The purpose of new Rule 59G-4.266 is to define the role and responsibilities of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families related to the registration of qualified evaluators and the procedure for selecting ...

 

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

Medicaid

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

59G-4.266Qualified Evaluator Network

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of new Rule 59G-4.266, F.A.C., is to define the role and responsibilities of the Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Children and Families related to the registration of qualified evaluators and the procedure for selecting qualified evaluators to conduct suitability assessments.

SUMMARY: The new rule defines registration and selection processes for qualified evaluators and creates a fee schedule for services provided by qualified evaluators.

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: A checklist was prepared by the Agency to determine the need for a SERC. Based on this information at the time of the analysis and pursuant to section 120.541, Florida Statutes, the rule will not require legislative ratification.

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: 39.407(6)(i) FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 39.407 FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: July 9, 2015, 2:00 p.m. ‒ 3:00 p.m.

PLACE: Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Conference Room B, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5407

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 hours before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Heather Allman. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Heather Allman, Bureau of Medicaid Policy, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop #20, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5407, telephone: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

Comments will be received until 5:00 p.m., on July 9, 2015.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

 

59G-4.266 Qualified Evaluator Network.

(1) Purpose. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), or its designee, will register qualified evaluators for the purpose of determining that a child in the legal custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is suitable for residential treatment services (as defined in section 39.407(6)(a), F.S.).

(2) Qualifications:

(a) A licensed psychiatrist or a psychologist meeting all of the following criteria may be registered as a qualified evaluator by AHCA, or its designee:

1. Be licensed in Florida in accordance with Chapter 458, 459, or 490, Florida Statutes.

2. Have three or more years of clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of serious emotional disturbances in children and adolescents.

3. Have no actual or perceived conflict of interest with any inpatient facility or residential treatment center or program.

4. Have successfully passed background screening requirements of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Federal Bureau of Investigations.

(b) The Agency for Health Care Administration will maintain a list of qualified evaluators who have been registered in each AHCA region on its Web site at http://ahca.myflorida.com.

(3) Selection Process. The Department of Children and Families can select a qualified evaluator, from the list of evaluators maintained by AHCA, to perform a suitability assessment (as described in Section 39.407(6), F.S.). Selection of the qualified evaluator will be made based on the geographic proximity of the qualified evaluator to the child and the availability of the qualified evaluator to perform the assessment.

(4) Fees: The Department of Children and Families, or its designee, will reimburse the qualified evaluator for performance of a suitability assessment in accordance with the following fee schedule or may choose to negotiate a mutually agreed upon rate with the qualified evaluator:

Description:	Cost Per Assessment:
Initial Assessment	$400.00
90-Day Assessment	$560.00
Rescheduling Fee	$120.00

Rulemaking Authority 39.407(6)(i) FS. Law Implemented 39.407FS. History-New ________.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Heather Allman

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Elizabeth Dudek

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: June 1, 2015

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: April 30, 2015