95-004661
Dan Murtha And Beverly Murtha, D/B/A Beverly Transport, Inc. vs.
Agency For Health Care Administration
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, March 5, 1996.
Recommended Order on Tuesday, March 5, 1996.
1STATE OF FLORIDA
4DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
8BEVERLY TRANSPORT, INC., )
12)
13Petitioner, )
15)
16vs. ) CASE NO. 95-4661
21)
22AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE )
27ADMINISTRATION, )
29)
30Respondent. )
32_____________________________)
33RECOMMENDED ORDER
35Pursuant to notice, a formal hearing was conducted in this case on January
4823, 1996, before Stuart M. Lerner, a duly designated Hearing Officer of the
61Division of Administrative Hearings.
65APPEARANCES
66For Petitioner: Peter E. Perettine, Esquire
72Comerica Bank Building, Suite 302
771800 Corporate Boulevard, Northwest
81Boca Raton, Florida 33431
85For Respondent: Moses E. Williams, Senior Attorney
92Agency for Health Care Administration
972727 Mahan Drive, Fort Knox Number 3
104Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403
107STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE
111Whether Petitioner's Medicaid provider number should be cancelled for the
121reason given in Respondent's June 16, 1995, letter to Petitioner?
131PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
133By letter dated June 16, 1995, the Agency for Health Care Administration
145(hereinafter referred to as the "Agency") notified Petitioner of its intention
157to cancel Petitioner's Medicaid provider number (0887757-00), effective June 15,
1671995. The Agency explained that such action was necessary because of
178Petitioner's "failure to successfully comply with the re-enrollment process."
187Petitioner ultimately requested a formal hearing on the matter. On September
19820, 1995, the Agency referred the case to the Division of Administrative
210Hearings for the assignment of a Hearing Officer to conduct the formal hearing
223Petitioner had requested.
226At the formal hearing, which was held on January 23, 1996, 1/ five
239witnesses testified: Daniel and Beverly Murtha, the co-owners of Petitioner;
249and Beverly Sawyer, Maria Hamann and Bette Hickey, all of whom are Agency
262employees involved in the Medicaid program. In addition to the testimony of
274these five witnesses, a total of fourteen exhibits (Petitioner's Exhibits 1
285through 7 and Respondent's Exhibits 1 through 7) were offered and received into
298evidence.
299At the conclusion of the evidentiary portion of the formal hearing, the
311Hearing Officer advised the parties of their right to file post-hearing
322submittals and established a deadline (15 days from the date of the hearing) for
336the filing of such submittals. Petitioner and the Agency filed their post-
348hearing submittals on January 29, 1996, and February 2, 1996, respectively.
359These post-hearing submittals have been carefully considered by the Hearing
369Officer. They each contain what are labelled as "findings of fact." These
"381findings of fact" proposed by the parties are specifically addressed in the
393Appendix to this Recommended Order.
398FINDINGS OF FACT
401Based upon the evidence adduced at hearing, and the record as a whole, the
415following Findings of Fact are made:
4211. Petitioner is a provider of transportation services.
4292. It provides these services to residents of Delray Beach and surrounding
441areas.
4423. From October of 1990, until June 15, 1995, Petitioner provided
453transportation services to Medicaid recipients pursuant to a Medicaid provider
463agreement, paragraphs 8 and 9 of which provided as follows:
4738. The provider and the Department [the
480Agency's predecessor] agree to abide by the
487Florida Administrative Code, Florida Statutes,
492policies, procedures, manuals of the Florida
498Medicaid Program and Federal laws and regulations.
5059. The agreement may be terminated upon thirty
513days written notice by either party. The Depart-
521ment may terminate this agreement in accordance
528with Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.
5334. Daniel Murtha and his wife, Beverly Murtha, own and operate Petitioner.
5455. On or about April 11, 1995, the Murthas received the following letter
558from the Agency's Medicaid Area Nine office (hereinafter referred to as the
"570Agency's Medicaid office"), which was sent by certified mail:
580Dear Transportation Provider:
583This letter is to inform you that our office
592is currently in the process of planning for
600Medicaid Transportation Services to become
605a part of the coordinated transportation
611disadvantaged program in your county.
