Published on: 15588111. The Agency is proposing to amend the rules governing home health agencies to update the home health agency licensing application form to conform to changes in Chapters 400, Part III and 408, Part II, F.S., and Chapter 59A-35, F.A.C.; revise provisions regarding accreditation of non-skilled agencies; remove duplicative language already contained in Chapter 408, F.S.; and update rule references regarding the location of incorporated forms, and revise provisions for changes in geographic service areas.
Published on: 15232994. The Agency is updating the home health agency licensing application form, incorporated by reference in 59A-8.003, to conform to changes in chapter 408, part II, FS, 400.471(2)(h), FS, and 59A-35, FAC. Since Chapter 2014-142, Laws of Florida, exempts non-skilled home health agencies that are not Medicaid or Medicaid certified from accreditation, rule 59A-8.003 adds that the home health agency shall notify AHCA if the agency elects to give up accreditation. Language regarding the investigation of complaints is deleted since the content is in 408.811, F.S. In 59A-8.004, the reference for the location of the applications forms is changed to refer to 59A-8.003 instead of 59A-35. In 59A-8.007, the rule is amended to modify requirements pertaining to a change in geographic service areas.
Published on: 12610599. The purpose is to provide new rules for oversight by the director of nursing and the use of a recent unannounced licensure survey related to a licensure application for a change of ownership as required in 400.497(5) and (6), F.S.; to remove items that are now in Florida Statutes and 59A-35, FAC; to revise personnel rules to remove the one year experience requirement for physical therapists and occupational therapists and their assistants and make other rule revisions to reduce the regulatory burden on home health agencies; to update the license fee to the August 1, 2010 amount to conform to the consumer price index increase required in 408.805(2), F.S. and to remove the requirement to remove rubber stamped signatures for physicians to prevent fraud; and to update the web site addresses, the licensing unit’s name and definitions.