May 5, 2014 – Florida Board of Medicine
March 24, 2014 – Florida Board of Medicine
New Rule in effect governing Standards for Telemedicine Practice
March 5, 2014 – Florida Board of Medicine –
Information for PA’s: Completing the Supervision Data Form
February 13, 2014 – FMA Fact Sheet – Oppose Scope of Practice Expansion
Please feel free to forward this email message to other interested parties.
If you are unable to attend one of the dates above please visit CE@Renewal.com to learn more about the new approach to license renewal. You can also visit
the Department of Health’s website at www.FLBoardofMedicine.gov for specific continuing education requirements and renewal information for your Profession.
September 20, 2013 – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) –
Back to School: Resources and Tools to Help Prepare for ICD-10
CMS and industry partners have developed many resources to help you get ready for ICD-10. These tools provide information and step-by-step guidance for providers and staff to prepare for a smooth transition. We encourage you to share these resources with all members of your team who are taking part in the transition to ICD-10.
New Online ICD-10 Implementation Guide
CMS has just released the new Online ICD-10 Guide. This web-based tool includes an overview of ICD-10 as well as information on how to transition to ICD-10 for small/medium practices, large practices, small hospitals, and payers.
Below are links to other helpful tools available on the CMS ICD-10 Website:
- The ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction
- ICD-10 FAQs
- ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
- ICD-10 Basics for Small and Rural Practices
- Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices
- ICD-10 Resources List
- National ICD-10 Provider Education Teleconferences
CMS works with Medscape to produce videos and articles that offer tips and advice on ICD-10, along with an opportunity for physicians to earn continuing medical education credits and nurses to earn continuing education credits. CMS has recently released two new Medscape videos:
You can also reference resources from provider associations and other industry organizations. Many of these groups also host ICD-10 webinars and trainings that you can attend to get up to speed on ICD-10. Visit the ICD-10 Provider Resources page to find a list of some organizations that offer ICD-10 resources, and check with any organizations to which you belong for members-only resources.
To make sure you have all the tools you need, we recommend purchasing the new ICD-10 code book. You and your team can begin looking up the ICD-10 codes for the ICD-9 codes frequently used in your practice.
September 5, 2013 – Florida Board of Medicine – Rule Update
The Florida Board of Medicine reviewed Rule 64B8-9.003, Florida Administrative Code which provides standards for the adequacy of medical records. The underlined portions below are the new standards required for medical records as it relates to compounded medications. These standards are effective September 9, 2013.
64B8-9.003 Standards for Adequacy of Medical Records.
(1) Medical records are maintained for the following purposes:
(a) To serve as a basis for planning patient care and for continuity in the evaluation of the patient’s condition and treatment.
(b) To furnish documentary evidence of the course of the patient’s medical evaluation, treatment, and change in condition.
(c) To document communication between the practitioner responsible for the patient and any other health care professional who contributes to the patient’s care.
(d) To assist in protecting the legal interest of the patient, the hospital, and the practitioner responsible for the patient.
(2) A licensed physician shall maintain patient medical records in English, in a legible manner and with sufficient detail to clearly demonstrate why the course of treatment was undertaken.
(3) The medical record shall contain sufficient information to identify the patient, support the diagnosis, justify the treatment and document the course and results of treatment accurately, by including, at a minimum, patient histories; examination results; test results; records of drugs prescribed, dispensed, or administered; reports of consultations and hospitalizations; and copies of records or reports or other documentation obtained from other health care practitioners at the request of the physician and relied upon by the physician in determining the appropriate treatment of the patient.
(4) Medical records in which compounded medications are administered to a patient in an office setting must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(a) The name and concentration of medication administered;
(b) The lot number of the medication administered;
(c) The expiration date of the medication administered;
(d) The name of the compounding pharmacy or manufacturer;
(e) The site of administration on the patient;
(f) The amount of medication administered; and
(g) The date medication administered.
(5) All entries made into the medical records shall be accurately dated and timed. Late entries are permitted, but must be clearly and accurately noted as late entries and dated and timed accurately when they are entered into the record. However, office records do not need to be timed, just dated.
(6) In situations involving medical examinations, tests, procedures, or treatments requested by an employer, an insurance company, or another third party, appropriate medical records shall be maintained by the physician and shall be subject to Section 456.061, F.S. However, when such examinations, tests, procedures, or treatments are pursuant to a court order or rule or are conducted as part of an independent medical examination pursuant to Section 440.13 or 627.736(7), F.S., the record maintenance requirements of Section 456.061, F.S., and this rule do not apply. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to permit the destruction of medical records that have been made pursuant to any examination, test, procedure, or treatment except as permitted by law or rule.