616Florida has a state law, Chapter 427, Florida
624Statutes, which requires all state and federally
631supported transportation disadvantaged services
635to be coordinated through a local community
642transportation coordinator (CTC). Our plan
647is to come under this coordinated transportation
654system in the near future.
659Once our plans with the CTC are finalized,
667Medicaid Transportation Services will be coord-
673inated through their office. Operators under
679the coordinated system will have to meet Trans-
687portation Disadvantaged and CTC Standards for
693insurance, licensing, vehicle safety inspections
698and driver drug-testing requirements.
702Our office will keep you informed as to our
711coordination progress. Thank you for your
717interest in our program and our clients.
7246. Approximately a month later, on May 16, 1995, the Agency's Medicaid
736office sent, by certified mail, return receipt requested, the following letter
747(hereinafter referred to as the "May 16 letter") to the Murthas:
759Dear Provider:
761This is to advise you that you must re-enroll
770as a Medicaid provider in order to maintain
778your eligibility to participate in the Medicaid
785program.
786In order to re-enroll, you must provide our office
795with the following documents:
7991. A completed, signed and dated application
806(blank attached)
8082. A signed and dated Non-Institutional
814Agreement (blank attached)
8173. Proof of insurance coverage of at least
825$100,000 per person and $300,00 per incident
834for all vehicles, whether owned by your company
842or subcontracted by you.
8464. Copies of current state, county and municipal
854licensing documents for each vehicle and driver for
862all cities, counties, and towns in which you will
871provide "pick-up" services.
874Failure to complete and return the application, the
882provider agreement and the requested documentation
888within 30 days of your receipt of this letter, will
898result in your disenrollment from the Medicaid
905program. You will no longer receive payment for
913any trips you provide after that date.
920SEND THE ABOVE INFORMATION TO THE WEST PALM BEACH
929ADDRESS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LETTER.
937PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PROVIDER NUMBER IN THE TOP
945RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE
954APPLICATION FORM FOR IDENTIFICATION. If you
960have any questions, please call our Provider
967Relations Section at 840-3144.
971Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
9807. The Murthas received the May 16 letter on Wednesday, May 17, 1995.
9938. They wanted to maintain Petitioner's eligibility to participate in the
1004Medicaid program. (The provision of services to Medicaid recipients generated
1014approximately 15 to 20 percent of Petitioner's yearly revenue.)
10239. Accordingly, on the evening of Sunday, May 21, 1995, they filled out
1036the re-enrollment application form that the Agency's Medicaid office had sent
1047them with the May 16 letter and they gathered the necessary insurance and
1060licensing documents referenced in the letter, including a 1995 Vehicle for Hire
1072Business Permit (Number 95-0077) issued to Petitioner by Palm Beach County.
108310. The next day, Monday, May 22, 1995, they made copies of these
1096insurance and licensing documents.
110011. On the morning of Tuesday, May 23, 1995, Mr. Murtha reviewed, signed
1113and dated the re-enrollment application form and signed and dated the provider
1125agreement that he and his wife had received from the Agency with the May 16
1140letter.
114112. The Murthas then made copies of the completed, signed and dated re-
1154enrollment application and the signed and dated provider agreement.
116313. When he left for work that day (Tuesday, May 23, 1995), Mr. Murtha
1177took with him a manila envelope containing the completed, signed and dated re-
1190enrollment application, the signed and dated provider agreement, and copies of
1201the insurance and licensing documents, including the 1995 Vehicle for Hire
1212Business Permit, that the Agency had requested in the May 16, letter. The
1225envelope bore the "West Palm Beach address [of the Agency's Medicaid office]
1237listed at the bottom of th[e May 16] letter," as well as a return address.
1252Before leaving, Mr. Murtha told his wife that he intended to go to the post
1267office and mail the envelope to the Agency's Medicaid office by certified mail.
