The purpose of the rule amendment is to update the rule language to allow for online classes or through live synchronous streaming.

 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Board of Chiropractic Medicine

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

64B2-13.004Continuing Education

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule amendment is to update the rule language to allow for online classes or through live synchronous streaming.

SUMMARY: Update rule text.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will 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 been prepared by the Agency.

In summary, the SERC found that the 5 responding CE providers, of a total approved number of 27, generate approximately $1.8 million per year in revenues from in-person CE attendance. The rule amendments allow for all CE hours to be obtained online or through live synchronous streaming. The prices that will be charged per hour for that method of delivery are unknown, but the SERC estimates those hours will be offered at a lower price than live hours, which will reduce the cost impact on the Board’s approximately 6,500 licensees. This will correspondingly reduce the revenues of the providers of in-person CE. However, providers of online CE hours, including those currently providing live hours, will gain revenues from online hours, which will offset the losses of live hour revenues. Overall, the SERC is unable to estimate the overall effect, other than an expected net reduction to the licensees who pay per hour, with a corresponding net reduction to the CE providers.

In addition, the SERC estimates that one-time and reoccurring costs to implement and maintain online learning platforms will cost $565,000 over a five year period. Those costs will be offset by the revenues received from providing online CE hours. Overall, the Board determined the overall effect from the rule amendments will be positive, since reducing the cost of CE hours necessary to renew a license will have a positive benefit, in addition to the benefits of not requiring licensees to travel to in-person meetings during the Covid-19 crisis.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs.

No person or interested party submitted additional information regarding the economic impact at the public meeting.

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: 456.013, 456.025(7), 460.408(3) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013(6), (8), (9), 456.025(7), 456.036(10), 460.408 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: Janet Hartman, Interim Executive Director, Board of Chiropractic Medicine, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C07, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3257, or by electronic mail – [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

64B2-13.004 Continuing Education.

(1) Required Hours. For the purpose of renewing a license, an applicant must demonstrate to the Board that he or she participated in at least forty (40) contact classroom hours (twenty-four (24) for Certified Chiropractic Physicians Assistants) of continuing chiropractic education during the past two (2) years. Only those contact classroom hours earned at Board approved continuing education courses or which comply with the provisions of this rule are acceptable. For purpose of this rule, the term “contact classroom hour” shall mean fifty (50) minutes of instruction offered through in-person courses or through online attendance continuing education courses complying with subsection (3). Through the current licensure renewal biennium which ends March 31, 2022, live, synchronous online (“virtual live”) courses shall be considered to be in-person courses, and shall be approved pursuant to the approval criteria for in-person courses.  Beginning with the next renewal biennium, beginning April 1, 2022, the current rule requirements regarding in-person vs. online are restored.

(2) No change.  

(3) Online Attendance Continuing Education.

(a) No change. 

(b) Challenge questions. Challenge questions are offered during each credit hour of a course to verify the licensee’s attendance. A minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the challenge questions asked during each credit hour must be answered by the attendee to receive credit for that hour of content. If an attendee fails to answer at least 75% of the challenge questions, the attendee must retake the entire credit hour, and each credit hour must be completed before the next credit hour of content may be attempted. Challenge questions must be related to that credit hour’s content.

(c) Post-test. A post-test must be offered at the completion of the course to assess the attendee’s mastery of the course content. A minimum score of seventy-five percent (75%) of the post-test questions must be answered correctly for an attendee to obtain credit for the course.

(c)(d) Online Hours Allowed. During the current biennium which ends March 31, 2022, a licensee may elect to obtain all required continuing education hours through online attendance continuing education courses.  Beginning April 1, 2022, the current limitation of ten (10) online attendance continuing education hours is restored. Each licensee may elect to obtain no more than ten (10) general hours each biennium through online attendance continuing education courses.

(d) No online attendance continuing education course may be repeated for credit within the same biennium; this limitation does not apply to live, synchronous online courses.

(4) through (7) No change.   

Rulemaking Authority 456.013, 456.025(7), 460.408(3) FS. Law Implemented 456.013(6), (8), (9), 456.025(7), 456.036(10), 460.408 FS. History–New 1-10-80, Amended 11-25-80, 1-13-82, Formerly 21D-13.04, Amended 6-22-86, 7-5-87, 1-25-88, 10-17-90, 10-15-92, Formerly 21D-13.004, Amended 10-26-93, Formerly 61F2-13.004, Amended 3-16-95, 7-18-95, 6-11-96, Formerly 59N-13.004, Amended 6-24-98, 8-4-99, 7-11-02, 11-30-03, 4-17-05, 11-14-06, 11-13-07, 7-1-09, 5-17-10, 8-22-11, 10-21-12, 7-10-13, 7-8-15, 11-15-16, 5-30-17, 1-22-18, 8-5-18, 9-5-19,                 .

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Board of Chiropractic Medicine

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Chiropractic Medicine

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: March 12, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 27, 2020