clinical facilities affiliated with an
 9  accredited medical school at which training is provided for
10  medical students, residents, or fellows.
11         (i)  Entities that provide only oncology or radiation
12  therapy services by physicians licensed under chapter 458 or
13  chapter 459.
14         (5)(4)  "Medical director" means a physician who is
15  employed or under contract with a clinic and who maintains a
16  full and unencumbered physician license in accordance with
17  chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 460, or chapter 461.
18  However, if the clinic does not provide services pursuant to
19  the respective physician practices acts listed in this
20  subsection, it is limited to providing health care services
21  pursuant to chapter 457, chapter 484, chapter 486, chapter
22  490, or chapter 491 or part I, part III, part X, part XIII, or
23  part XIV of chapter 468, the clinic may appoint a
24  Florida-licensed health care practitioner who does not provide
25  services pursuant to the respective physician practices acts
26  listed in this subsection licensed under that chapter to serve
27  as a clinic director who is responsible for the clinic's
28  activities. A health care practitioner may not serve as the
29  clinic director if the services provided at the clinic are
30  beyond the scope of that practitioner's license, except that a
31  licensee specified in s. 456.053(3)(b) who provides only
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  services authorized pursuant to s. 456.053(3)(b) may serve as
 2  clinic director of an entity providing services as specified
 3  in s. 456.053(3)(b).
 4         (6)  "Mobile clinic" means a movable or detached
 5  self-contained health care unit within or from which direct
 6  health care services are provided to individuals and which
 7  otherwise meets the definition of a clinic in subsection (4).
 8         (7)  "Portable equipment provider" means an entity that
 9  contracts with or employs persons to provide portable
10  equipment to multiple locations performing treatment or
11  diagnostic testing of individuals, that bills third-party
12  payors for those services, and that otherwise meets the
13  definition of a clinic in subsection (4).
14         Section 15.  The creation of section 400.9905(4)(i),
15  Florida Statutes, by this act is intended to clarify the
16  legislative intent of this provision as it existed at the time
17  the provisions initially took effect as sections
18  456.0375(1)(b) and 400.9905(4)(i), Florida Statutes, as
19  created by this act, shall operate retroactively to October 1,
20  2001. Nothing in this section shall be construed as amending,
21  modifying, limiting, or otherwise affecting in any way the
22  legislative intent, scope, terms, prohibition, or requirements
23  of section 456.053, Florida Statutes.
24         Section 16.  Effective upon this act becoming a law and
25  applicable retroactively to March 1, 2004, subsections (1),
26  (2), and (3) and paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (7) of
27  section 400.991, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
28         400.991  License requirements; background screenings;
29  prohibitions.--
30         (1)(a)  Each clinic, as defined in s. 400.9905, must be
31  licensed and shall at all times maintain a valid license with
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  the agency. Each clinic location shall be licensed separately
 2  regardless of whether the clinic is operated under the same
 3  business name or management as another clinic.
 4         (b)  Each mobile clinic must obtain a separate health
 5  care clinic license and clinics must provide to the agency, at
 6  least quarterly, its their projected street location locations
 7  to enable the agency to locate and inspect such clinic
 8  clinics. A portable equipment provider must obtain a health
 9  care clinic license for a single administrative office and is
10  not required to submit quarterly projected street locations.
11         (2)  The initial clinic license application shall be
12  filed with the agency by all clinics, as defined in s.
13  400.9905, on or before July March 1, 2004. A clinic license
14  must be renewed biennially.
15         (3)  Applicants that submit an application on or before
16  July March 1, 2004, which meets all requirements for initial
17  licensure as specified in this section shall receive a
18  temporary license until the completion of an initial
19  inspection verifying that the applicant meets all requirements
20  in rules authorized in s. 400.9925. However, a clinic engaged
21  in magnetic resonance imaging services may not receive a
22  temporary license unless it presents evidence satisfactory to
23  the agency that such clinic is making a good faith effort and
24  substantial progress in seeking accreditation required under
25  s. 400.9935.
26         (7)  Each applicant for licensure shall comply with the
27  following requirements:
28         (a)  As used in this subsection, the term "applicant"
29  means individuals owning or controlling, directly or
30  indirectly, 5 percent or more of an interest in a clinic; the
31  medical or clinic director, or a similarly titled person who
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the licensed
 2  clinic; the financial officer or similarly titled individual
 3  who is responsible for the financial operation of the clinic;
 4  and licensed health care practitioners medical providers at
 5  the clinic.
 6         (b)  Upon receipt of a completed, signed, and dated
 7  application, the agency shall require background screening of
 8  the applicant, in accordance with the level 2 standards for
 9  screening set forth in chapter 435. Proof of compliance with
10  the level 2 background screening requirements of chapter 435
11  which has been submitted within the previous 5 years in
12  compliance with any other health care licensure requirements
13  of this state is acceptable in fulfillment of this paragraph.
14  Applicants who own less than 10 percent of a health care
15  clinic are not required to submit fingerprints under this
16  section.
