Florida

Board

of

Medicine

If you apply online, you will be prompted to enter a valid credit card number to submit your payment for all fees.  If you are mailing a paper application, please send one cashier’€™s check or money order for your total payment made payable to:

Department of Health
P.O. Box 6330
Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6330.

Only the initial license fee and the NICA fee will be applied to the new application. The application fee will not be applied to the new application.  However, the application fee is only valid for one year and is non-refundable.

The Board of Medicine will refund your initial license fee and NICA fee.  However, you will not receive a refund for your application fee.

There is a three year statute of limitation for refunds so if the overpayment was made less than three years ago you are eligible for a refund.

You must submit your request in writing. Mail your request to:

Department of Health
Board of Medicine
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C03
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253.

You may also fax your request to (850) 412-1268.

Once your request is received, it can take up to four weeks to receive your refund.

Your Financial Responsibility status may be changed through your Practitioner Profile.

Financial Responsibility is outlined in Section 458.320, Florida Statutes.  The options are divided into two categories: coverage and exemptions.  You are required to provide the Board of Medicine with information regarding your Financial Responsibility under the following circumstances:

– when applying for initial licensure;
– upon licensure renewal; or
– when there is a change in your Financial Responsibility status.

For more information regarding the Financial Responsibility requirements, you may review the following:
– s. 458.320, F.S. (medical doctors)
– Rule 64B8-12, F.A.C.

The person filing the complaint and the healthcare practitioner will be notified periodically in writing of the status of the complaint. (It is important that the department be advised of any address change.)

Only physicians licensed in Florida can include or offer alternative medicine to their patients. The definition of “practice of medicine” is listed in s. 458.305, Florida Statutes: the diagnosis, treatment, operation, or prescription for any human disease, pain, injury, deformity or other physical or mental condition.

Please contact the DEA at (800) 882-9539 or visit their website.

You may search IMED’s database online www.ecfmg.org or contact them at (215) 823-2105.

ECFMG Certification is required of all international medical graduates seeking licensure in the State of Florida.

There is no limit on the amount of time or number of attempts to complete the test.

You are required to report all criminal offenses to the Board. Each application will be evaluated on an individual basis. For more information on offenses that may prevent you from obtaining a medical license, see statutes and rules below:

– s. 456, F.S. (health professions and occupations)
– s. 458, F.S. (medical practice)
– s. 766.301 through 766.316, F.S. (medical malpractice and related matters)

Rule 64B8, Florida Administrative Code (Board of Medicine)

No.

If FCVS has completed the credentials verification of your core credentials, it will expedite the licensure process.

Note: If you have not completed the FCVS certification process prior to applying for licensure in Florida it could take longer to complete the licensure process.

The Florida Board of Medicine accepts credentialing verification from FCVS (www.fsmb.org/licensure/fcvs).

You may be required to file a Petition for Waiver/Variance and meet with the Board at a Credentials Committee meeting. Please contact the Board info@flboardofmedicine.gov for further assistance.

The training evaluation form should be signed by the current program chairman or director.  The staff privilege verification form should be completed by the Chief of Staff. You should send a Post-Graduate Training Evaluation form to each institution where you did internship, residency or fellowship training and the staff privilege form to any hospitals where you have current staff privileges.

A copy of your postgraduate training certificate(s) is required as proof of training.  We will also accept a letter from the current program director/chairman, addressed to the Florida Board of Medicine, listing the beginning and ending dates of training and post graduate year level(s) completed.

You must request that verification of all current and/or expired medical licenses be sent directly to our office when applying for a medical license in the State of Florida.

You are required to pay the NICA fee unless you meet the following exemption criteria per s. 766.314, F.S.:

• Resident physicians, assistant resident physicians and interns in postgraduate training programs approved by the Board of Medicine
• Retired physicians who maintain an active license, but who have withdrawn from the practice of medicine
• Physicians who hold a limited license, as defined by s. 458.317, F.S., who do not receive any compensation for medical services
• Physicians employed full-time by the Veterans Administration whose practice is confined to VA hospitals
• Any licensed physician on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States
• Physicians employed full-time by the State of Florida whose practice is confined to state-owned correctional institutions and state-owned mental health facilities

Proof of qualification for a claimed exemption must be submitted to NICA, P.O. Box 14567, Tallahassee, FL 32317-4567. Please contact NICA at (850) 488-8191 for further information or visit their website.

Section 456.013(1)(a), Florida Statutes does not allow for an extension. An application is only valid for one year.

Your e-license will be issued within 2 business days once your licensure application has been approved.  Please login to your MQA Online Services account and navigate to ‘License Documents’ on your ‘My Dashboard’ page to retrieve your e-license. 

You are not required to send in all of your documents at the same time.  However, we encourage you to send as much information as possible to help expedite the licensure process.

Please mail all required supporting documents to:

Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN C03
Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-3253

You may apply for your license  by visiting the Licensing Page >>

If the practitioner is found to have violated the law, the department or regulatory board may issue a citation or impose one or more of the following penalties:

• letter of guidance
• reprimand
• fine
• restriction of practice
• continuing education probation
• license suspension
• license revocation

The department may contact the person filing the complaint to request additional information or to testify in a formal hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings.

No; however, the person filing the complaint may be required to pay for copies of medical records.

No, but a copy of the complaint form may be printed from the website and mailed or faxed.

Complaints remain confidential until ten days after the probable cause panel of the Board has determined that a violation has occurred. Patient identity and patient records remain confidential at all times.

Florida Statutes require that if the complaint is opened for investigation, the healthcare practitioner be given a copy of the complaint.

It is: reviewed for possible violations of Florida law; investigated if the review determines a possible violation; and referred to the Prosecution Services Unit after investigation.

Healthcare Practitioner Regulatory Process Chart (pdf – 80kb)

Regulatory complaints cannot be filed over the phone because Florida law requires that the complaint be signed. However, you may file an unlicensed activity complaint over the phone by calling 1-800-HALT-ULA

Complaints should be clearly written or typed, and signed. Complaints can be filed through our Consumer Services Unit.

Yes, as provided below:

• Incidents occurring before July 1, 2006 -€“ no time limit
• Incident occurring after July 1, 2006 -€“ six (6) years.
• If fraud, concealment or intentional misrepresentation of facts prevented the discovery of the alleged violation – 12 years.
• If criminal actions, diversion of controlled substances, sexual misconduct, or impairment by a licensee – no limit.

Complaints against hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes should be filed with the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Fee disputes (i.e. broken or missed appointments)

Billing disputes (It is the responsibility of consumers to know the terms of their insurance coverage and approved providers.)

Personality conflicts

Bedside manner or rudeness of practitioners

For additional information, please see Consumer Services

Complaints can be filed against any healthcare practitioner or facility licensed or regulated by the Department of Health’€™s Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA).  Complaints can also be filed against any individual or facility providing heath care services regulated by MQA without a valid Florida license.  Information on Regulated Professions

To file a complaint on a non-medical related business or profession, please visit the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Complaints can be filed through our Consumer Services Unit.

Anyone can file a complaint. Complaints should be clearly written or typed, and signed. Complaints can be filed through our Consumer Services Unit.

According to Rule 64B8-10.002(3), FAC : A licensed physician shall keep adequate written medical records, as required by Section 458.331(1)(m), Florida Statutes, for a period of at least five years from the last patient contact; however, medical malpractice law requires records to be kept for at least seven years.

Yes. A health care practitioner can terminate a patient relationship at any time, but the practitioner may not abandon a patient and should provide continuity of care in accordance with the prevailing professional standard of care. The Florida Medical Association (FMA) recommends to a practitioner who wishes to terminate a relationship that the practitioner should give the patient adequate notice in writing, and the practitioner should remain available to the patient for at least 30 days in order to allow time for the patient to find a new practitioner. The FMA also recommends that the practitioner terminating the relationship should provide assistance in locating another practitioner for the patient. The Florida Medical Association is not affiliated with the Board of Medicine.

No.

Yes.

No. But it is highly recommend for the protection of the physician and the patient.

Yes; however, the practitioner may charge for the copies.

A  complaint may be filed with the Consumer Services Unit; however, a physician may not hold records if the patient has not paid for services rendered.

Yes. Section 456.057, Florida Statutes, allows a health care practitioner to charge no more than the actual cost of copying, which may include reasonable staff time or an amount designated by rules provided by the regulatory board. The reasonable costs of reproducing copies of written or typed documents are outlined in Rule 64B8-10.003, FAC.

Yes. Section 456.057, Florida Statutes, allows patients or their legal representative to receive copies of all reports and records relating to an examination or treatment by a healthcare practitioner. However, when psychiatric, psychological, or psychotherapeutic records are requested by the patient or the patient’s legal representative, the healthcare practitioner may provide a report of examination and treatment instead of copies of records.

Section 381.026, Florida Statutes, outlines the Patient Bill of Rights and Responsibilities in the State of Florida.

