Bill > S0876

This bill makes several changes to Florida's laws regarding impaired practitioner programs and reporting requirements for health care practitioners: 1. It updates the terminology and definitions related to impaired practitioner programs, including defining terms like "consultant," "evaluator," "impaired practitioner," and "participant contract." 2. It specifies the requirements for the consultant operating the impaired practitioner program, such as arranging for evaluations and treatment, monitoring recovery progress, and not directly providing patient care. 3. It allows boards or the department to refer applicants for licensure to the consultant to evaluate whether the applicant may be impaired, and tolls the application deadline until the evaluation is complete. 4. It modifies reporting requirements, allowing practitioners to report colleagues who they know are unable to practice safely due to illness or substance abuse to the impaired practitioner consultant rather than directly to the department. 5. It creates a new requirement for licensed midwives and other health care providers to report certain adverse incidents occurring during out-of-hospital births to the department within 15 days. 6. It provides civil liability protections for the consultant and its representatives related to the impaired practitioner program.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Appropriations (Senate), Health Policy (Senate)

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/876