59A-8.007. Geographic Service Area  


Effective on Tuesday, January 12, 2021
  • 1(1) An applicant for initial licensure, change of ownership, or the addition of skilled care services must apply for one or more counties within a geographic service area in which the main office is located on the Health Care Licensing Application, Home Health Agency, AHCA Form 3110-1011, April 2019, incorporated by reference in subsection 5559A-8.003(1), 56F.A.C., pursuant to Sections 60408.032(5) 61and 62400.497(9), F.S.

    64(2) In any request for expansion of the geographic service area, the home health agency’s previous history of survey results and administrative actions including fines, suspensions, revocations or injunctions will be reviewed to establish the home health agency’s ability to provide quality services within the requested area. In addition, the application for an expanded geographic service area must include a plan for:

    126(a) Coverage of the professional staff which takes into account the projected number of clients in the requested geographic service area; and,

    148(b) Supervision of the staff in the requested geographic service area.

    159(3) The counties listed on the home health agency license should reflect counties in which the home health agency expects to provide services. If an agency refuses to serve patients or clients residing in a specific county and that county is listed on the agency’s license, AHCA shall remove that county from the agency’s license. Refusal to provide services to a patient or client solely based on their residence in a specific county must be verified by AHCA prior to removing the county from the license. A home health agency shall not provide services to patients or clients residing in a county that is not listed on the agency’s license.

    269(4) This rule is in effect for five years from its effective date.

    282Rulemaking Authority 284400.497 FS. 286Law Implemented 288400.497 FS. 290History–New 10-27-94, Amended 1-17-00, 7-18-01, 6-16-15, 7-27-16, 1-12-21.