You may search for or request public records at our Public Records website. There you will find information such as license verifications, disciplinary records, and declaratory statements.

Yes, information on disciplinary sanctions for all healthcare professions and establishments regulated by MQA are included in the License Lookup search system.

Please see our  List of Regulated Professions for assistance in locating the profession you are seeking.

To register laser devices please visit the Bureau of Radiation Control Homepage

Yes, please refer to 64B8-56.002 Equipment and Devices; Protocols for Laser and Light-Based Devices rule from the Electrolysis Council, for additional information please visit the Electrolysis Council Home Page.

The law does not allow the practitioner to abbreviate, the month must be written out. For example, “December” not “Dec.”

The patient should not be inconvenienced by this new requirement. Hopefully, consumers themselves, when presented with a prescription that is illegible will clarify the drug, dosage strength or other component of the prescription with the doctor before taking it to the pharmacy.

The purpose of the law is to improve patient safety by reducing errors in prescription medications. The law does not specify how the Department shall handle prescription writers who do not comply. The Department will work closely with the licensing boards, health care associations, and other interested groups to implement this law. As with all new laws and programs, we cannot predict what will happen in every situation, however, the Department is now focused on how best to implement the law not on how to discipline health care providers who are doing their best to learn and acclimate to this new prescription format. The Department focus the first year is to educate prescribing practitioners, pharmacists and consumers about the law. The licensing boards have a variety of options available to deal with violations, including a letter of advice that would be sent to non-compliant practitioners. This would be followed by a notice of non-compliance, and if appropriate, a citation. The licensing boards have not yet had the opportunity to address this issue.

The pharmacist, as a practice standard, has always had the responsibility of verifying an illegible prescription with the physician.

Although the law doesn’t grant specific rulemaking authority, the Board of Pharmacy, at its August meeting, will consider whether or not to draft a rule specifying the standard of practice for pharmacists on how to handle a prescription that does not meet the new requirements.

The law does not prohibit filling a prescription that the pharmacist would otherwise have filled prior to July 1,2003. Keep in mind also that pharmacists, as a routine standard of practice, have always verified with a physician a prescription that was unclear or illegible.

There is no reporting requirement in the law, however, arguably, if a prescription written by a health care practitioner does not meet the requirements it could be viewed as a general violation of the law. Again, for the first year the department’s focus will be educational not punishment.

The pharmacist will handle the script in the same manner as it was handled prior to July 1, 2003. If the pharmacist would have filled the prescription on June 30, then nothing in the law prevents the pharmacist from filling it on July 1.

Any information not contained on the preprinted prescription should be hand printed.

The law does not grant a “grace” period. It went into effect on July 1, 2003. The Department’s focus in the first year will be on education, not punishment.

No. The law applies to a “written prescription for a medicinal drug issued by a health care practitioner licensed by law to prescribe such drug…” A pharmacist is not licensed by law to prescribe drugs.

The law clearly references written prescriptions, not written orders. There is a distinct difference between the two. An order relates to administration; a prescription relates to dispensing. Thus, in our interpretation, the law does not apply to written orders.

No. The law requires that it must be capable of being understood by the pharmacist.

No.

That the prescription be legibly written or typed; that the quantity of the drug must be written in numerical and textual format (e.g. 10 -ten); that the date of the prescription must be written in textual letters (e.g. July 1, 2003); and that the practitioner must sign the prescription on the day it is issued.

The bill was signed into law by Governor Bush on May 23, 2003 and became effective on July 1, 2003.

The law was created in the interest of reducing prescription errors and keeping Florida citizens and visitors safe.

Senator Wasserman-Schultz and Representative Vana.

Section 456.42 Florida Statutes – Written prescriptions for medicinal drugs:

(1) A written prescription for a medicinal drug issued by a health care practitioner licensed by law to prescribe such drug must be legibly printed or typed so as to be capable of being understood by the pharmacist filling the prescription; must contain the name of the prescribing practitioner, the name and strength of the drug prescribed, the quantity of the drug prescribed, and the directions for use of the drug; must be dated; and must be signed by the prescribing practitioner on the day when issued. However, a prescription that is electronically generated and transmitted must contain the name of the prescribing practitioner, the name and strength of the drug prescribed, the quantity of the drug prescribed in numerical format, and the directions for use of the drug and must be dated and signed by the prescribing practitioner only on the day issued, which signature may be in an electronic format as defined in s. 668.003(4).

(2) A written prescription for a controlled substance listed in chapter 893 must have the quantity of the drug prescribed in both textual and numerical formats, must be dated in numerical, month/day/year format, or with the abbreviated month written out, or the month written out in whole, and must be either written on a standardized counterfeit-proof prescription pad produced by a vendor approved by the department or electronically prescribed as that term is used in s. 408.0611. As a condition of being an approved vendor, a prescription pad vendor must submit a monthly report to the department that, at a minimum, documents the number of prescription pads sold and identifies the purchasers. The department may, by rule, require the reporting of additional information.

For Current Licensees:

Login to your MQA Online Services Portal account, select Request Address Change from the “Manage My License” pulldown menu, make the necessary changes and click “Submit” to complete your update.
Note: You will receive a summary page that displays the updated address. The Division of Medical Quality Assurance is now issuing electronic licenses, which enables you to download a PDF copy of your license within two business days. The license can be retrieved in the License Documents menu of your MQA Online Services Portal, https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal account. To learn more, please visit the electronic licensing webpage at https://flhealthsource.gov/electronic-licensing/. Please see “How do I obtain a duplicate license”.

About Your Practice Location Address
The practice location address will display on the Internet and your license. Your practice location must be a physical location address and must not include a Post Office box. The mailing address will only display on the Internet if you have not provided a practice location address to the Department.

Establishment/Facility Name or Address
If the name or address change is for a facility that has changed location, a licensure application must be submitted. See your profession’s web page for additional information.

For New Applicants:

Contact your application processor to notify him/her of the change. If you do not know who your processor is, or do not know how to contact your processor, please e-mail us at info@flboardofmedicine.gov. Please be sure to include your file number or application number, the address currently listed on your application, and the address to which you would like to have your file changed.

Once you are logged into Online Services, select Update Address link from the side navigational menu.

Yes, Florida health care professionals can seek assistance for impairment through the Department’s Impaired Practitioner Programs – the Intervention Project for Nurses (IPN) or the Professionals Resource Network (PRN).

Impairment may be as a result of misuse or abuse of alcohol or drugs, or both, or due to a mental or physical condition which could affect the licensee’s ability to practice with skill and safety.

Intervention Project for Nurses, Inc. (IPN) (Contract Number: COMV5)
Linda L. Smith, APRN, M.Div, CAP, Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 49130 Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-9130
Toll Free: (800) 840-2720
Telephone Number: (904) 270-1620
FAX: (904) 270-1633
E-Mail: lsmith@ipnfl.org

Professionals Resource Network, Inc. (PRN) (Contract Number: COMW3)
P.O. Box 1020 Fernandina Beach, Florida 32035-1020
Toll Free: (800) 888-8PRN (8776)
Telephone Number: 904-277-8004
Fax: 904-261-3996
E-Mail: admin@flprn.org

You are required to report all criminal activities after you receive your medical license. You may report the criminal offense(s) online via Online Services, by e-mail MQAOnlineService@flhealth.gov, or by mail to:

Florida Department of Health
Licensure Support Services Unit, Bin #C-10
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3267.

If reporting by e-mail or mail, provide the date of the offense, a description of the crime, and the county and state of jurisdiction.

License Verification – Information regarding the licensure status of a practitioner. This is for use by persons or organizations that do not require a document certifying this information under seal.

Licensure Certification – Specific document certifying licensure status and disciplinary history, prepared by a representative of the Division of Medical Quality Assurance and bearing a seal. This document is generally required for applicants seeking licensure in other states and for use in court proceedings. There is a $25 fee for this service in accordance with Rule 64B-4.001, F.A.C.

Although this office does not issue letters of good standing, the above includes the current status of the license and whether agency action has been taken against the license. This is the standard format for all healthcare practitioners.

By visiting the board’s meetings page. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on either past or upcoming meetings. Review the meeting dates to locate the agenda you need and the board’s agenda should be posted on the right under Materials.

All board meetings are open to the public.

Board members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. You may apply by contacting the Governor’s Appointment Office, LL10 The Capitol, Tallahassee FL 32399-0001; or by calling (850) 488-2183.

You may learn more about the Complaint process and submit the appropriate complaint forms by visiting our online Enforcement website.

Five business days.

You can request a practitioner’s disciplinary history from our Public Records website.

To view a list of actively licensed practitioners, use the License Verification Search and select the county and profession from the drop-down list.

All medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, chiropractic physicians, podiatrists, and advanced practice registered nurse have profiles that list this information.

