Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.