88-001353F Home Health Care Of Bay County Florida, Inc. vs. Department Of Health And Rehabilitative Services Status: Closed DOAH Final Order on Wednesday, June 29, 1988.

Summary: HRS preliminary action denying Certificate Of Need with clear point of entry is initiated by agency. HRS' denial based on impossible standard not substantially justified

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

HOME HEALTH CARE OF BAY )

COUNTY, FLORIDA, INC., )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. ) CASE NO. 88-1353F

)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND )

REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, )

)

Respondent. )

___________________________)

FINAL ORDER

Pursuant to notice, a formal hearing was held in this cause on May 11,

1988, in Tallahassee, Florida, before the Division of Administrative Hearings,

by its designated Hearing Officer, Diane K. Kiesling.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: Vicki Gordon Kaufman

Attorney at Law

McDermont, Will and Emory

101 North Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

For Respondent: Theodore E. Mack

Assistant General Counsel

Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Service

Ft. Knox Executive Center

2727 Mahan Drive

Tallahassee, Florida 32308

The issue is whether Petitioner, Home Health Care of Bay County, Florida,

Inc., (Home Health Care of Bay) is, entitled to attorney's fees and costs under

Section 57.111, Florida Statutes, for fees and costs incurred in DOAH Case No.

87-2151. Petitioner presented the testimony of Warren A. Phillips and had

Petitioner's Exhibits 1, 3-6, and 8 admitted in evidence. Respondent,

Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS), presented the testimony

of Sharon Gordon-Girvin and Joseph D. Mitchell and had Respondent's Exhibits 1-3

admitted in evidence.

The transcript of the proceedings was filed on Nay 19, 1988. The parties'

proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed on June 10, 1988.

All proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law have been considered.

Specific rulings on each proposed finding of fact is made in the Appendix

attached hereto and made a part of this Final Order.

BACKGROUND

On March 21, 1988, Home Health Care of Bay filed a petition seeking an

award of attorneys' fees and costs pursuant to Section 57.111, Florida Statutes

(1987), The Florida Equal Access to Justice Act (the Act). This petition was

timely filed following entry by HRS of a Final Order in DOAH Case No. 87-2151 on

February 18, 1988. That Final Order granted a Certificate of Need (CON) to Home

Health Care of Bay to operate a home health agency in Bay County, Florida.

Section 57.111(4)(c) provides that:

[A]n award of attorney's fees and costs shall

be made to a prevailing small business party

in any adjudicatory proceeding or

administrative proceeding pursuant to chapter

120 initiated by a state agency, unless the

actions of the agency were substantially

justified or special circumstances exist

which would make the award unjust.

As defined in Section 57.111(3), the following words or phrases are applicable

to Section 57.111(4)(c)

(b) The term 1,initiated by a state agency"

means that the state agency:

* * *

3. Was required by law or rule to advise

a small business party of a clear point of

entry after some recognizable event in the

investigatory or other free-form proceeding of

the agency.

(c) A small business party is a

"prevailing small business party" when:

1. A final ... order has been entered

in favor of the small business party

and ... the time for seeking judicial

review of the ... order has expired;

* * *

(d) The term "small business party" means:

* * *

1.b. A partnership or corporation .

which has its principal office in this state

and has at the time the action is initiated

by a state agency not more than 25 full-time

employees or a net worth of not more than $2

million;

* * *

(e) A proceeding is "substantially

justified" if it had a reasonable basis in

law and in fact at the time it was initiated

by a state agency.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. The initial action of HRS in regard to the application of Home Health

Care of Bay's application for a CON, as set forth in the State Agency Action

Report (SAAR), was to deny the application.

2. The SAAR, dated April 29, 1987, together with a cover letter dated

April 30, 1987, advised Home Health Care of Bay that its application has been

denied because "[t]here was no need demonstrated by Home Health Care of Bay for

an additional home health agency in Bay County." These two documents further

advised Home Health Care of Bay of its point of entry into Chapter 120, Florida

Statutes.

3. Home Health Care of Bay availed itself of this point of entry by filing

a reguest for a formal hearing pursuant to Section 120.57(1) on the initial

decision to deny its application.