Users of later versions of AOL may experience problems accessing links within the Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) Services page when inside AOL and using the AOL browser. This is caused by pop-up security features within newer versions of AOL. Try to avoid accessing MQA Services from within AOL. The way around the problem, once you have started AOL, is to minimize the AOL window and, from your computer’s desktop, open up an Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser. Type the url directly on the address line of the browser and press Enter. You will be able to access all the features within the MQA Services page without experiencing problems.

This website is secured using a thawte Digital Certificate. This ensures that all information you send to us via the World Wide Web will be encrypted. Please click on the thawte Trusted Site Seal which demonstrates our commitment to your security. In addition to the thawte Trusted Site Seal, you will also see the “€œlock” emblem displayed in the browser. In Internet Explorer 6, the lock emblem can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the status bar. In Internet Explorer 7.0, the lock emblem can be found next to the address (URL) line. In FireFox and Netscape, the emblem can be found in both locations.

Log into your MQA Online Services Portal account and select Request Duplicate License from the “Manage My License Information” pulldown menu. Review your changes and click “Submit.”  

NOTE: Your license should be retrievable through the MQA Online Services Portal within 2 business days after your order is complete. If your profession is pending renewal or in a current renewal cycle, you may be asked to renew your license instead of being issued a duplicate license. 

No. There is no additional cost for making a credit card payment online.

Verify that you are using the email address: MedicalQualityAssurance@flhealth.gov. Also, if you have SPAM blocker on your computer, you will not be able to receive emails from Licensure Services without updating your SPAM blocker to allow emails from the Department. Please update your SPAM blocker to receive emails from @flhealth.gov or contact our Licensure Support Services at (850)-488-0595.

If a PDF file fails to download, shows up blank, or freezes your internet browser, the file was most likely corrupted during the download process. To correct the problem, you will need to first clear your browser’s cache, then close and restart the browser, which entails logging back into MQA Services to continue downloading the document. If the cache is not cleared the cached version of the document, which is likely damaged, will still appear.

If you are an allopathic physician, osteopathic physician or dentist, licensed in another state but do not hold a Florida medical license, and you plan to provide expert witness testimony in Florida, you must register for an Expert Witness Certificate. If you are interested in becoming an Expert Witness, please select “Licensing” for more information.

The current regulations regarding Telemedicine can be found in Rule 64B8-9.0141, FAC. In recent years, telemedicine has begun to expand beyond the boundaries of prescribing to include areas of practice such as remote robotic surgery and video conferencing. The Florida Board of Medicine acknowledges that the scope of telemedicine has broadened and will be discussing these changes at future meetings of the Surgical Care and Quality Assurance Committee.

Continuing Education is a requirement to renew a professional license. Section 456.025(7), F.S. requires the Department to implement an electronic continuing education tracking system for each biennial renewal cycle and to integrate such system into the licensure and renewal system. The two systems are now integrated.

No, you will not be able to create an account until you receive a license number from the Department of Health. Students need to be aware of this change in our license renewal process and begin reporting continuing education into the tracking system once they are licensed.

If the practitioner’s continuing education records are not complete, they will be prompted to enter their remaining continuing education hours before proceeding with their license renewal.

The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase (optional phase) will prompt practitioners to input required continuing education hours, but will not prevent licensure renewal. The second phase (mandatory) will require reporting of all required continuing education hours in order to proceed with license renewal.

Below is a chart identifying the optional phase and first mandatory phase for each profession.

During the mandatory phase you will not be able to renew a license without having your continuing education hours reported into the continuing education tracking system. If you do not have the hours to report, your license will move to a delinquent status at expiration. In order to renew a delinquent license you will be required to complete the continuing education requirements. Additional fees may apply.

No, you can report your hours free of charge anytime during the biennium by registering for the Free Basic Account. The Department encourages you to report early to avoid a delay in the license renewal process. For more information please visit www.CEatRenewal.com. Please note, if you take a course from a Florida Board approved Provider they are required to report on your behalf. If you take a course from a National organization it is your responsibility to report completion. There may be other ways for you to obtain credit towards continuing education required for license renewal. For specific approved methods of obtaining continuing education for your profession please review the Board rules by visiting www.flhealthsource.gov

No, subscriptions remain optional. There are a number of services you can receive by subscribing, however, it is optional.

You do however need to report your hours. You can always search for courses, report your hours, and view your course history free of charge by creating a Free Basic Account

No, the 7 day free trial is a trial period for the paid subscription service to determine if you would like to subscribe. The Free Basic Account is a free account and does not require you to give credit card information. This account allows you to view your course history and report CE hours free of charge during the two year biennium. To create a Free Basic Account you can login to your MQA Services account at www.flhealthsource.gov OR you can visit www.CEatRenewal.com and choose option 2.

You are able to view your course history in the tracking system free of charge. Your course history will show all the courses that have been reported, the completion date and the total number of hours. You can create your basic account or professional account at www.CEatRenewal.com 

If you are using the Basic Free Account it will be your responsibility to know the continuing education requirements for your Profession and calculate your compliance using the data listed on your course history.

If you enter your hours prior to renewal in a basic account the system will not generate a compliance status, however, the system will check compliance during your renewal period using the basic account. You will receive a complete or incomplete message at the time of renewal. Profession specific information and copies of the Board rules can be found at www.flhealthsource.gov.

With a free Basic Account you can view your basic course history, which will list the course name, educational provider name, date of completion and hours reported. It would then be up to you to determine whether all of the courses that have been reported will complete all of your specific continuing education requirements. You can also self-report any continuing education that may be missing.

A Professional Account (paid subscription) provides you with all of the tracking tools that CE Broker offers. Your transcript will display what your specific CE requirements are and will calculate what requirements have been met and what may still be outstanding. A Professional Account is a subscription service and is not a requirement but it can be a useful tool in managing your Florida continuing education requirements should you chose to subscribe.

If you take a course from a Florida approved continuing education provider, the provider is responsible for reporting your course completion. If you take your course from a National organization you will be required to self-report into the tracking system.

Pursuant to Rule 64B – 5.002, F.A.C Providers are allowed up to 30 days to report. However, during the renewal period this process is modified to allow licensees to self report courses taken from a Florida approved Provider to avoid a delay in license renewal.

You can report your hours by logging into MQA Services using your user id and password at www.flhealthsource.gov OR you can visit www.CEatRenewal.com Both sites will direct you to the tracking system to create a free basic account.

Only those physician assistants authorized by law and rule to prescribe shall be permitted to dispense sample drugs to patients. Dispensing of sample drugs to patients shall be permitted only when no charge is made to the patient or a third party for the service or the drugs and if the sample being dispensed could otherwise have been legally prescribed by the physician assistant. This rule shall not be construed to prohibit a physician assistant employed in a county health department from ordering and providing patients with prepackaged and prelabeled drugs in accordance with Section 154.04(1)(c), F.S. (Rule 64B8-30.006, F.A.C.)

Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s.465.0278.
(Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)

A: Only those physician assistants authorized by law and rule to prescribe shall be permitted to dispense sample drugs to patients. Dispensing of sample drugs to patients shall be permitted only when no charge is made to the patient or a third party for the service or the drugs and if the sample being dispensed could otherwise have been legally prescribed by the physician assistant. This rule shall not be construed to prohibit a physician assistant employed in a county health department from ordering and providing patients with prepackaged and prelabeled drugs in accordance with Section 154.04(1)(c), F.S. (Rule 64B8-30.006, F.A.C.)

Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s.465.0278.  (Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)

A: A supervisory physician may delegate to a fully licensed physician assistant the authority to prescribe or dispense any medication used in the supervisory physician’s practice unless such medication is listed in the formulary shown in 64B8-30.008 F.A.C.

A fully licensed physician assistant may only prescribe or dispense such medication under the following circumstances:

1. A physician assistant must clearly identify to the patient that he or she is a physician assistant. Furthermore, the physician assistant must inform the patient that the patient has the right to see the physician prior to any prescription being prescribed or dispensed by the physician assistant.

2. The supervisory physician must notify the department of his or her intent to delegate, on a department-approved form, before delegating such authority and notify the department of any change in prescriptive privileges of the physician assistant. Authority to dispense may be delegated only by a supervising physician who is registered as a dispensing practitioner in compliance with s. 465.0276. (Section 458.347(4)(e), F.S.)

Your due date to take Domestic Violence for the first time is based on the date you were initially licensed.

The chart below will assist you in determining when you will be required to complete this training.

If you were initially licensed prior to 8/1/06 you would follow the chart above because you were licensed prior to the implementation of the statute that requires domestic violence. Once you have taken the course for the first time, you have 6 years to complete it again.

If you were initially licensed after 8/1/06 you have 3 bienniums (6 years) to complete the course.

Example: A Physician expiring 1/31/13 initially licensed 5/31/08 would not have to complete Domestic Violence until the 13/15 biennium and would not follow the chart above.

Whenever you chose to take Domestic Violence within the timeframe above, you have 6 years from that date to complete it again.

