MQA FY 13/14 Annual Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) in the Department of Health is striving toward a healthier future for the people of

Florida. Together with efforts at the county and community level, the Department seeks to protect, promote and improve the health of

all Floridians. By focusing on Department values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Responsiveness, and Excellence, MQA has

improved service to its key customers: licensed health care practitioners, licensure applicants, and health care consumers.

This 2013-2014 Annual Report for the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, as required by Section 456.026, Florida

Statutes, contains the division’s long-rang plan, performance data, and statistics related to the regulation of health

care practitioners and facilities established in Section 20.43(3)(g), F.S. Also included are the revenues, expenditures,

and cash balances for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, and a review of the adequacy of existing fees.

During fiscal year 2013-2014, the Division:

Turned to

Innovation

to reduce license renewal processing

time from 3.76 days to .27 days. This technology solution

reconciles credit card payments in near real-time, resulting

in an estimated annual cost savings of $15 million and

getting health care practitioners to work days faster. The

Division regulates 1.15 million licensees in 42 health care

professions and eight types of facilities/establishments.

Last year it renewed 410,369 licenses in 2013-2014, 92

percent of them online.

Shut down unlicensed dental service providers and

massage services, stopped cosmetic surgery by

unlicensed people and headed off dangerous unregulated

medical procedures through

Collaboration

with law

enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal

levels. Of 1,068 complaints reporting unlicensed

activity made during 2013-2014, 812 were referred for

investigation. During the year, 231 cease and desist

orders were issued and 296 cases were referred to law

enforcement agencies.

Launched a new public records management system

Accountability

establishing a comprehensive management system to

maintain open records compliance, reduce processing

time and save resources. Customers can now access

an online web portal 24/7 to request, track and receive

real-time status updates. The system features proactive

technologies to reduce requests and eliminate duplication.

Highlighted

Responsiveness

with completion of a project to

launch or overhaul websites for all 22 health care practitioner

boards. The project also updated the main practitioner portal

www.FlHealthSource.gov

for improved access to licensing

information. The Division issued 95,546 initial licenses in

2013-2014. Through its focus on easing military veterans’

transition to civilian life, MQA granted fee waivers to veterans,

saving those new licensees $40,000. In the coming year, the

VALOR program will expedite licensing for military veterans.

Upheld

Excellence

as the number of pain management clinics

that pass inspection the first time rose to 85 percent in 2013-

2014 compared to 53 percent in 2012-2013, showing that

Florida clinics are using safer practices. Also, MQA continued

efforts to improve performance of sterile compounding

facilities, and the percentage passing inspection without

deficiencies rose to nearly 89 percent.