4. Home Health Care of Bay is a for-profit corporation under the laws of

Florida, having been incorporated on December 10, 1986, prior to the SAAR and

the initial denial letter.

5. Home Health Care of Bay has had its principal office in the State of

Florida since its incorporation.

6. Home Health Care of Bay does not have and has never had more than 25

full-time employees.

7. At the time of its CON application and of the initial denial by HRS,

Home Health Care of Bay had assets of $1,000, which was received from issuance

of 1,000 shares of stock at $1.00 per share, and a note receivable of $21,600.

The total net worth of Home Health Care of Bay at the time this action was

initiated was $22,600.

8. By its response to Request for Admission 1 and its stipulation at

hearing, HRS has stipulated that Home Health Care of Bay incurred attorneys'

fees and associated costs in DOAH Case No. 87-2151 equal to $15,000 and that

said fees and costs are reasonable. It is so found.

9. Following a formal hearing in DOAH Case No. 87- 2151, a Recommended

Order was entered on December 17, 1987, recommending granting of the CON. A

Final Order was entered by HRS on February 15, 1988. HRS adopted all of the

Findings of Fact in the Recommended Order. HRS granted certain exceptions to

the Conclusions of Law. Specifically, HRS granted exceptions as to the

conclusions that its reliance on the statutory criteria is "nebulous," that its

failure to establish a need methodology is arbitrary and capricious, that it was

requiring applicants to prove "unmet need," and that the Hearing Officer relied

in part on a need methodology abandoned by HRS.

10. HRS granted the requested CON to Home Health Care of Bay by this Final

Order.

11. Findings of Fact in that Recommended Order, which were adopted by HRS,

included findings that:

A. HRS abandoned its "interim policy" regarding use of a need

methodology in home health agency applications in late 1986. (Finding of Fact

56).

B. HRS informed applicants that it had abandoned the interim policy

only after applications were filed in the second batching cycle of 1986.

(Finding of Fact 57).

C. Applicants in this December, 1986, batching cycle, including Home

Health Care of Bay, were asked for an unlimited extension of time within which

HRS could render a decision. (Finding of Fact 58).

D. Applicants who refuse to agree to an extension were evaluated on

the basis of the "statutory need criteria." Applicants who did not agree to an

extension were denied. (Finding of Fact 59).

E. The new "policy" used by HRS to evaluate these applications (the

ones who refused to grant extensions) put the burden of proof on the applicant

to demonstrate an unmet need. Such a demonstration would be difficult to make.

(Finding of Fact 62).

F. HRS reviewed Home Health Care of Bay's application using the new

"policy" based on the "thirteen statutory criteria." Such a review required

Home Health Care of Bay to prove need by demonstrating an unmet need. (Finding

of Fact 63).

G. As evidenced by HRS' review of Home Health Care of Bay's

application, a policy requiring an applicant to meet a negative burden of proof

is unreasonable. It imposes a standard which is ____________________ e for an

applicant to meet. (Finding of Fact).

12. Fig __________________ in the Recommended Order set forth

extensive__________________ the standard used by HRS to review the

application_______________ Health Care of Bay and the reasons why the review was

deficient and the determination to deny the application was flawed.

13. One Conclusion of Law which HRS did not reverse is that found on page

35 of the Recommended Order in the second full paragraph:

Further, DHRS' preliminary decision had no

reasonable basis in law or fact at the time it

was made.

It is this same preliminary decision which was set forth in the SAAR and which

constituted the initial decision from which Home Health Care of Bay had a point

of entry into Chapter 120 proceedings.

14. In attempting to justify its actions, HRS presented the testimony of

Sharon Gordon-Girvin. Ms. Gordon-Girvin had no part in or knowledge of the

initial decision of HRS to deny this application. Instead, shortly before and

in preparation for the formal hearing in DOAH Case No. 87-2151, Ms. Gordon-

Girvin reviewed the SAAR and the initial decision and agreed with HRS' counsel

not to enter into a settlement with Home Health Care of Bay. Her testimony

regarding the basis for and correctness of the initial denial is rejected as

being irrelevant to the question of whether HRS had a reasonable basis in law

and in fact at the time it initially denied the application. Additional, such

after-the-fact rationalization and justification for HRS' actions is so self-

serving as to merit little weight.