According to Rule 64B8-13.005(1)(c),F.A.C., a course on the prevention of medical errors which includes a study of root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention, and patient safety, and which is approved by any state or federal government agency, or nationally affiliated professional association, or any provider of Category I or II American Medical Association Continuing Medical Education. One hour of a two hour course which is provided by a facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 395, F.S., for its employees may be used to partially meet this requirement. The course must include information relating to the five most mis-diagnosed conditions during the previous biennium, as determined by the Board. While wrong site/wrong procedure surgery continues to be the most common basis for quality of care violations, the following areas have been determined as the five most mis-diagnosed conditions: cancer related conditions; surgery complications; respiratory related conditions; OB/GYN related conditions; cardiology related conditions.

The cost to change an active status license to an inactive status at the time of renewal is $389, and $460 if not at renewal. Physicians with an inactive status license must still renew the license every two years during each biennium, are obligated to update their profile, but are not authorized to practice in the state of Florida. In addition, the physician is required by law to pay the annual $250 assessment fee to the Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) unless they qualify for a NICA exemption outlined in s.766.314, FS. If the license is not renewed after two consecutive biennial licensure cycles, the license will expire and the physician will have to reapply for licensure meeting the current licensure requirements. If the physician has not practiced for 2 out of the previous 4 years, the physician will be required to take the SPEX. For more information, please see “How do I reactivate an inactive license”.

The cost to change an active status license to a retired status at the time of renewal is $55, and $155 outside of the renewal period. The preferred method of payment is either a cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Department of Health. The licensed practitioner with a retired license is not authorized to practice in the state of Florida, but still holds a license. The practitioner is not obligated to update his/her profile data.

The documentation needed to change the status from active to retired during the renewal period is a paper renewal form and a check-mark in the box that says; “Change to Retired Status”. No other documents are needed for retirement during renewal. Mail the renewal form and the payment to the Department of Health, P.O. Box 6320, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6320.

The documentation needed to change the status from active to retired outside of the renewal period is a signed written statement from the licensee requesting the retired status. The statement must include your full name, license number and mailing address.

No other documents are needed for retiring. Mail the signed request and payment to the P.O. Box listed above.

The retired status license cannot be renewed by the normal renewal process and you will no longer receive notifications from the Department of Health. Please be aware that physicians choosing to change the retired status to active status will be required to pay all past renewal fees and if the physician has not practiced within the past 5 years the SPEX will be required for reactivating the license. For more information, please see “How do I reactivate a retired license.”

Section 458.336, F.S. grants the Board of Medicine the authority to adopt rules to establish the practice guidelines for drugs used to treat obesity. These practice guidelines can be found in Rule 64B8-9.012, F.A.C.

Although  tattoo artists and tattoo establishments are regulated by Environmental Health, there are no laws and rules in the Florida Medical Practice Act that directly address tattoo removal.

The registration and inspection of radiation devices, such as x-ray machines, is handled by Radiation Control. Radiological Personnel is regulated by the Council on Radiation Protection.

The laws and rules in the Florida Medical Practice Act do not specifically state whether or not a physician must display his or her license in the waiting area of their practice. The guidelines for the disclosure of licensure status can be found in Rule 64B8-11.003, F.A.C., which states:

All persons licensed pursuant to Chapter 458, F.S., and not exempt pursuant to Section 456.072(1)(t), F.S., shall identify the license under which he or she practices in one of the following manners:

1. The wearing of a name tag which identifies the licensee as either a medical doctor (M.D.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or an anesthesiologist assistant (A.A.);
2. The wearing of an article of clothing on the upper body which identifies the licensee as either a medical doctor (M.D.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or an anesthesiologist assistant (A.A.);
3. By orally disclosing to the patient, upon the licensee’s initial in-person contact with the patient, that the licensee is either a medical doctor, a physician assistant, or an anesthesiologist assistant;
4. By providing, upon the licensee’s initial in-person contact with the patient, a business card or similar document which identifies the licensee as either a medical doctor (M.D.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or an anesthesiologist assistant (A.A.); 
5. By placing notification in the lobby or waiting area of the location where the licensee practices, which contains a photo of the licensee and which identifies the licensee as either a medical doctor (M.D.), a physician assistant (P.A.), or an anesthesiologist assistant (A.A.).

The State of Florida does not offer reciprocity as an avenue for licensure. If you hold a medical license in another state and have practiced medicine in at least two of the last four years, we can offer licensure by endorsement.

I have been disciplined by a medical board in another state. Am I required to report it to the Florida Board of Medicine?

Yes. According to s. 458.331(1)(kk), Florida Statutes, a physician must report to the board, in writing, within 30 days if an action has been taken against one’s license to practice medicine in another state, territory, or country. The reporting physician should provide enough detail for the board to be able to locate and obtain the disciplinary documents. It is helpful for the physician to provide supporting documents; however, it is not required.

Per s. 456.042 Florida Statutes, the physician is also required to update her/his practitioner profile within 15 days after a change of any occurrence in each section of the profile.

A physician can perform acupuncture under his/her medical license as long as he/she is properly trained and educated in the field of acupuncture.

Chiropractors are licensed and regulated by the Florida Board of Chiropractic Medicine.

Podiatrists are licensed and regulated by the Florida Board of Podiatric Medicine.

Medical Doctors can obtain a License Certification using VeriDoc. If the state in which you are applying does not accept VeriDoc, or you hold a license in another health care profession, you can use the online Certification Request Form. More information about License Certification can be found at the Department of Health’s License Certification page.
Although this office does not issue letters of good standing, the above includes the current status of the license and whether agency action has been taken against the license. This is the standard format for all healthcare practitioners.

The scope of practice of CNAs, as well as other nursing professions (RN, APRN, etc.) is regulated by the Florida Board of Nursing.

Licensure Data and Profile Data are available for download at no charge from the Department of Health’s website.

Information about how to report Unlicensed Activity can be found on the website of the Bureau of Enforcement.

In order to obtain your medical records, you should send a written request via certified mail to the last known address of the physician (you can find a physician’s last known address on their Practitioner Profile). If no response is received within a reasonable amount of time, you can file a complaint through the Consumer Services Unit.

If you find abandoned medical records, you should contact the Consumer Services Unit, and they will determine the best course of action.

The Board of Medicine does not have the authority to grant CME hardship exemptions. A license cannot be renewed without proof of completion of all CME requirements

Currently, the only regulation that directly addresses laser hair removal is Rule 64B8-56.002, F.A.C., which states that electrologists can perform laser hair removal only under the direct supervision of a licensed physician who has been properly trained in hair removal. If this rule does not apply to you, but you are interested in performing laser hair removal, it is recommended that you contact an attorney for legal guidance.

The department only accepts payment in the form of cashier’s checks or money orders. The respondent should make the cashier’s check or money order payable to the Department of Health, and should mail the payment to the following address:

Department of Health
Compliance Management Unit
Post Office Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320

For payments delivered via Overnight service, send to:

Department of Health
Compliance Management Unit
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C76
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3276

The respondent must include their license number and case number on all documentation mailed to the Department in referenced to their compliance case. Any additional questions should be directed to  MQA.ConsumerServices@flhealth.gov.

According to Rule 64B8-35.002, F.A.C.:
The number of persons to be supervised shall be limited to insure that an acceptable standard of medical care is rendered in consideration of the following factors:

(a) Risk to patient;
(b) Educational preparation, specialty, and experience of the parties to the protocol;
(c) Complexity and risk of the procedures;
(d) Practice setting; and
(e) Availability of the physician or dentist

Approved medical schools:

• Allopathic medical school or allopathic college recognized and approved by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Office of Education or is a graduate of an allopathic medical school or allopathic college within a territorial jurisdiction of the United States recognized by the accrediting agency of the governmental body of that jurisdiction;

• a graduate of an allopathic foreign medical school must have had his or her medical credentials evaluated by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, and an active, valid certificate issued by that commission, and has passed the examinations utilized by that commission.

NCCPA certification is required to obtain a PA license. However, a PA is not required to maintain a NCCPA certification for licensure in Florida. If the PA elects not to be certified, he/she will be required to obtain 100 hours of CME for renewal of his/her license. A PA with the certification is only required to document the certification and completion of the required core courses in prevention of medical errors and, every third biennium, the domestic violence course.

Yes. Currently there is no specific law that states a physician may not prescribe to family members.

Visit the Office for Civil Rights website for information to assist patients and families in understanding HIPAA privacy rights and procedures and for information on filing a complaint or see the HHS.gov FAQ http://www.hhs.gov/answers/hipaa/where-can-i-find-information-about-health-information-privacy/index.html

Prescribing physician assistants must complete 10 hours of CME in each specialty area of the supervising physician. These hours are included in the 98 general CME. Effective January 1, 2017, three of the ten specialty hours must consist of a course on the safe and effective prescribing of controlled substance medications given by a statewide professional association of physicians in this state accredited to provide educational activities designated for the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award Category I credit or designated by the American Academy of Physician Assistants as a Category I credit.