128014. It was not until 5:30 or 5:45 p.m. that afternoon that Mr. Murtha
1294arrived at the U.S. Postal Services's Delray Beach station. The station was
1306closed when he arrived. Rather than return the next day to mail the envelope by
1321certified mail, Mr. Murtha placed the envelope in a collection box (for regular
1334U.S. States mail) located outside the entrance to the station.
134415. Although the Murthas acted in a manner that was reasonably calculated
1356to "re-enroll [Petitioner] as a Medicaid provider," through no fault of their
1368own, such re-enrollment was not accomplished inasmuch as the Agency's Medicaid
1379office did not receive the materials Mr. Murtha had mailed to it on May 23,
13941995.
139516. Not having received any response to its May 16 letter within the 30-
1409day period prescribed in the letter, the Agency's Medicaid office, on June 16,
14221995, sent, by certified mail, return receipt requested, another letter
1432(hereinafter referred to as the "June 16 letter") to the Murthas. The letter,
1446which was signed by Bette Hickey, the Medicaid Program Administrator, read as
1458follows:
1459Letter to Beverly Transport, Transportation
1464Provider, advising you that your Medicaid
1470provider number has been terminated due to
1477failure to complete re-enrollment process.
1482Dear Provider:
1484This letter is to inform you that effective
14926-15-95, your Medicaid transportation provider
1497number has been terminated due to your failure
1505to successfully comply with the re-enrollment
1511process.
1512Currently, there is a moratorium in Palm Beach
1520County for accepting and processing new appli-
1527cations to become a Medicaid transportation
1533provider. You are considered to be a new
1541applicant to the Medicaid Transportation Program,
1547therefore, we will not process your application
1554to become a new provider.
1559We will advise you when the moratorium for
1567accepting applications is removed.
157117. The Murthas received the June 16 letter on June 21 1995. They were
"1585shocked" to learn of their "failure to complete [the] re-enrollment process."
1596Before receiving the letter, they had had no idea that there was any problem
1610with their application for re-enrollment.
161518. The same day he and his wife received the June 16 letter, Mr. Murtha
1630twice telephoned the Agency's Medicaid office to speak with Bette Hickey. He
1642left messages on both occasions inasmuch as Hickey was unavailable to speak with
1655him.
165619. Mr. Murtha spoke with Hickey later that day when she returned his
1669calls. He told Hickey that he had mailed the necessary re-enrollment materials
1681to her office the previous month. He also mentioned to her that he had
1695maintained a copy of those materials.
170120. The following day (June 22, 1995), at around 2:10 p.m., Mr. Murtha
1714went to the Agency's Medicaid office and hand-delivered the copy of the re-
1727enrollment materials (about which he had spoken to Hickey the day before), along
1740with a cover letter, which read as follows:
1748I have attached copies of the forms we mailed on
17585/23/95 (postmark would be 5/24) to your office.
1766In addition, we have enclosed our business envelope
1774to help in your search. My wife Beverly and I are
1785going to the Delray Post Office today to see if
1795they can initiate some level of investigation. 2/
1803We appreciate your time on the phone yesterday.
1811I guess we just needed to talk about [what] Bev
1821and I are very concerned.
1826Hope to hear positively from you soon.
183321. The Murthas did not hear again from the Agency's Medicaid office until
1846they received ("via certified mail") a letter from Hickey, dated August 7, 1995
1861(hereinafter referred to as the "August 7 letter"), which read as follows:
1874Re: Terminated Medicaid Provider NO. 0887757-00
1880Dear Provider:
1882This letter is a follow up to our letter dated
1892June 15 [sic], 1995, advising you that your
1900Medicaid provider number has been terminated
1906due to the failure to respond to the re-enrollment
1915request for documents required for transportation
1921providers, pursuant to the Florida Administrative
1927Code Rule 59G-4.330, Section 409.907(2), Florida
1933[S]tatutes, and Medicaid Transportation Provider
1938Handbook.