15. HRS failed to prove that its initial denial was reasonable in DOAH

Case No. 87-2151 and it failed to prove in this case that there was any

reasonable basis for its initial denial.

16. HRS did present evidence that Home Health Care of Bay may be able to

recover some of its fees and costs through Medicare reimbursements amortized

over at least five (5) years. However, the evidence was speculative and

uncertain, and HRS did not offer evidence that Home Health Care of Bay will

recover any or all of its fees and costs through Medicare reimbursements.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

17. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction of the

parties to and the subject matter of this proceeding. Sections 57.111 and

120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

18. Section 57.111(4)(c) mandates an award of attorney's fees and costs to

a prevailing small business party in an adjudicatory proceeding pursuant to

Chapter 120 which was initiated by a state agency. There are two exceptions to

this mandate:

1. If the actions of the state agency were

substantially justified; or

2. If special circumstances exist which

would make the award unjust.

19. In applying the Florida Equal Access to Justice Act (the Act),

guidance can be found in the federal cases under the Equal Access to Justice

Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 504, on which the Act is patterned. Gentele v. Department

of Professional Regulation, Board of Optometry, 513 So.2d 672 (Fla. 1st DCA

1987). The Act is subject to the same construction as the federal Act so long

as "`such construction is harmonious with the spirit and policy of Florida

legislation on the subject." Pasco County School Board v. Florida Pubic

Employee Relations Commission, 353 So.2d 108, 116 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977)." Gentele,

supra at 673.

20. The Petitioner bears the initial burden of proving that it is a small

business party, that it prevailed, and that the underlying adjudicatory

proceeding pursuant to Chapter 120 was initiated by a state agency. Once this

showing is made, the burden shifts to HRS to demonstrate that its actions were

substantially justified or that special circumstances exist which would make the

award unjust. This allocation of the burden of proof is clearly stated in

Gentele v. Department of Professional Regulation, Board of Optometry, 9 FALR

310, 327 (DOAH June 20, 1986), affirmed on other bases in Gentele, supra:

The conclusion that the agency must prove its

actions were substantially justified, or that

special circumstances exist which would make

an award unjust, is buttressed by the plain

language of the statute. In mandatory

language, Section 57.111(4)(a) declares the

general rule -- that fees and costs "shall" be

awarded to a prevailing small business party.

Then, following a comma, the Act creates two

exceptions (actions substantially justified or

special circumstances make an award unjust)

which, if proven, make the general rule

inapplicable. The agency is the best party to

know the factual and legal basis of its prior

actions, and whether special circumstances

exist which would make an award unjust.

Hence, it is the agency which must

affirmatively raise and prove the exception.

Small Business Party?

21. Section 57.111(3)(d)1.b sets forth the definition of "small business

party" which is applicable to this case. To qualify, Home Health Care of Bay

must be a (1) corporation, (2) with its principal office in Florida, which had,

at the time the action was initiated by the State Agency, (3) not more than 25

full-time employees, or (4) a net worth of not more than $2 million.

22. It is undisputed that Home Health Care of Bay was a for-profit

corporation, incorporated on December 10, 1986. Its principal office is in

Florida. It also was stipulated and admitted that Home Health Care of Bay has

and had fewer than 25 employees. Without reference to more, it must be

concluded that Home Health Care of Bay is a small business party as defined in

the Act.

23. HRS attempted at hearing to assert that Home Health Care of Bay is

merely the alter ego of Dr. Mark Ehrman and that therefore, Dr. Ehrman's

professional practice and personal assets should be considered in applying the

definition. This position is rejected for several reasons. First, HRS

presented no evidence to establish the net worth of either Dr. Ehrman or his

professional practice. Second, HRS presented no evidence sufficient to pierce

the corporate veil. A showing of fraud or improper conduct is necessary to

pierce the corporate veil. Dania Jai-Alai Palace, Inc. v. Sykes, 450 So.2d 1114

(Fla. 1984). As the Court made clear, the mere fact that one individual owns or

controls a corporation does not lead inevitably to the conclusion that the

corporate entity is necessarily the alter ego of its stockholder. To conclude

so would "completely destroy the corporate entity as a method of doing business

and it would ignore the historical justification for the corporate enterprise

system." Dania Jai-Alai, supra at pages 23 and 24. Finally, Home Health Care

of Bay need not prove both that it has fewer than 25 employees and that it has a

net worth of less than $2 million. The operative word in the statute is or.