Log into your MQA Online Services Portal account and select Request Retired Status during renewal or Request Retired Status after Expiration Date outside of renewal from the “Manage My License” pulldown menu.

The retired status license cannot and does not need to be renewed by the normal renewal process and you will no longer receive notifications from the Department of Health. Please be aware that physicians choosing to change the retired status to active status will be required to pay all past renewal fees, enter into CE Broker all continuing medical education credits from each biennium since the license was last renewed and, if the physician has not practiced within the past 5 years, complete the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX) given by the Federation of State Medical Boards will be required for reactivating the license.

Log into your MQA Online Services Portal account and select Request Inactive Status from the “Manage My License” pulldown menu.

After Expiration:

Log into your MQA Online Services Portal account and select Request Inactive Status after Expiration Date from the “Manage My License” pulldown menu.

NOTE: Your inactive status license must be renewed prior to the expiration date. Reactivation of your license will require verification that you have completed the required continuing education during the period since your last active renewal. Licenses that have been inactive for over 4 years must provide proof of the practice of medicine during their inactive status. Employment does not have to have been in Florida. Licensees who have been inactive for over 4 years and have not practiced medicine during that time must complete the SPEX exam. If the license is not renewed after two consecutive biennial licensure cycles, the license will expire and the physician will have to reapply for licensure meeting the current licensure requirements.

In accordance with section 456.44(2), Florida Statutes, an allopathic physician licensed under Chapter 458, an osteopathic physician licensed under Chapter 459, a podiatric physician licensed under Chapter 461, a dentist licensed under Chapter 466, a physician assistant licensed under Chapter 458 or Chapter 459, or an advanced registered nurse practitioner certified under part I of Chapter 464 who prescribes any controlled substance listed as Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV or Schedule V narcotics as defined in s. 893.03, for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain, must designate himself or herself as a controlled substance prescribing practitioner on the practitioner profile.
To designate oneself as a controlled substance prescribing practitioner as provided in section 456.44, Florida Statutes:
Visit our secure “Online Services” website at: https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal
If you have not created an account in our new Online Services Portal, click “No” and follow the instructions provided to complete your one-time account registration.
In you have already created an account, click “Yes” and log in using your MQA Online Services user ID and password. This is the same user ID and password used to renew your license online.
Under the “Manage My License” section, select “Controlled Substance Prescribing” and follow the instructions to indicate you are a prescriber of controlled substances for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain.
Note: The online system can assist you if you do not remember your login ID or password. If you are unable to login please call 850-488-0595 and a representative will assist you.
“Chronic nonmalignant pain” is defined as pain unrelated to cancer which persists beyond the usual course of disease or the injury that is the cause of the pain or more than 90 days after surgery.

The Board of Medicine makes available to the public the following materials seven days prior to each meeting: Florida Administrative Register notices, meeting agendas and meeting public books while also providing the meeting audio and meeting minutes within 7 days after the meeting. The following materials will remain on our website for one year to the date of the meeting: meeting agendas, meeting audio and meeting minutes while the following materials will be removed from our website within two weeks after the date of the meeting: meeting public books and Florida Administrative Register notices.

You may search for or request public records at our Public Records website. There you will find information such as meeting agendas, meeting audio, meeting minutes, meeting public books, license verifications, disciplinary records, and declaratory statements.

Not unless an order requiring supervision has been issued by the Board of Medicine.

Their scope of practice is not limited but an ACN physician may only practice in an approved facility.

You may change locations after licensure but must follow these requirements:

• The new location must be on the department’s list of approved facilities.
• You must notify the Board of Medicine office within 30 days of changing locations.

You have been licensed to practice only in a facility approved as an area of critical need. Practicing in any other location that is not an approved facility is a violation of the conditions of your license.

However, you may practice in multiple locations that are designated as areas of critical need and are on the department’s approved facility list. If you want to add locations after initial licensure, you must notify the Board of Medicine office within 30 days of adding practice locations.

Yes, if you are ordering pharmaceuticals in an approved facility where you are practicing.

No. You must work in an approved facility that is in an area of critical need. Home health care and mobile facilities do not meet the requirements for designation as an approved facility.

A license with the current status of inactive or retired can be “reactivated” at any time by contacting the Board of Medicine in writing. You may submit the request by emailing BOM_PostLicensure@flhealth.gov or by mailing the request to our office. The requirements to reactivate a license are checked individually for each licensee. The Board office will contact the requester with the individual requirements for fees and CMEs that would need to be completed for reactivation of an inactive or retired license holder.

General requirements to reactivate a license are:

• Fees for reactivation
• Proof of completing all required CME for each year of inactive or retired status.
• Completed Health History Questions and Financial Responsibility form within the reactivation packet.

Any physician whose license has been inactive or retired, who has not practiced for 2 years out of the previous 4 years in another jurisdiction, shall be required to appear before the Credentials Committee of the Board and establish the ability to practice with the skill and safety sufficient to protect the health, and welfare of the public. At the time of appearance, the physician must:

• Demonstrate compliance with 1 through 3 above.
• Demonstrate successful completion of the SPEX exam with a score of at least 75 achieved within the year prior to the appearance before the Credentials Committee. For information about the SPEX please log onto the Federation of State Medical Boards website at www.fsmb.org.
• Account for any activities related to the practice of medicine during the period that the license was on retired status or not practicing in another jurisdiction and establish an absence of malpractice or disciplinary actions pending in any jurisdiction.

The Department shall refuse to reactivate the retired status license of a physician who is under investigation or prosecution in any jurisdiction for an action that would constitute a violation of chapter 458, FS or the professional practice acts administered by the department and the boards, until 15 days after the Department receives the final results of the investigation or prosecution.

Any surgical procedure performed in a physician’s office. See Rule 64B8-9.009(1)(d), F.A.C., for more information.

Section 458.238, F.S. – Office Surgeries

Rule 64B-4.002, F.A.C. – Office Surgery Inspection Fee

Rule 64B-4.003, F.A.C. – Office Surgery Registration Requirements, Fees

Rule 64B8-9.009, F.A.C. – Standard of Care for Office Surgery

Rule 64B8-9.0091, F.A.C. – Requirement for Physician Office Registration; Inspection or Accreditation

Rule 64B8-9.0092, F.A.C. – Approval of Physician Office Accrediting Organizations

Level I office surgeries (Rule 64B8-9.009(3), F.A.C.) include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Minor procedures such as excision of skin lesions, moles, warts, cysts, lipomas, and repair of lacerations or surgery limited to the skin and subcutaneous tissue performed under topical or local anesthesia not involving drug-induced alteration of consciousness other than minimal preoperative tranquilization of the patient.
2. Liposuction involving the removal of less than 1000cc supernatant fat.
3. Incision and drainage of superficial abscesses, limited endoscopies such as proctoscopies, skin biopsies, arthrocentesis, thoracentesis, paracentesis, dilation of urethra, cystoscopic procedures, and closed reduction of simple fractures or small joint dislocations (i.e., finger and toe joints).
4. Anesthesia is local, topical, or none. There is no drug-induced alteration of consciousness other than minimal preoperative tranquilization of the patient.
5. Chances of complications requiring hospitalization are remote.

Level II office surgeries (Rules 64B8-9.009(4) and (5), F.A.C.) include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Procedures during which perioperative medication and sedation are administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or rectally, thus making intra- and postoperative monitoring necessary.
2. Hemorrhoidectomies, hernia repairs, reduction of simple fractures, large joint dislocations, breast biopsies, colonoscopies, and liposuction involving the removal of up to 4000cc supernatant fat.
3. Surgeries in which the patient is placed in a state which allows the patient to tolerate unpleasant procedures while maintaining adequate cardiorespiratory function and the ability to respond purposefully to verbal command and/or tactile stimulation. Patients whose only response is reflex withdrawal from a painful stimulus are sedated to a greater degree than encompassed by this definition.

Level III office surgery (Rule 64B8-9.009(6), F.A.C.) is that surgery which involves, or reasonably should require, the use of general anesthesia or major conduction anesthesia and preoperative sedation. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of:

1. Intravenous sedation beyond that defined for Level II office surgery. General anesthesia refers to a loss of consciousness and loss of vital reflexes with probable requirement of external support of pulmonary or cardiac functions or major conduction anesthesia.
2. Only patients classified under the American Society of Anesthesiologist’s risk classification criteria as Class I or II are appropriate candidates to undergo Level III office surgery procedures.

Please print and fill out the Office Surgery Registration Application. Mail the completed application along with the required registration fee and all staff credentials to Department of Health, Post Office Box 6330, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330.

The fee is $150. See Rule 64B-4.003(2), F.A.C., for more information.

Most registration applications can be processed and approved within 30 days of receiving a complete application. Incomplete applications will take longer to process.

To serve as a Designated Physician, a physician must have a current, active, and unencumbered license and practice medicine at the physician office where office surgeries are to be performed.

