MQA Quarterly Performance Report

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MQA Q4 2015 - 2016 12
545: Human Trafficking (effective October 1, 2016)
Reclassifies human trafficking as a felony offense and
details disciplinary actions for massage therapists who, and
massage establishments that, are convicted of prostitution
and human trafficking offenses.
941: Department of Health (effective July 1, 2016)
Revises provisions relating to regulatory activities, including
continuing education requirements at renewal, of MQA
and certain boards/councils, and updates licensing
requirements for military members and their spouses.
977: Behavioral Health Workforce
(effective April 14, 2016)
Expands the behavioral health workforce and recognizes
the critical need for psychiatric care throughout the state.
1061: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) (effective
December 31, 2018 or when 26 states enact NLC)
Creates the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) in Florida,
which is a multi-state agreement that establishes a mutual
recognition system for the licensure of registered nurses
and licensed practical or vocational nurses.
1063: Public Records (per NLC) (effective
December 31, 2018 or when 26 states enact NLC)
Exempts from public records a nurse’s personal
identification information that DOH obtains from the nurse
licensing compact coordinated licensure information
system and exempts certain NLC meetings from the public
meeting requirements.
1175: Transparency in Health Care (effective July 1, 2016)
Requires health care practitioners to provide an estimate
of treatment charges if asked by a patient and outlines
disciplinary actions against the practitioner for failure to
provide an estimate in the specified timeframe.
1241: Ordering of Medications (effective July 1, 2016)
Allows pharmacists to dispense emergency opioid
antagonists, revises the authority of physician assistants to
order medication as directed by a supervising physician and
authorizes PAs and ARNPs to order controlled substances
under certain circumstances.
7087: Health Care (Telehealth) (effective July 1, 2016)
Establishes the Telehealth Advisory Council and requires
the Department of Health to survey all health care
practitioners on telehealth practices upon, and as a
condition of, renewal.
SENATE BILLS
238: Medical Assistant Certification
(effective July 1, 2016)
Repeals provisions relating to certification of a medical
assistant by the American Association of Medical Assistants
or as a Registered Medical Assistant by the
American Medical Technologists.
450: Physical Therapy (effective March 23, 2016)
Revises the definition of “practice of physical therapy” and
provides the terms by which a licensed physical therapist
can use specified letters in connection with his or her name
or business.
592: Public Records/DFS/Emergency Medical
Technicians or Paramedics (effective March 30, 2016)
Provides an exemption from public records requirements
for certain identifying and location information of certain
non-sworn DFS employees as well as current or former
certified emergency medical technicians or paramedics and
their spouses and children under specified circumstances.
964: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
(effective July 1, 2016)
Exempts certain facilities that dispense controlled
substances from reporting this dispensing act to the
PDMP. Also allows impaired practitioner consultants and
designees of a pharmacy, prescriber or dispenser to access
the PDMP database under certain circumstances.
To provide our key customers with more detailed
descriptions including links of the entire bills, the
Strategic Planning Services Unit and Web Support Services
Unit worked in collaboration to develop an interactive
website. For summaries, effective dates and links, please
visit