Rulemaking Authority 458.309, 458.331(1)(v) FS. Law Implemented 456.061, 458.331(1) FS. History–New 1-1-92, Formerly 21M-27.003, Amended 1-12-94, Formerly 61F6-27.003, Amended 9-3-95, Formerly 59R-9.003, Amended 8-20-02. 9-11-06, 9-9-13.
June 24, 2013 – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services –
HHS Launches Health Insurance Marketplace Educational Tools
The Obama administration today kicked off the Health Insurance Marketplace education effort with a new, consumer-focused HealthCare.gov website and the 24-hours-a-day consumer call center to help Americans prepare for open enrollment and ultimately sign up for private health insurance. The new tools will help Americans understand their choices and select the coverage that best suits their needs when open enrollment in the new Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1.
To read the full press release, click here.
June 10, 2013 – Florida Board of Medicine –
Clarification Regarding Controlled Substance Prescriber Laws
In accordance with s. 456.44, F.S., a physician licensed under chapter 458, chapter 459, chapter 461, or chapter 466 who prescribes any controlled substance listed in Schedule II, Schedule III, or Schedule IV, as defined in s. 893.03, F.S., for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain must designate himself or herself as a controlled substance prescribing practitioner on the physician’s practitioner profile. If the physician does not prescribe controlled substances for the treatment of chronic nonmalignant pain, the “Controlled Substance Prescriber” field will indicate “NO,” but as long as the physician holds a DEA prescribing license, he or she is still authorized to prescribe controlled substances.
Chronic nonmalignant pain, as defined in s. 456.44(1)(e), F.S., is “pain unrelated to cancer which persists beyond the usual course of disease or the injury that is the cause of the pain or more than 90 days after surgery.” If you do not treat patients for what falls under the statutory definition of chronic nonmalignant pain, there is no need to register as a Controlled Substance Prescriber in the State of Florida, and your ability to prescribe controlled substances will not be hindered as long as you hold a DEA prescribing license.
If you do treat patients for what falls under the statutory definition of chronic nonmalignant pain and you have not yet registered yourself as a Controlled Substance Prescriber in the State of Florida, please do so immediately. This can be done by logging into MQA Online Services using the same User ID and Password that you use to renew your license, and selecting the “Controlled Substance Prescriber” option from the menu on the left-hand side of the page. Follow the on-screen prompts from there to complete the process. There is no fee for registration. The online system can assist you if you do not remember your User ID and/or password, or you may call 850-488-0595 and a representative will assist you.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Board of Medicine by phone at (850) 245-4131, or by e-mail at MQA_Medicine@doh.state.fl.us.
May 24, 2013 – Florida Board of Medicine – Update your Practitioner Profile
Since 1997, Florida law has required physicians to create and maintain a Practitioner Profile [s. 456.041 – 046, Florida Statutes].
When a physician becomes licensed in Florida, he/she is given their Practitioner Profile to review for accuracy, which will then go live on our web site 30 days later. Thereafter, practitioners are required to update their profile within 15 days of any change. Failure to do so places you at risk for disciplinary action. Updating your Practitioner Profile can easily be done using the Florida Board of Medicine’s new web page:
- Go to www.FLBoardofMedicine.gov
- Click on Resources
- Click on Helpful Links
- Click on Update Your Practitioner Profile
You might be wondering when your profile was last updated. We highly recommend reviewing your profile frequently to ensure that all of the information available to the public is correct.
To update your Practitioner Profile, you will need to use the same User ID and Password that is required to renew your license. If you cannot recall your User ID and/or Password, instructions for retrieving this information can be found on the MQA Services website. Most of the updating can be accomplished online; however, some items require the information to be sent to the Board Office. Additionally, Profiling Staff are available to assist you and can be reached at (850) 488-0595.
May 15, 2013 Florida Department of Health announces new
Standards for Protocols: Physicians and ARNP
Click here for more information.
May 3, 2013 CMS ICD-10 Resources
The CMS website offers resources for providers, payers, and vendors to help prepare for the transition to ICD-10. Resources provide tips and advice on how to plan and execute your transition to ICD-10, including timelines, checklists, and fact sheets. Click here to visit the CMS website.
February 26, 2013 CMS Releases ICD-10 Checklists and Timelines
To help you prepare for ICD-10, CMS has released new checklists and timelines for small and medium provider practices, large provider practices, small hospitals, and payers. These resources are designed to give you a high-level understanding of what the ICD-10 transition requires and how your ICD-10 preparations compare with recommended timeframes.