No. However, before a Designated Physician can perform office surgeries, he or she must provide all necessary credentials to the Department of Health to demonstrated that he or she is qualified to be added to an office surgery registration. If a Designated Physician does not intend to perform office surgeries, he or she must provide a letter to the Department stating that he or she will practice medicine at the office surgery facility but will not perform office surgeries.

Every Florida licensed physician who holds an active Florida license and performs certain Level I or any Level II or Level III office surgeries in an office surgery facility registered in Florida must register with the Department of Health. It is the physician’s responsibility to ensure that every office in which he or she performs a regulated procedure is registered regardless of whether other physicians are practicing in the same office or whether the office is non-physician owned.

Physicians/surgeons are expected to perform only those surgeries they are competent to perform. Specific education requirements are listed in Rules 64B8-9.009(4)(b)2.a.b. and 64B8-9.009(6)(b)1.a.b., F.A.C.

Unless they are board certified or board eligible and are under a qualifying transfer agreement, physicians who perform Level II or Level III office-based surgeries must have staff privileges to perform the same procedures at a hospital licensed under section 395, F.S. See Rule 64B8-9.009(6)(b)1.a., F.A.C., for more information.

Among other requirements, a physician/surgeon performing Level II or Level III office surgeries needs either staff privileges to perform the same procedures at a licensed hospital or a qualifying transfer agreement with a licensed hospital within 30 minutes travel time. See Rule 64B8-9.009(4)(b)1., F.A.C., for more information.

No, so long as the staff privileges are at a hospital within reasonable proximity (within 30 minutes), and you are able to perform the same procedures with your staff privileges as those performed in the office surgery facility.

The physician/surgeon performing surgical procedures and recovery room personnel must be certified in ACLS by an approved provider. See Rules 64B8-9.009(4)(b)4. and 64B8-9.009(6)(b)4., F.A.C., for more information.

At least one staff person assisting the physician/surgeon during surgery must be certified in BLS by an approved provider. See Rules 64B8-9.009(4)(b)2.b. and 64B8-9.009(6)(b)1.b., F.A.C., for more information.

A pediatric patient is a child of 13 years of age or younger. Certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support is required when treating pediatric patients. See Rule 64B8-9.009(1)(e), F.A.C., for more information.

A physician/surgeon must have documented staff privileges at a licensed hospital within reasonable proximity (30 minutes) to perform the same procedure in that hospital as that being performed in the office setting, must be able to document satisfactory completion of training such as Board certification or Board eligibility by a Board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties or any other board approved by the Board of Medicine, or must be able to demonstrate comparable background, training, and experience. In addition, the physician/surgeon must have knowledge of the principles of general anesthesia.

Every Florida licensed physician who holds an active Florida license and performs Level II or Level III office surgery, as fully defined in Rule 64B8-9.009, F.A.C., must register with the Board of Medicine. It is the physician’s responsibility to ensure that every office in which he or she performs Levels II or III surgical procedures as described above is registered, regardless of whether other physicians are practicing in the same office or whether the office is non-physician owned. The new physician/surgeon must submit a signed office surgery registration form and all required documentation. The physician/surgeon must immediately notify the Board office, in writing, of any changes to the registration information. Office Surgery Registration Application.

A physician/surgeon cannot provide anesthesia when performing Level II or Level III procedures. In such cases, anesthesia must be provided by a qualified anesthesia provider. Licensed health care personnel, such as a physician/anesthesiologist, certified registered nurse anesthetist, physician assistant, anesthesiologist assistant under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist, or registered nurse qualified by training in anesthesiology, may assist the physician/surgeon. See Rules 64B8-9.009(4)(b)4. and 64B8-9.009(6)(b)4., F.A.C., for more information.

A physician/surgeon cannot administer anesthesia and perform the surgical procedure. A qualified anesthesia provider is required to administer the anesthesia and cannot perform any other function in the procedure room. See Rule 64B8-9.009(4), F.A.C., for more information.

The crash cart must include, at a minimum, the following resuscitative medications:

• Adenosine 6 mg/2 ml x 3
• Albuterol Inhaler
• Amiodarone 150 mg x 2
• Atropine 0.4 mg/ml; 3 ml
• Calcium chloride 10%; 10 ml
• Dextrose 50%; 50 ml
• Diphenhydramine 50 mg
• Dopamine 200 mg minimum
• Epinephrine 1:10,000 dilution; 10 ml
• Epinephrine 1:1000 dilution; 1 ml x 3
• Flumazenil 0.1 mg/ml; 5 ml x 2
• Furosemide 40 mg
• Hydrocortisone or Methylprednisolone or Dexamethasone
• Lidocaine 100 mg
• Magnesium sulfate 1 gm x 2
• Naloxone 0.4 mg/ml; 3 ml
• Propranolol 1 mg x 1
• Sodium bicarbonate 50 mEq/50 ml
• Paralytic agent that is appropriate for use in rapid sequence intubation
• A calcium channel blocker class drug
• Intralipid 20% 500 ml solution (only if non-neuraxial regional blocks are performed)

See Rule 64B8-9.009(4)(b), F.A.C., for more information.

Level II office surgeries require the following equipment:

• Full and current crash cart at the location the anesthetizing is being carried out
• A benzodiazepine must be stocked, but not on the crash cart
• Suction devices, endotracheal tubes, laryngoscopes, etc.
• Positive pressure ventilation device plus an oxygen supply
• Double tourniquet for the Bier block procedure
• Monitors for blood pressure/EKG/oxygen saturation
• Emergency intubation equipment
• Adequate lighting
• Emergency power source able to produce adequate power to run required equipment for a minimum of two hours
• Appropriate sterilization equipment
• IV solution and IV equipment

See Rules 64B8-9.009(2) and 64B8-9.009(4)(b)3., F.A.C., for more information.

Applicable statutes and rules do not specify standard dimensions for the physical plant of an office surgery facility. It is suggested that you contact your local city and county clerk’s office for specific rules and code descriptions and restrictions.

A physician/surgeon must be assisted by a qualified anesthesia provider, or a registered nurse may assist with the anesthesia if the physician/surgeon is ACLS certified. An assisting anesthesia provider cannot function in any other capacity during the procedure. If additional assistance is required due to the specific procedure or patient circumstances, it must be provided by a physician, osteopathic physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or operating room technician. See Rule 64B8-9.009(4), F.A.C., for more information.

Licensed health care providers are required to monitor the recovery of a patient who has been given anesthesia. A physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse with an ACLS certification (for Level II procedures) and post-anesthesia training and experience (for Level III procedures) must be available. See Rule 64B8-9.009(4)(b)4., F.A.C., for Level II office surgeries and see Rule 64B8-9.009(6)(b)4., F.A.C., for Level III office surgeries.

At least two monitors must be in the recovery room at all times, one of whom must be ACLS certified when the patient has undergone a Level II procedure and one of whom must be ACLS certified and have post-anesthesia care training and experience when the patient has undergone a Level III procedure. See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(h)1., F.A.C., for more information.

Yes, a surgical log is required. Copies of the suggested form are available online at the Board of Medicine website. See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(c), F.A.C., for more information.

The information required on the surgical log are:

• Confidential patient identifier
• Time of arrival in the procedure room
• Name of the physician who provided medical clearances
• Surgeon’s name
• Diagnosis
• CPT Codes
• Patient ASA classification
• Type of procedure
• Level of surgery
• Anesthesia provider
• Type of anesthesia used
• Duration of the procedure
• Type of postoperative care
• Duration of recovery
• Disposition of the patient upon discharge
• List of medications used during surgery and recovery
• Any adverse incidents as defined in section 458.351, F.S.

See Rule 64B8-9.009(2)(c), F.A.C., for more information.

For purposes of reporting to the Department of Health, an adverse incident is an event over which a physician or other licensee could exercise control and which is associated in whole or in part with a medical intervention, rather than the condition for which such intervention occurred, and which results in the following patient injuries:

• The death of a patient
• Brain or spinal damage to a patient
• The performance of a surgical procedure on the wrong patient
• A procedure to remove unplanned foreign objects remaining from a surgical procedure
• The performance of a wrong-site surgical procedure; the performance of a wrong surgical procedure; or the surgical repair of damage to a patient resulting from a planned surgical procedure where the damage is not a recognized specific risk as disclosed to the patient and documented through the informed-consent process and if one of the listed procedures in this paragraph results in: death; brain or spinal damage; permanent disfigurement not to include the incision scar; fracture or dislocation of bones or joints; a limitation of neurological, physical or sensory function; or any condition that required transfer of the patient
• Any condition that required the transfer or a patient to a hospital licensed under section 395, F.S., from any facility or any office maintained by a physician for the practice of medicine that is not licensed under section 395, F.S.

See Rule 64B9-9.001(1)(a), F.A.C., for more information.

The report must be submitted by every licensee who was involved in the adverse incident. If multiple licensees are involved in the adverse incident, they may meet this requirement by signing off on one report; however, each signee is responsible for the accuracy of the report. See Rule 64B8-9.001(2), F.A.C., for more information.

