Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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 MQA.Medicine@flhealth.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.

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.