HRS stipulated that it has and had fewer than 25 full-time employees. Hence

there is no need to determine the net worth of Home Health Care of Bay or of Dr.

Ehrman. Home Health Care of Bay is a small business party as defined in the

Act.

Prevailing?

24. Section 57.111(3)(c)1. specifies when the small business party can be

considered to have prevailed. It is necessary that there be an order entered in

favor of the small business party and that the order not have been reversed on

appeal or that the time for filing an appeal have passed. The Final Order

entered by HRS on February 15, 1988, was clearly in favor of Home Health Care of

Bay in that it awarded the CON which had been previously denied. That Final

Order has not been appealed and the time for filing an appeal has passed.

Hence, Home Health Care of Bay is the prevailing small business party as defined

in the Act.

Action Initiated by the State Agency?

25. In order for terms of the Act to be invoked, the underlying proceeding

must be an adjudicatory proceeding or administrative proceeding pursuant to

Chapter 120 initiated by a state agency. As relevant to the instant case,

Section 57.111(3)(b)3. specifies that an action is initiated by a state agency

when the state agency was required by law or rule to advise a small business

party of a clear point of entry after some recognizable event in the free form

proceeding of the agency.

26. HRS argues that the underlying case did not involve investigatory or

other free-form proceedings of the agency and that the Florida Legislature meant

to narrowly limit the cases in which fees and costs could be sought by

restricting the application of the Act to cases in which the agency is

conducting an investigation or is acting outside its agency rules. However,

HRS' arguments are not persuasive.

27. The preliminary decision of HRS, as stated in the SAAR and the

accompanying letter advising the applicant of the intent to deny the CON, has

consistently been characterized as "preliminary agency action" and as a "free-

form agency decision." NNE Hospitals, Inc. v. Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services, 492 So.2d 379 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985); Florida Medical

Center v. Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 484 So.2d 1292 (Fla.

1st DCA 1986); Boca Raton Artificial Kidney Center, Inc., et al. v. Department

of Health and Rehabilitative Services, et al., 475 So.2d 260 (Fla. 1st DCA

1985); and Florida Convalescent Centers, Inc. v. Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services, 445 So.2d 631 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). It is exactly this

free-form agency action which gives rise to the clear point of entry into

Chapter 120 proceedings. See Section 381.494(8)(e) , Florida Statutes (1985),

and Section 381.709(4) and (5) , Florida Statutes (1987).

28. Additionally, the Legislature expressed its intent and reason for

enacting the Act in Section 57.111(2), where it is specified:

The Legislature finds that certain persons may

be deterred from seeking review of, or

defending against, unreasonable governmental

action .... The purpose of this section is

to diminish the deterrent effect of seeking

review of, or defending against, governmental

actions by providing in certain situations an

award of attorney's fees and costs against the

state. (Emphasis Supplied).

"In interpreting provisions of a statute, the legislative intent is the polestar

by which courts must be guided. Wakulla County v. Davis, 395 So.2d 540 (Fla.

1981)." Gulf Coast Home Health Services of Florida, Inc. v. Department of

Health and Rehabilitative Services, Nos. BO-171 and BO-418 (Fla. 1st DCA June 8,

1988). Here the legislative intent could not be clearer. It is intended that

the awards available under the Act apply both when the small business party is

defending itself against actions by the agency and when it is seeking review of

some free-form agency action.

29. The Legislature was aware of the federal Act and modeled the Florida

Act after it. However, the Legislature did one thing radically different. The

federal Act specifically excludes award of fees and costs in actions involving

the granting and renewing of licenses. See 5 U.S.C. Section 504 (b)(1)(C)(i).

The Legislature here did not place this exclusion in the Florida Act. The

Legislature is assumed to know the meaning of the words it uses and to have

expressed its intent by using them as they do in an enactment. SRG Corporation

v. Department of Revenue, 365 So.2d 687 (Fla. 1978); Thayer v. State, 335 So.2d

815 (Fla. 1976). With this in mind, it can only be concluded that the

Legislature did not intend to exclude awards in actions involving applications

for licenses.