Adverse incident reports must be postmarked and sent by certified mail or emailed within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of the adverse incident.

You may download and print a copy of the Physician Office Adverse Incident Report form.

Mail by certified mail the completed adverse incident report to

Department of Health, Consumer Services Unit,

4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-75,

Tallahassee, Florida 32399

or send by email to MQA.ConsumerServices@flhealth.gov.

The county medical examiner should be notified immediately. See Rule 64B8-9.001(3), F.A.C., for more information.

The rules require physicians performing office surgery to have a risk management program. It does not require them to retain a risk manager. See Rule 64B8-9.009, F.A.C., for more information

The pause/time out rule is intended to prevent wrong site, wrong side, wrong patient, and wrong surgeries/procedures by requiring the surgical team to pause prior to the initiation of a surgery/procedure to confirm the side, site, patient identity, and surgery/procedure to be performed. See Rule 64B8-9.007, F.A.C., for more information.

Office surgery facilities and facilities licensed under section 395, F.S., (hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers) are required to perform a pause/time out. See Rule 64B8-9.007(2)(b), F.A.C., for more information.

All office surgery facility applicants must undergo a preregistration inspection. Once an application for office surgery registration is approved, the facility chooses either to undergo annual inspections by the Department of Health or to hold a current accreditation with a national accrediting organization or an accrediting organization approved by the Florida Board of Medicine. See Rule 64B8-9.0091, F.A.C., for more information.

The inspection fee is $1500 payable after the facility is inspected. Following an inspection, an invoice is generated and mailed or emailed to the facility for payment of the fee. See Rule 64B-4.002, F.A.C., for more information.

QUAD A, Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and American Accreditation Commission International. See Rule 64B8-9.0092, F.A.C., for more information.

Submit a copy of your accreditation certificate and a copy of your accreditation survey with your application and after each inspection to Department of Health, Post Office Box 6330, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330 or send by email to PMC_OSR@flhealth.gov.

Yes. All office surgery facility applicants must complete the Professional Liability Coverage Disclosure, choosing the option(s) that best describe(s) the facility.

Yes. If gluteal fat grafting procedures are being performed, the office surgery facility applicant must establish and maintain additional liability coverage. See Section 458.328(1)(c), F.S.

No. Only hand-written signatures are acceptable.

All physicians who perform certain Level I or any Level II or Level III surgical procedures in a physician office setting must register the office with the Department of Health unless that office is licensed pursuant to Chapter 390 or 395, Florida Statutes. Office surgery is defined as surgery that is performed outside a hospital, an ambulatory surgical center, abortion clinic, or other medical facility licensed by the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, or a successor agency.

Name changes require legal documentation showing the name change. To change your name, please submit supporting documents, which must be one of the following:

1. A copy of a state issued marriage license that includes the original signature and seal from the clerk of the court.
2. A divorce decree restoring your maiden name.
3. A court order showing the name change (adoption, legal name change, federal identity change).
4. A copy of a certificate of naturalization or H1B Employment Visa (Note: Foreign applicants and/or licensees may not have state issued documents)

Any one of these will be accepted unless the department has a question about the authenticity of the document.

The Division of Medical Quality Assurance is now issuing electronic licenses, which enables you to download a PDF copy of your license within two business days. The license can be retrieved in the License Documents menu of your MQA Online Services Portal, https://mqa-vo.doh.state.fl.us/datamart/voservicesportal account. To learn more, please visit the electronic licensing webpage at https://flhealthsource.gov/electronic-licensing/.

For requests by mail, please include your full name as it appears on your license, profession, license number, your new name, your date of birth, the last four digits of your social security number, and your signature. Please submit your name change along with supporting document(s) 5-7 business days to allow processing if you need to renew online.

If you do not require a new license to reflect your new name, you may submit your request online or by mail along with legible supporting document(s) to one of the following:

•  Log onto your MQA Online Services Portal account , select “Request Name Change” from the “Manage My License” dropdown menu
• Mailing address – DOH, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Post Office Box 6320, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-6320

Dispensing is defined as selling medicinal drugs to patients in the office. A practitioner who writes prescriptions or provides complimentary professional samples is not a “dispensing practitioner,” and therefore does not need to register with the department.

A practitioner authorized by law to prescribe drugs may dispense such drugs to her or his patients in the regular course of her or his practice in compliance with s. 465.0276, Florida Statutes.

Duly authorized agents and employees of the department shall inspect in a lawful manner at all reasonable hours any pharmacy, hospital, clinic, wholesale establishment, manufacturer, physician’s office, or any other place in the state in which drugs and medical supplies are manufactured, packed, packaged, made, stored, sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale, or kept for sale for the purpose of:

(a) Determining if any of the provisions of this chapter or any rule promulgated under its authority is being violated;
(b) Securing samples or specimens of any drug or medical supply after paying or offering to pay for such sample or specimen; or
(c) Securing such other evidence as may be needed for prosecution under this chapter.

To print a Dispensing Practitioner Form online, click “Forms & Requests” on the Resources page.

Fees:
Registration      $100
Renewal      $100

Mail the completed Dispensing Practitioner Form and $100 Fee* to:

Department of Health
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Board of Medicine
PO Box 6320
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6320

* Cashier’s check or money order is required payable to Department of Health. Do not send cash.

Additional information regarding Dispensing Practitioners can be found at s. 465.0276, s. 465.017, F.S and Rule 64B8-3.006, FAC.

There are two types of license relinquishments, administrative and disciplinary. Rule 64B8-8.018, FAC provides that a Florida licensee may administratively relinquish the license at any time, provided there is:

• no investigation against the license already initiated;
• no investigation against the license anticipated;
• no disciplinary action against the license pending; and
• not current restrictions against the license by the Board of this state or any other jurisdiction

This type of administrative relinquishment shall not be considered disciplinary action against the license as that term is used in Section 458.331(1)(b), Florida Statutes.

Click here to request a Voluntary Relinquishment Form.  Mail the completed Voluntary Relinquishment Form to:

Department of Health
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Board of Medicine
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C03
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3253

If a licensee wishes to voluntarily relinquish a license, but the licensee or the license is currently under any of the constraints set forth above, then the licensee may relinquish the license only with the approval of the Board of Medicine. If the voluntary relinquishment is accepted by the Board of Medicine, then the acceptance of the voluntary relinquishment of the license shall be considered disciplinary action against the license as that term is used in Section 458.331(1)(b), Florida Statutes, and shall be reported as such by the Board of Medicine. In addition, the licensee will be required to cease practice immediately upon signing the voluntary relinquishment and agrees to never reapply for licensure in Florida again

How do I report an adverse incident?

Section 458.351, Florida Statutes, requires any adverse incident that occurs on or after January 1, 2000, in any office maintained by a physician for the practice of medicine which is not licensed under chapter 395 be reported to the department.

Adverse incidents must be reported within 15 days after the occurrence of the adverse incident.

Click here to print an Adverse Incident Form.

Mail the completed Adverse Incident Form by certified mail to:

Department of Health
Consumer Services Unit
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C75
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3275

For purposes of notification to the department, the term adverse incident means an event over which the physician or licensee could exercise control and which is associated in whole or in part with a medical intervention, rather than the condition for which such intervention occurred, and which results in the following patient injuries:

(a) The death of a patient.
(b) Brain or spinal damage to a patient.
(c) The performance of a surgical procedure on the wrong patient.
(d) 1. The performance of a wrong-site surgical procedure;
2. The performance of a wrong surgical procedure; or
3. The surgical repair of damage to a patient resulting from a planned surgical
procedure where the damage is not a recognized specific risk as disclosed to the
patient and documented through the informed-consent process if it results in: death;
brain or spinal damage; permanent disfigurement not to include the incision scar;
fracture or dislocation of bones or joints; a limitation of neurological, physical, or
sensory function; or any condition that required the transfer of the patient.
(e) A procedure to remove unplanned foreign objects remaining from a surgical procedure.
(f) Any condition that required the transfer of a patient to a hospital licensed under chapter 395 from an ambulatory surgical center licensed under chapter 395 or any facility or any office maintained by a physician for the practice of medicine which is not licensed under chapter 395.

Additional information regarding Adverse Incidents can be found at s. 458.351, F.S., and Rule 64B8-9.001, F.A.C.

Each year the Department of Health contracts with experts to review cases against medical professionals who may have failed to provide appropriate medical care such as is expected of a medical practitioner in the State of Florida. Being an expert witness for the Department not only helps to improve the efficiency of the disciplinary process, but also allows you to play an active role in helping to regulate your profession.

Experts must:

• Have a current Florida license;
• Be actively practicing in Florida;
• Shall not have ever been the subject of any disciplinary action by the medical licensing authority of any state or jurisdiction, and is currently; and
• Shall remain in good standing with the respective healthcare profession for which his or her services are required.

The Department offers two types of expert witness contracts.

