The changes to this rule will clarify responsibilities of licensees and continuing education providers.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division of Medical Quality Assurance

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B-5.002Submission of Program Information, Submission of Licensee Program Completion Data, Licensee Self-Submission, Address

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The changes to this rule will clarify responsibilities of licensees and continuing education providers.

SUMMARY: The changes to this rule eliminate unnecessary language with regards to the continuing education tracking system required by Section 456.025, Florida Statutes.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION: The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based on the SERC checklist, this rulemaking will not have an adverse impact or regulatory costs in excess of $1 million within five years as established in section 120.541(2)(a), F.S.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 456.004(1), (5); 456.025(7) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(9), 456.025(7) FS.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Jennifer Wenhold at: [e-mail]

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B-5.002 Responsibility of the Continuing Education Provider and Licensee Submission of Program Information, Submission of Licensee Program Completion Data, Licensee Self-Submission, Address.

For the purposes of implementing and maintaining the CE tracking system, the following requirements apply:

(1) Provider sSubmission of program information. Unless otherwise provided by rule of a board or the department when there is no board, prior to the date a program is to be offered, all approved providers must electronically submit the following program information through the CE tracking system: the provider name, the name of the program, when the program is being offered, and the maximum allowable credit hours approved by the board or the department when there is no board according to procedures set forth in the rules of each board or by the department when there is no board. Upon receipt of such information the CE tracking system will assign a program number for the purpose of tracking each continuing education program, or at an approved provider’s request, the CE tracking system can use a program number convenient to and assigned by the approved provider or a board. Program information can be updated, as necessary, by the approved provider up until the day the program is offered.

(2) Provider sSubmission of licensee program completion data; licensee self-submission.

(a) All Florida Board approved providers shall submit licensee program completion data through the CE tracking system within thirty (30) ninety (90) days of program completion, unless otherwise provided by rule of a board or the department when there is no board. Required information includes the provider number, the program name, the number for the program assigned by the CE tracking system or the number provided to the CE tracking system by the approved provider or a board, the date the program was completed and the license numbers of licensees who participated in the program. The approved provider may submit the total hours earned during the program by each licensee without specifically delineating the individual courses or lectures constituting the total. The approved provider shall specifically list the licensee’s completion of any subject hours mandated by law.

(b) Such Llicensee program completion data shall be submitted electronically through the CE tracking system by using either the designated spreadsheet format, the designated text file format, entering the data directly to the CE tracking system or, using a compatible format to the following internet address: https://www.cebroker.com, or through submission of the scan card which is hereby incorporated by reference and effective, all of which are available through the Department of Health at the internet or street address in subsection (4) below. The scan card shall contain the appropriate designation for submission of detailed information for each profession’s required continuing education and mandatory hours, and shall be completed according to the instructions on the scan card.

(c) Approved providers not currently offering courses shall notify the Department by logging into their provider account in the CE tracking system. At the time the provider has a course to offer they will login to the provider account and update their status.

(3)(c) Licensees attending courses approved by a nationally recognized organization shall may, at their option, self-report electronically any CE hours earned into the CE tracking system prior to license renewal electronically to the internet address in subsection (4) below. Licensees shall not be charged any fees for electronically self-reporting CE hours through the CE tracking system. A board or the department when there is no board may restrict, by rule, which hours may be self-reported.

(3) An approved provider or licensee who unsuccessfully attempts to electronically submit any information as provided in this rule, has the option of submitting that information in one of the formats specified in subsection (2) together with a statement regarding the unsuccessful attempted compliance. It must be sent by certified U.S. mail as indicated in subsection (4). Such submission will meet the requirements of this rule.

(4) Address. All information and data required by this rule shall be submitted electronically to the following Internet address: https://www.cebroker.com. For the purposes of subsection (3), the information may be mailed to the CE Tracking Unit, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C00, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3250.

Rulemaking Specific Authority 456.004(1), (5); 456.025(7) FS. Law Implemented 456.013(9), 456.025(7) FS. History–New 3-15-05, Amended______.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Jennifer Wenhold

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS, Surgeon General and Secretary

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 18, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 20, 2014