30. Additionally, the case of Ann Miller v. Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services, DOAH Case No. 87-1605F (Final Order, October 8, 1987) ,

involved a request for fees and costs in connection with an underlying case for

foster care licensure. HRS denied the initial application and provided a point

of entry for a Section 120.57(1) hearing. After hearing and Recommended Order,

a Final Order was entered granting the license. In that fees case, it was

determined that Section 57.111 applied in cases involving license applications

where all other criteria for an award are met.

31. For these reasons, it is determined that HRS initiated the action as

defined in Section 57.111(3)(b)3. in that HRS was required by law to advise Home

Health Care of Bay of its clear point of entry after the recognizable event of

the entry of the SAAR and free-form denial of the CON application.

Substantially Justified?

32. The burden now shifts to the agency to prove the exception that its

actions were substantially justified. Section 57.111(3)(e) defines it as

follows:

A proceeding is "substantially justified" if

it had a reasonable basis in law and in fact

at the time it was initiated by a state

agency.

33. The standard to be applied is less restrictive than the "complete

absence of a justiciable issue of either law or fact" of Section 57.105, Florida

Statutes, and is more restrictive than an automatic award of fees to every

prevailing small business party. McCallister v. Department of State, Division

of Licensing, 9 FALR 4064 (DOAH 1987); Robaina v. Division of Professional

Regulation (sic), 9 FALR 4072 (DO2H 1987). Federal authority defining the

standard is persuasive. Gentele, supra at p. 673. In discussing the meaning of

the term "substantially justified," the court in Ashburn v. U.S., 740 F.2d 843

(11th Cir. 1984), said

The government bears the burden of showing

that its position was substantially justified.

[Citations omitted] The standard is one of

reasonableness; the government must show "that

its case had a reasonable basis both in law

and fact. [Citations omitted] The fact that

the government lost its case does not raise a

presumption-that the government's position was

not substantially justified. [Citations

omitted] Nor is the government required to

establish that its decision to litigate was

based on a substantial probability of

prevailing. [Citations omitted].

Quoted with approval in Structured Shelters Financial Management, Inc., et. al.

v. Department of Banking and Finance, Division of Securities, DOAH Case No. 87-

1015F (Final Order December 24, 1987).

34. In applying this standard, the relevant time period is when the case

was initiated by HRS. It has already been determined that the action was

initiated by HRS when it issued the SAAR and letter denying the application.

Hence, all the evidence offered and argued by HRS which related to events which

occurred after April 30, 1987, is irrelevant. What matters is whether the free-

form action by the agency on April 30, 1987, had a reasonable basis in law and

in fact. The Findings of Fact of the Recommended Order, where were adopted by

HRS and which are set forth again herein in Findings of Fact 11 A-G, establish

that HRS was unreasonable and that HRS used a "policy" which imposed a standard

that was impossible to meet. Further, it was concluded in the Recommended Order

and found herein at Finding of Fact 13, that "DHRS' preliminary decision had no

reasonable basis in law or fact at the time it was made." This Conclusion of

Law was not altered by the exceptions stated in the Final Order in DOAH Case No.

87-2151. Even if it had been, it is still the conclusion that must be reached

in this case. HRS was not substantially justified when it issued the SAAR and

denied the CON application of Home Health Care of Bay on April 30, 1987.

Special Circumstances?

35. HRS asserts that special circumstances exist which would make an award

unjust. Specifically, it argues that Home Health Care of Bay may be reimbursed

by the federal Medicare program for its fees and costs if the costs are solely

attributable to Medicare and if the costs do not exceed the reasonable caps set

by the Medicare program.

36. However, these arguments are again not persuasive. The fact that Home

Health Care of Bay may recover some of its fees and costs, amortized over at

least five years, is speculative and therefore does not prove a special

circumstance that does, in fact, exist. Even if Home Health Care of Bay is able

to recoup some of its expenses from Medicare, such ability should not act as a

limitation to the application of Section 57.111. As the court clearly stated in

City of Naples Airport Authority v. Collier Development Corporation, 515 So.2d

1058, 1059 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987), interpreting Section 57.111,

Rather than establishing a limitation, we

believe that the legislature intended to

provide an alternative, and in some cases, an

additional means for a small business to

recover costs and attorney's fees when a

state agency initiates an action against it.