1939If you wish to appeal this decision, a copy of
1949Standards for requesting an Administrative Hearing
1955is attached. Please note that a request for either
1964a formal or informal hearing must be received by
1973this agency within 21 days of your receipt of this
1983notice at the address on the attached copy of
1992standards.
1993Please accept our sincere appreciation for your
2000services to the Medicaid recipients of our State.
2008If you have any further questions regarding this
2016letter, please contact me at (407) 840-3142.
202322. After receiving Hickey's August 7 letter, the Murthas, through
2033counsel, filed with the Agency a Petition for Formal Review Hearing challenging
2045the decision of the Agency's Medicaid office to terminate Petitioner's provider
2056number.
2057CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
206023. "Medicaid is a governmental health care program that provides to
2071eligible needy persons assistance in meeting the cost of medical care. The
2083program is financed from county, state and federal funds." Rule 59G-1.002, Fla.
2095Admin. Code.
209724. Effective July 1, 1993, by operation of Section 58 of Chapter 93-129,
2110Laws of Florida, the Agency was transferred "[a]ll powers, duties and functions,
2122records, personnel, property, and unexpended balances of appropriations,
2130allocations, or other funds of the Medicaid program within the Department of
2142Health and Rehabilitative Services, as well as the infrastructure and support
2153services that support the program, including, but not limited to, investigative,
2164licensing, legal, and administrative activities."
216925. Among the powers transferred to the Agency was the authority to
2181regulate provider enrollment in the Medicaid program.
218826. Pursuant to Section 409.907, Florida Statutes, Medicaid providers must
2198enter into a provider agreement which "shall be effective for a stipulated
2210period of time, shall be terminable by either party after reasonable notice, and
2223shall be renewable by mutual agreement."
222927. Petitioner entered into such a provider agreement in October of 1990.
224128. The Agency now seeks to take final action to terminate this agreement
2254and cancel Petitioner's Medicaid provider number on the ground that Petitioner
"2265fail[ed] to successfully comply with the re-enrollment process." 3/ According
2275to the express terms of the agreement, such action may be taken only "in
2289accordance with Chapter 120, Florida Statutes."
229529. Inasmuch as the termination of Petitioner's provider agreement and the
2306cancellation of its Medicaid provider number will affect Petitioner's
2315substantial interests, the Agency must comply with the provisions of Section
2326120.57, Florida Statutes, before it can effectively take such action. This
2337includes giving Petitioner the opportunity to request a Section 120.57(1) formal
2348hearing on the matter to challenge disputed issues of material fact and
2360providing such a hearing if requested, which the Agency has done. See Florida
2373League of Cities v. Administration Commission, 586 So.2d 397, 413 (Fla. 1st DCA
23861991).
238730. Although the provider agreement that the Agency seeks to terminate
2398allows either party, in its discretion, to terminate the agreement "upon thirty
2410days written notice," "in accordance with Chapter 120, Florida Statutes," the
2421Agency had "the burden [at the Section 120.57(1) formal hearing that was held in
2435this case at Petitioner's request] of demonstrating proof justifying the
2445exercise of that discretion." Gonzalez v. Department of Health and
2455Rehabilitative Services, 418 So.2d 1128, 1129-30 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982).
246531. The Agency failed to meet this burden.
247332. According to the June 16 and August 7 letters it sent the Murthas, the
2488Agency seeks to its exercise its discretion to terminate Petitioner's provider
2499agreement and cancel Petitioner's Medicaid number on the ground that the Murthas
2511did not provide the Agency's Medicaid office with the necessary re-enrollment
2522materials within the 30-day time period prescribed in the May 16 letter it had
2536previously sent them.
253933. This 30-day time period prescribed in the May 16 letter, however, like
2552the 20-day time limitation for appealing an agency determination of abandonment
2563of position that was analyzed by the Florida Supreme Court in Machules v.
2576Department of Administration, 523 So.2d 1132 (Fla. 1988), "is not jurisdictional
2587in the sense that failure to comply is an absolute bar to [the Agency's
2601consideration of Petitioner's re-enrollment application] but is more analogous
2610to statute[s] of limitations which are subject to equitable considerations such
2621as tolling." Id. at 1133, n.2.
