The Florida Senate

400.484  Right of inspection; deficiencies; fines.--

(1)  Any duly authorized officer or employee of the agency may make such inspections and investigations as are necessary in order to determine the state of compliance with this part and with applicable rules. The right of inspection extends to any business that the agency has reason to believe is being operated as a home health agency without a license, but such inspection of any such business may not be made without the permission of the owner or person in charge unless a warrant is first obtained from a circuit court. Any application for a license issued under this part or for license renewal constitutes permission for an appropriate inspection to verify the information submitted on or in connection with the application.

(2)  The agency shall impose fines for various classes of deficiencies in accordance with the following schedule:

(a)  A class I deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that results in a patient's death, disablement, or permanent injury, or places a patient at imminent risk of death, disablement, or permanent injury. Upon finding a class I deficiency, the agency may impose an administrative fine in the amount of $5,000 for each occurrence and each day that the deficiency exists. In addition, the agency may immediately revoke the license, or impose a moratorium on the admission of new patients, until the factors causing the deficiency have been corrected.

(b)  A class II deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that has a direct adverse effect on the health, safety, or security of a patient. Upon finding a class II deficiency, the agency may impose an administrative fine in the amount of $1,000 for each occurrence and each day that the deficiency exists. In addition, the agency may suspend the license, or impose a moratorium on the admission of new patients, until the deficiency has been corrected.

(c)  A class III deficiency is any act, omission, or practice that has an indirect, adverse effect on the health, safety, or security of a patient. Upon finding an uncorrected or repeated class III deficiency, the agency may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $500 for each occurrence and each day that the uncorrected or repeated deficiency exists.

(d)  A class IV deficiency is any act, omission, or practice related to required reports, forms, or documents which does not have the potential of negatively affecting patients. These violations are of a type that the agency determines do not threaten the health, safety, or security of patients. Upon finding an uncorrected or repeated class IV deficiency, the agency may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $200 for each occurrence and each day that the uncorrected or repeated deficiency exists.

(3)  In addition to any other penalties imposed pursuant to this section or part, the agency may assess costs related to an investigation that results in a successful prosecution, excluding costs associated with an attorney's time.

History.--s. 45, ch. 75-233; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 79, 83, ch. 83-181; ss. 8, 23, ch. 93-214; s. 5, ch. 99-332; s. 158, ch. 2000-318.