Finally, any fees and costs awarded against the state agency here would be

offset against the amounts which may be recoverable from the federal government

through Medicare reimbursements. HRS has offered no proof that Home Health Care

of Bay could receive double compensation for all or part of its fees and costs.

37. The burden is on HRS to prove that special circumstances exist that

would render an award unjust. It has not carried this burden. No such special

circumstances exist.

CONCLUSION

Home Health Care of Bay has carried its burden of proving that it is a

prevailing small business party in an administrative proceeding initiated by

HRS. HRS has not carried its burden of proving either of the exceptions to the

award of fees and costs. The parties stipulated that Home Health Care of Bay

incurred attorneys' fees and costs of $15,000 in DOAH Case No. 87-2151.

Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

ORDERED that the Petition for Attorneys' Fees and Costs filed by Home

Health Care of Bay County, Florida, Inc., be GRANTED and that the Department of

Health and Rehabilitative Services pay to Home Health Care of Bay the sum of

$15,000 in attorneys' fees and costs within thirty days from the date hereof as

required by Section 57.111(5), Florida Statutes (1987).

DONE and ORDERED this 29th day of June, 1988, in Tallahassee, Florida.

___________________________________

DIANE K. KIESLING

Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings

The Oakland Building

2009 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

[phone]

Filed with the Clerk of the

Division of Administrative Hearings

this 29th day of June, 1988.

APPENDIX TO FINAL ORDER 88-1353F

The following constitutes my specific rulings pursuant to Section 120.59(2),

Florida Statutes, on the proposed findings of fact submitted by the parties in

this case.

Specific Rulings on Proposed Findings of Fact

Submitted by Petitioner, Home Health Care of

Bay County, Florida, Inc.

1. Each of the following proposed findings of fact are adopted

in substance as modified in the Final Order. The number in

parentheses is the Finding of Fact which so adopts

the proposed finding of fact: 16(4); 22(7); and 24(7).

2. Proposed findings of fact 1-11, 13, and 14 are not necessary

as Findings of Fact.

3. Proposed findings of fact 12, 25, 26, and 53-62 are

subordinate to the facts actually found in this Final Order.

4. Proposed findings of fact 27-45 are subordinate to the facts

actually found in the Recommended Order in Case No. 87-2151

and are incorporated by reference herein in Finding of Fact

12.

5. Proposed findings of fact 15, 17-21, 23, and 46-52 are

rejected as being irrelevant.

Specific Rulings on Proposed Findings of Fact

Submitted by Respondent, Department of

Health and Rehabilitative Services

1. Each of the following proposed findings of fact are adopted

in substance as modified in the Final Order. The number in

parentheses is the Finding of Fact which so adopts

the proposed finding of fact: 1(4); 2(7); 6(6); 10(8); and

27(9).

2. Proposed findings of fact 3-5, 8, 9, 11-13, 19-23, 25, and

26 are rejected as irrelevant.

3. Proposed findings of fact 7, 16-18, and 28 are subordinate

to the facts actually found in this Final Order.

4. Proposed findings of fact 14, 15, and 29 are unnecessary.

5. Proposed findings of fact 24 and 30 are rejected as being

unsupported by the competent, substantial evidence.

6. Proposed finding of fact 31 is rejected as being both

unsupported by the competent, substantial evidence and as

being speculative.

COPIES FURNISHED:

Vicki Gordon Kaufman

Attorney at Law

McDermont, Will and Emory

101 North Monroe St.

Tallahassee, Florida 32301

Theodore E. Mack, Esquire

Assistant General Counsel

Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services

Ft. Knox Executive Center

2727 Mahan Drive, Third Floor

Tallahassee, Florida 32308

Gregory L. Coler, Secretary

Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services

1323 Winewood Boulevard

Building One, Room 407

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700

Sam Power, Clerk

Department of Health and

Rehabilitative Services

1323 Winewood Boulevard

Building One, Room 407

Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700