• If you wish to provide your services pro bono, Board rules provide an official recognition for time spent in the review of a case and written opinion by awarding Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits of 5.0 hours per case, up to a maximum of 15 hours per biennial license renewal period towards risk management. For services other than case review and written opinion, such as deposition and trial services, you will be compensated at a modest rate of $160.00 per hour.
• If you wish to be a paid expert, you will be compensated at a modest rate of $125.00 per hour for time spent in the review of a case and written opinion and $160.00 for deposition and trial services. Your deposition testimony would typically be paid by the opposing counsel at your requested fee.
• Additionally, the Department reimburses travel expenses in accordance with the Department of Health 40-1 (Official Travel of Department of Health Employees and Non-Employees.)

If you are interested in becoming an expert witness for the Department and your board, please click on the link below to fill-out and submit your application:

Apply Online →

If you are a physician licensed in another state but do not hold a Florida medical license, and you plan to provide expert witness testimony in Florida, you must register for an Expert Witness Certificate. For more information, click on Apply located on this page.

A physician must submit notice to the Board when he/she enters into

• A formal supervisory relationship or standing orders with an emergency medical technician or paramedic licensed pursuant to s. 401.27, which relationship or orders contemplate the performance of medical acts, or
• An established protocol with an advanced registered nurse practitioner, which protocol contemplates the performance of medical acts identified and approved by the joint committee pursuant to s. 464.003(2) or acts set forth in s. 464.012(3) and (4), the physician shall submit notice to the board.

The physician shall file notice within 30 days of entering into the relationship, orders or protocol. Notice shall also be filed within 30 days after terminating the relationship, orders, or protocol

APRN/EMT/Paramedic Protocol (PDF)

Mail the completed Protocol Form to:

Department of Health
Division of Medical Quality Assurance
Board of Medicine
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C03
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3253
(850) 488-0596 FAX

Additional information regarding protocols can be found at s. 458.348, F.S.

As a condition of licensing and maintaining an active license, and prior to the issuance or renewal of an active license or reactivation of an inactive license for the practice of medicine, an applicant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the board and the department, financial responsibility to pay claims and costs ancillary thereto arising out of the rendering of, or the failure to render, medical care or services.

The licensee must notify the Board in writing of any change of status relating to financial responsibility compliance or exemption at least 10 calendar days prior to the change. In addition, the licensee is required to maintain such written documentation as may be necessary to prove his/her compliance with or exemption from financial responsibility requirements for a period of not less than 7 years.

Financial Responsibility options are divided into two categories, coverage and exemptions, pursuant to s. 458.320, Florida Statutes.

Using the Financial Responsibility Form, you will select only one option of the ten provided:

Coverage Options

1. I do not have hospital staff privileges and I have obtained and maintain professional liability coverage in an amount not less than $100,000 per claim, with a minimum annual aggregate of not less than $300,000 from an authorized insurer as defined under s.624.09, F. S., from a surplus lines insurer as defined under s. 626.914(2), F.S., from a risk retention group as defined under s. 627.942, F.S., from the Joint Underwriting Association established under s. 627.351(4), F. S., or through a plan of self-insurance as provided in s. 627.357, F.S. 2.
2. I have hospital staff privileges and I have professional liability coverage in an amount not less than $250,000 per claim, with a minimum annual aggregate of not less than $750,000 from an authorized insurer as defined under s. 624.09, F. S., from a surplus lines insurer as defined under s. 626.914(2), F. S., from a risk retention group as defined under s. 627.942, F.S., from the Joint Underwriting Association established under s. 627.351(4), F. S., or through a plan of self insurance as provided in s.627.357, F .S.
3. I do not have hospital staff privileges and I have established an irrevocable letter of credit or an escrow account in an amount of $100,000/$300,000, in accordance with Chapter 675, F. S., for a letter of credit and s. 625.52, F. S., for an escrow account.
4.  I have hospital staff privileges and I have established an irrevocable letter of credit or escrow account in an amount of $250,000/$750,000, in accordance with Chapter 675, F. S., for a letter of credit and s. 625.52, F. S., for an escrow account.
5.  I have elected not to carry medical malpractice insurance, however, I agree to satisfy any adverse judgments up to the minimum amounts pursuant to s. 458.320(5)(g) 1 or 459.0085(5)(g)1, F. S. I understand that I must either post notice in the form of a “sign” prominently displayed in the reception area or provide a written statement to any person to whom medical services are being provided that I have decided not to carry medical malpractice insurance. I understand that such a sign or notice must contain the wording specified in s. 458.320(5)(g) or 459.0085(5)(g), F. S.

Exemptions

1. I practice medicine exclusively as an officer, employee, or agent of the federal government, or of the state or its agencies or subdivisions. For the purposes of this subsection, an agent of the state, its agencies, or its subdivisions is a person who is eligible for coverage under any self-insurance or insurance program authorized by the provisions of s.768.28 (16).
2. I hold a limited license issued pursuant to s. 458.317 or 459.0075, F. S., and practice only under the scope of the limited license.
3. I do not practice medicine in the State of Florida. I understand that if I resume any practice of medicine in this state, I must notify the department of such activity and fulfill the financial responsibility requirements of Chapters 458, or 459, F.S. before resuming the practice of medicine in the State of Florida.
4. I meet all of the following criteria:
   1. I have held an active license to practice in this state or another state or some combination thereof for more than 15 years.
   2. I am retired or maintain part time practice of no more than 1000 patient contact hours per year.
   3. I have had no more than two claims resulting in an indemnity exceeding $25,000 within the previous five-year period.
   4. I have not been convicted of or plead guilty or nolo contendere to any criminal violation specified in Chapter 458 or 459, F. S.
   5. I have not been subject, within the past ten years of practice, to license revocation or suspension, probation for a period of three years or longer, or a fine of $500 or more for a violation of Chapter 458 or 459, F.S., or the medical practice act of another jurisdiction. A regulatory agency’s acceptance of a relinquishment of license stipulation, consent order or other settlement offered in response to or in anticipation of filing of administrative charges against a license shall be construed as action against a license. I understand if I am claiming an exception under this section that I must either post notice in the form of a sign, prominently displayed in the reception area or provide a written statement to any person to whom medical services are being provided, that I have decided not to carry medical malpractice insurance. I understand such a sign or notice must contain the wording specified in s. 458.320(5) (f)7 or 459.0085(5)(f)7, F. S.
5. I practice only in conjunction with my teaching duties at an accredited medical school or its teaching hospitals. I understand that I may practice medicine to the extent that such practice is incidental to and a necessary part of my duties in connection with my teaching position in the medical school. (Interns and residents do not qualify for this exemption).

Section 458.351, Florida Statutes provides for the optional use of an Informed Consent Form for Cataract Operation with or without Implantation of Intraocular Lens developed and approved by the Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine.

As provided in Rule 64B8-9.017, Florida Administrative Code the Board-approved informed consent form is not executed until:

1. The physician performing the surgery has explained the information in the consent form to the patient. Such physician is prohibited from delegating this responsibility to another person. The physician performing the surgery is also required to sign the informed consent form;
2. The patient or the person authorized by the patient to give consent is required to sign the informed consent form; and
3. A competent witness is also required to sign the informed consent form.

Cataract Operation Informed Consent (PDF)

Additional information regarding the use of the informed consent form can be found at Rule 64B8-9.017, FAC and s.458.351, FS.

1. Login to online services by selecting your profession from the dropdown menu and entering your User ID and Password. The survey must be completed by allopathic and osteopathic physicians only.

• Your User ID and Password were mailed with your initial license. Please look at the center section and refer to the Online Services Instructions, item #5.
• If you do not have your User ID and Password, click on “Get Login Help“.

2. Select “Physician Workforce Survey” on the left side of the page

3. Complete Physician Workforce Survey

You can view, confirm, or make changes to the information that will be published in your practitioner profile . In carrying our legislative mandate to publish practitioner profiles, we want to ensure the information that we publish is accurate. Accordingly, we ask that you please review your profile for any changes, corrections, and/or omissions. If you see the statement “The practitioner did not provide this mandatory information”, please provide that information. We will not accept curriculum vitae or resumes in place of you providing specific information. Changes, excluding education and training, year began practicing, and liability claims, can be made to your profile electronically by following the instructions below. You may also submit changes by mail to:

Department of Health
Licensure Support Services
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-10
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3260

Please note that Section 456.042, Florida Statutes, requires practitioners to update profile information within 15 days after a change of an occurrence in each section of your profile.

Attention Newly Licensed Practitioners
Section 456.041(7), Florida Statutes, requires you to submit changes to the department within thirty (30) days from receipt of this letter. If you do not make changes within thirty (30) days, your profile will be automatically published.

Once you have completed your review and made any necessary corrections, click on “Confirm Changes”. The Practitioner Confirmation Page will display the information that will be published online, at which time you must “Confirm” the profile again before the changes will be implemented.

Note: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.