262734. In Machules, the Florida Supreme Court made the following observations
2638regarding the doctrine of equitable tolling:
2644The doctrine of equitable tolling was developed
2651to permit under certain circumstances the filing
2658of a lawsuit that otherwise would be barred by a
2668limitation period. The tolling doctrine is used
2675in the interests of justice to accommodate both
2683a defendant's right not to be called upon to
2692defend a stale claim and a plaintiff's right to
2701assert a meritorious claim when equitable circum-
2708stances have prevented a timely filing. Equitable
2715tolling is a type of equitable modification which
"2723'focuses on the plaintiff's excusable ignorance
2729of the limitations period and on (the) lack of
2738prejudice to the defendant.'" Contrary to the
2745analysis of the majority below, equitable tolling,
2752unlike estoppel, does not require active deception
2759or employer misconduct, but focuses rather on the
2767employee with a reasonably prudent regard for his
2775rights. As Judge Zehmer notes in his dissent below:
"2784The doctrine (of equitable tolling) serves to
2791ameliorate harsh results that sometimes flow
2797from a strict, literalistic construction and
2803application of administrative time limits
2808contained in statutes and rules."
2813Id. at 1133-34 (Citations and footnotes omitted).
282035. The proof submitted in the instant case establishes that, as the
2832Agency has alleged, the Agency's Medicaid office did not receive the requisite
2844re-enrollment materials from the Murthas within the 30-day "return" period
2854prescribed in the May 16 letter (the last day of which was Friday, June 16,
28691995) and that it was not until Thursday, June 22, 1995, that these materials
2883were received. The evidence further establishes, however, that the Murthas
2893acted "with a reasonably prudent regard for [their] rights" in responding to the
2906May 16 letter. In accordance with the instructions given in the letter they
"2919complete[d] and return[ed, by placing in the mail,] the [re-enrollment]
2930application, the provider agreement and the requested documentation within 30
2940days of [their] receipt of this letter." Pursuant to the directions provided in
2953the letter, they "[s]en[t] the above information to the West Palm Beach address
2966listed at the bottom of this letter." Although they mailed these materials on
2979May 23, 1995, the sixth day of the 30-day "return" period prescribed in the May
299416 letter, through no fault of their own, the materials were not delivered to
"3008the West Palm Beach address" to which they had been mailed within this 30-day
3022period. Upon learning, shortly after the expiration of the 30-day period, that
3034the materials had not been received by the Agency's Medicaid office, the Murthas
3047acted swiftly to remedy the situation by hand-delivering, on June 22, 1995, a
3060copy of the materials to the office. The Murthas' failure to have furnished the
3074Agency's Medicaid office with these materials any sooner has not resulted in any
3087apparent prejudice to the Agency.
309236. Under such circumstances, even if the 30-day "return" period
3102prescribed in the May 16 letter is viewed as having imposed a "filing" deadline
3116as opposed to a "mailing" deadline, 4/ the Agency, in the interest of justice,
3130should apply the doctrine of equitable tolling and deem Petitioner's re-
3141enrollment application to have been timely filed and process it accordingly.
3152Cf. General Motors Corporation v. Gus Machado Buick-GMC, Inc., 581 So.2d 637,
3164638 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)("appellate courts have not viewed favorably arguments
3176that short delays in requesting a hearing should result in a forfeiture of
3189substantive rights"); Stewart v. Department of Corrections, 561 So.2d 15, 16
3201(Fla. 4th DCA 1990)(where career service employee filed his notice of appeal
3213with the Public Employees Relations Commission one business day after the time
3225limitation had run and the delay in filing did not cause the employing agency
3239prejudice, doctrine of equitable tolling should have been applied and employee
3250should have been permitted to pursue his appeal); Rothblatt v. Department of
3262Health and Rehabilitative Services, 520 So.2d 644, 645 (Fla. 4th DCA
32731988)(appellant was entitled to an administrative hearing, notwithstanding that
3282the request therefor was filed six days after the deadline prescribed by agency
3295rule, where the late filing was the result of "excusable neglect").