17         Section 17.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (1),
18  subsection (9), and paragraph (b) of subsection (11) of
19  section 400.9935, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
20         400.9935  Clinic responsibilities.--
21         (1)  Each clinic shall appoint a medical director or
22  clinic director who shall agree in writing to accept legal
23  responsibility for the following activities on behalf of the
24  clinic. The medical director or the clinic director shall:
25         (g)  Conduct systematic reviews of clinic billings to
26  ensure that the billings are not fraudulent or unlawful. Upon
27  discovery of an unlawful charge, the medical director or
28  clinic director shall take immediate corrective action. If the
29  clinic performs only the technical component of magnetic
30  resonance imaging, static radiographs, computed tomography, or
31  positron emission tomography and provides the professional
                                  31
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  interpretation of such services, in a fixed facility that is
 2  accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
 3  Healthcare Organizations or the Accreditation Association for
 4  Ambulatory Health Care and the American College of Radiology,
 5  and if, in the preceding quarter, the percentage of scans
 6  performed by that clinic that were billed to a personal injury
 7  protection insurance carrier was less than 15 percent, the
 8  chief financial officer of the clinic may, in a written
 9  acknowledgment provided to the agency, assume the
10  responsibility for the conduct of the systematic reviews of
11  clinic billings to ensure that the billings are not fraudulent
12  or unlawful.
13         (9)  Any person or entity providing health care
14  services which is not a clinic, as defined under s. 400.9905,
15  may voluntarily apply for a certificate of exemption from
16  licensure under its exempt status with the agency on a form
17  that sets forth its name or names and addresses, a statement
18  of the reasons why it cannot be defined as a clinic, and other
19  information deemed necessary by the agency. An exemption is
20  not transferable. The agency may charge an applicant for a
21  certificate of exemption in an amount equal to $100 or the
22  actual cost of processing the certificate, whichever is less.
23         (11)
24         (b)  The agency may deny disallow the application or
25  revoke the license of any entity formed for the purpose of
26  avoiding compliance with the accreditation provisions of this
27  subsection and whose principals were previously principals of
28  an entity that was unable to meet the accreditation
29  requirements within the specified timeframes. The agency may
30  adopt rules as to the accreditation of magnetic resonance
31  imaging clinics.
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1         Section 18.  Subsections (1) and (3) of section
 2  400.995, Florida Statutes, are amended, and a new subsection
 3  (10) is added to said section, to read:
 4         400.995  Agency administrative penalties.--
 5         (1)  The agency may deny the application for a license
 6  renewal, revoke or suspend the license, and impose
 7  administrative fines penalties against clinics of up to $5,000
 8  per violation for violations of the requirements of this part
 9  or rules of the agency. In determining if a penalty is to be
10  imposed and in fixing the amount of the fine, the agency shall
11  consider the following factors:
12         (a)  The gravity of the violation, including the
13  probability that death or serious physical or emotional harm
14  to a patient will result or has resulted, the severity of the
15  action or potential harm, and the extent to which the
16  provisions of the applicable laws or rules were violated.
17         (b)  Actions taken by the owner, medical director, or
18  clinic director to correct violations.
19         (c)  Any previous violations.
20         (d)  The financial benefit to the clinic of committing
21  or continuing the violation.
22         (3)  Any action taken to correct a violation shall be
23  documented in writing by the owner, medical director, or
24  clinic director of the clinic and verified through followup
25  visits by agency personnel. The agency may impose a fine and,
26  in the case of an owner-operated clinic, revoke or deny a
27  clinic's license when a clinic medical director or clinic
28  director knowingly fraudulently misrepresents actions taken to
29  correct a violation.
30         (10)  If the agency issues a notice of intent to deny a
31  license application after a temporary license has been issued
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    CS for SB 1062                                 Third Engrossed
 1  pursuant to s. 400.991(3), the temporary license shall expire
 2  on the date of the notice and may not be extended during any
 3  proceeding for administrative or judicial review pursuant to
 4  chapter 120.
 5         Section 19.  The Agency for Health Care Administration
 6  is directed to make refunds to applicants that submitted their
 7  health care clinic licensure fees and applications but were
 8  subsequently exempted from licensure by this act as follows:
 9         (1)  Seventy-five percent of the application fee if the
10  temporary license has not been issued;
11         (2)  Fifty percent of the application fee if the
12  temporary license has been issued but the inspection has not
13  been completed; or
14         (3)  No refund if the inspection has been completed.
15         Section 20.  Any person or entity defined as a clinic
16  under section 400.9905, Florida Statutes, shall not be in
17  violation of part XIII of chapter 400, Florida Statutes, due
18  to failure to apply for a clinic license by March 1, 2004, as
19  previously required by section 400.991, Florida Statutes.
20  Payment to any such person or entity by an insurer or other
21  person liable for payment to such person or entity may not be
22  denied on the grounds that the person or entity failed to
23  apply for or obtain a clinic license before March 1, 2004.
24         Section 21.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
25  law.
26  
27  
28  
29  
30  
31  
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.