5 / 24
MQA Q4 2015 - 2016
The division upholds the Department’s mission to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida
through integrated state, county and community efforts. MQA collaborates with other stakeholder agencies at
the state and federal levels, and our regional investigative offices work with local officials and law enforcement
agencies to stop dangerous activity within Florida communities. The
QPR
for the fourth quarter of the 2015-2016
fiscal year provides statutorily required information on revenue, expenditures and performance measures, and
highlights MQA’s accomplishments, outstanding employees and successful partnerships.
LICENSING
The Department of Health has made a concerted effort to reduce regulation and eliminate unnecessary barriers to
licensure. During the fourth quarter, MQA was able to reduce the average number of days to issue an initial license
to 56.41 days. This is a reduction of nearly 20 days from the first quarter of the previous fiscal year. Furthermore,
the average number of days to renew a license for a qualified applicant improved to 0.21 days, which represents
a 48 percent improvement from last fiscal year. MQA also launched a new and improved online services portal to
better meet the needs of over one million licensed health care professions and applicants in Florida. To educate
licensees and applicants, you will see a section in the QPR dedicated to this portal along with license
renewal information.
ENFORCEMENT
During the fourth quarter, MQA received 338 complaints of unlicensed activity and issued 131 cease and desist
notices. This fiscal year the Unlicensed Activity (ULA) program has seen tremendous improvement in several
key areas including number of investigations completed and number of days to resolve a complaint. During the
2015-2016 fiscal year the ULA program completed 1,430 investigations compared to 901 the previous year.
Other notable improvements include inspection times. Between the third and fourth quarter, the average days
to complete a pharmacy inspection dropped from 24.1 to 14.7 days. The average number of days to complete
massage establishment, optical establishment, dental laboratory and electrolysis facility (MODE) inspections also
dropped from 13.6 to 8.2 days.
FINANCES
The division regularly reviews its licensing fees and recommends fee adjustments so that it collects only what
is needed to regulate each profession. MQA is accountable for how it spends licensees’ money, and strives to
maintain efficient regulatory processes that save money and get practitioners to work faster.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4
The Quarterly Performance Report (QPR) required by section 456.025(9),
Florida Statutes, offers the Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) an
opportunity to update its 22 health care provider boards and six councils, as
well as all stakeholders and health care consumers, on the important work
undertaken in health care regulation.