330737. Because the Agency has failed to demonstrate that it would be
3319justified in exercising its discretion to terminate Petitioner's provider
3328agreement and cancel Petitioner's Medicaid number on the ground that Petitioner
3339did not timely provide the Agency's Medicaid office with the re-enrollment
3350materials requested in the May 16 letter, the Agency should not take such
3363action.
3364RECOMMENDATION
3365Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is
3378RECOMMENDED that the Agency for Health Care Administration (1) treat as
3389timely filed, and process accordingly, Petitioner's application for re-
3398enrollment in the Medicaid program as a provider of transportation services, and
3410(2) not terminate Petitioner's provider agreement and cancel Petitioner's
3419Medicaid number on the ground that Petitioner did not timely provide the re-
3432enrollment materials requested in the May 16 letter.
3440DONE AND ENTERED in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 5th day of
3452March, 1996.
3454___________________________________
3455STUART M. LERNER, Hearing Officer
3460Division of Administrative Hearings
3464The DeSoto Building
34671230 Apalachee Parkway
3470Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550
3473(904) 488-9675
3475Filed with the Clerk of the
3481Division of Administrative Hearings
3485this 5th day of March, 1996.
3491ENDNOTES
34921/ The hearing was originally scheduled for December 8, 1995, but, at
3504Petitioner's request, was rescheduled for January 23, 1996.
35122/ The Murthas went to the "Delray Post Office" on June 26, 1995, and filled
3527out a Mail Loss/Rifling Report (Form 1510) in which they reported that the
3540envelope that Mr. Murtha had mailed to the Agency's Medicaid office on May 23,
35541995, had yet to be delivered. The Murthas have not received any response from
3568the U.S. Postal Service indicating that the mail they reported "los[t]" has been
3581located.
35823/ Although both the June 16 letter and August 7 letter suggest that the
3596Agency has already taken such final action, the action that the Agency has
3609heretofore taken to terminate Petitioner's provider agreement and cancel
3618Petitioner's Medicaid provider number must be regarded "as only preliminary
3628irrespective of its tenor." Capeletti Brothers, Inc., v. Department of
3638Transportation, 362 So.2d 346, 348 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978). "Until proceedings are
3650had satisfying section 120.57, or an opportunity for them is clearly offered and
3663waived, there can be no agency action affecting the substantial interests of a
3676person." Florida League of Cities v. Administration Commission, 586 So.2d 397,
3687413 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991). In the instant case, Petitioner has timely requested,
3700and been granted, "proceedings satisfying section 120.57," but these proceedings
3710have not been completed and no final action has yet been taken.
37224/ The letter is reasonably susceptible to differing interpretations on this
3733point. Contrast with Environmental Resource Associates of Florida, Inc. v.
3743Department of General Services, 624 So.2d 330, 332 (Fla. 1st DCA
37541993)(concurring opinion of Judge Ervin)("[b]y using the term 'filed,' rather
3766than 'served,' the notice unambiguously advised appellant that any request for
3778hearing must be received by the agency within the time specified following the
3791appellant's receipt of the notice of the letter terminating appellant's
3801contract;" "[t]he term 'filed,' when used to denote a limitation period, is a
3815legal term generally understood to mean that the agency must receive the matter
3828required no later than the date stated").
3836APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER IN CASE NO. 95-4661
3844The following are the Hearing Officer's specific rulings on the "findings
3855of facts" proposed by the parties in their post-hearing submittals:
3865Petitioner's Proposed Findings
38681. Accepted and incorporated in substance, although not necessarily
3877repeated verbatim, in this Recommended Order.
38832-7. Rejected as findings of fact because they are more in the nature of
3897summaries of testimony adduced at hearing than findings of fact. See T.S. v.
3910Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 654 So.2d 1028, 1030 (Fla. 1st
3922DCA 1995)(hearing officer's factual findings which "merely summarize[d] the
3931testimony of witnesses" were "insufficient").
39378-9. Accepted and incorporated in substance.
3943The Agency's Proposed Findings
39471. Rejected as a finding of fact because it is more in the nature of a
3963statement of law.
39662-3 Accepted and incorporated in substance.
39724. To the extent that this proposed finding states that this advisement
3984was received by Petitioner on May 11, 1995, as opposed to May 17, 1995, it has
4000been rejected because it lacks sufficient evidentiary/record support.
4008Otherwise, it has been accepted and incorporated in substance.
40175. Accepted and incorporated in substance.
40236. To the extent that this proposed finding states that Petitioner
"4034submitted a . . . Medicaid provider application with a handwritten cover letter
4047on June 22, 1995," it has been accepted and incorporated in substance. To the
4061extent that it states that the application was "incomplete," it has been
4073rejected because it is contrary to the greater weight of the evidence.
4085COPIES FURNISHED:
4087Peter E. Perettine, Esquire
4091Comerica Bank Building, Suite 302
40961800 Corporate Boulevard, Northwest
4100Boca Raton, Florida 33431
4104Moses E. Williams, Senior Attorney
4109Agency for Health Care Administration
41142727 Mahan Drive, Fort Knox Number 3
4121Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403
4124Jerome W. Hoffman, General Counsel
4129Agency for Health Care
4133Administration
41342727 Mahan Drive, Fort Knox Number 3
4141Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403
4144Sam Power, Agency Clerk
4148Agency for Health Care
4152Administration
41532727 Mahan Drive, Fort Knox Number 3
4160Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403
4163NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS
4169All parties have the right to submit written exceptions to this Recommended
4181Order. All agencies allow each party at least 10 days in which to submit
4195written exceptions. Some agencies allow a larger period within which to submit
4207written exceptions. You should contact the agency that will issue the final
4219order in this case concerning agency rules on the deadline for filing exceptions
4232to this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to this Recommended Order should be
4244filed with the agency that will issue the final order in this case.
- Date
- Proceedings
- Date: 04/17/1996
- Proceedings: Final Order filed.
- Date: 02/05/1996
- Proceedings: Respondent`s Proposed Recommended Order filed.
- Date: 02/02/1996
- Proceedings: Respondent`s Proposed Recommended Order filed.
- Date: 02/01/1996
- Proceedings: (Respondent) Notice of Filing Exhibits filed.
- Date: 01/29/1996
- Proceedings: (Petitioner) Findings of Fact; (Petitioner) Closing Argument; Cover Letter filed.
- Date: 01/23/1996
- Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
- Date: 01/19/1996
- Proceedings: (Petitioners) Unilateral Pre-Trial Stipulation w/cover letter filed.
- Date: 12/21/1995
- Proceedings: Response of Agency for Healthcare Administration to Dan Murtha and Beverly Murtha d/b/a Beverly Transport, Inc.`s Request to Produce filed.
- Date: 12/14/1995
- Proceedings: (Petitioners) Request to Produce filed.
- Date: 12/07/1995
- Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing sent out. (hearing rescheduled for 1/23/96; 10:15am; West Palm Beach)
- Date: 12/01/1995
- Proceedings: Agency for Health Care Administration`s Response to the Order of Prehearing Instructions filed.
- Date: 10/18/1995
- Proceedings: Order of Prehearing Instructions sent out.
- Date: 10/18/1995
- Proceedings: Notice of Hearing sent out. (hearing set for 12/8/95; 2:00pm; Boca Raton)
- Date: 09/27/1995
- Proceedings: Initial Order issued.
- Date: 09/20/1995
- Proceedings: Notice; Petition for Formal Review Hearing; Cover letter From Dan Murtha; Agency Action letter filed.
Case Information
- Judge:
- STUART M. LERNER
- Date Filed:
- 09/20/1995
- Date Assignment:
- 01/19/1996
- Last Docket Entry:
- 04/17/1996
- Location:
- West Palm Beach, Florida
- District:
- Southern
- Agency:
- ADOPTED IN TOTO