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Florida Telehealth Laws for Mental Health Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling has published the following guidance regarding the provision of telehealth services.

As of October 11, 2021, it is still effective and is provided verbatim as follows:
(See more at: https://floridasmentalhealthprofessions.gov/latest-news/telehealth/)

During the 2019 legislative session, Florida passed section 456.47 Florida Statutes, which establishes standards of practice for telehealth services, including patient evaluations, and record-keeping. The law also authorizes out-of-state health care practitioners to perform telehealth services for patients in Florida. Signed by the Governor on June 25, 2019, this law became effective on […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-30T20:00:05-04:00April 1, 2024|Mental Health Law Blog|

Florida’s Prescription Drug Importation Plan Continues to Gain Support

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On March 12, 2019, the Florida House of Representatives’ Health Quality Subcommittee voted 15 to 2 to approve House Bill 19 (HB 19) that would implement one of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently announced health care proposals. In February 2019, the new Florida governor, who was criticized for not having a health care platform while he campaigned, announced the proposal that Florida start importing drugs from Canada.

HB 19 -Prescription Drug Importation Programs.

HB 19 was created for the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:12-04:00August 9, 2019|Mental Health Law Blog|

Florida Governor’s Prescription Foreign Drug Importation Plan Gains House Support

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On March 12, 2019, the Florida House of Representatives’ Health Quality Subcommittee voted 15 to 2 to approve House Bill 19 (HB 19) that would implement one of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recently announced health care proposals. In February 2019, the new Florida governor, who was criticized for not having a health care platform while he campaigned, announced the proposal that Florida start importing drugs from Canada.

HB 19 -Prescription Drug Importation Programs.

HB 19 was created for the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:16-04:00March 18, 2019|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Sues Walgreens, CVS For Alleged Role in Helping Create and Increase Opioid Crisis

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On November 19, 2018, the state of Florida announced that it is suing pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS over their role in what it calls “unconscionable efforts to increase and expand the ongoing opioid crisis in Florida.” State Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office announced that it added the two companies to a lawsuit filed in May 2018, against opioid distributors and manufacturers.

The Supply and Demand Problem with Opioids.

The state alleges that the two chains are responsible for overselling addictive opioids, as well as not taking precautionary measures to stop illegal sales, helping to inflate the supply […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:20-04:00November 29, 2018|Pharmacy Law Blog|

Autistic Kids in Florida May Lose Care as Medicaid fraud Investigation Continues

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On July 26, 2018, state investigators revealed that six behavioral therapists in Florida billed the state for “impossible” days of service that at times indicated they worked for more than 24 hours in a day. The six therapists, who worked with low-income children with autism, were then subsequently terminated from the Medicaid program.

The company that employed them, DRA Behavioral Health, was among four South Florida behavioral therapy companies sanctioned by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for failing to pay fines, hiring unqualified therapists and failing to disclose required information to the state.

Is AHCA Delaying […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:23-04:00August 10, 2018|Mental Health Law Blog|

Doctors’ Medicare Payment Data to be Released Spring 2014

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

For years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has kept private its records on Medicare claims payments made to individual physicians. However, beginning March 18, 2014, the government may disclose the payment data on a case-by-case basis. According to CMS, this directive is a push by the Obama Administration to crack down on doctors who are making a habit out of repeatedly overcharging Medicare. On January 15, 2014, CMS stated that recalcitrant providers could face civil fines and exclusion from Medicare and other federal health care programs. According to CMS, a recalcitrant […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:54-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, Medicare, The Health Law Firm Blog|

The 20 Major Mistakes Physicians Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Investigation

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a physician’s license to practice, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the physician who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by physicians after the entire investigation is over and the damage is already done. Often, the mistakes that have been made severely compromise an attorney’s ability to achieve a favorable result for the physician.

These are the ten biggest mistakes […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:21-04:00May 15, 2018|Dental Law Blog|

The 20 Major Mistakes Physicians Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Investigation

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a physician’s license to practice, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the physician who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by physicians after the entire investigation is over and the damage is already done. Often, the mistakes that have been made severely compromise an attorney’s ability to achieve a favorable result for the physician.

These are the ten biggest mistakes […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:29-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

Concierge Medical Services Bring Cash With Few Hassles to Physicians

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

What is concierge medical services?

A concierge medical service or practice is a similar to having a primary care provider such as a family practice physician. However, concierge practices are marked by a promise, explicit or implied, that they provide appointments quickly and give a greater degree of personal attention to patients and their problems. The physician works directly with a family, an individual, or a couple to provide most of the medical needs of the patient. These needs include general and specialized care. Having a concierge medical practitioner means there is constantly a doctor […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:30-04:00May 15, 2018|Health Facilities Law Blog|

The 20 Major Mistakes Physicians Make After Being Notified of a Department of Health Investigation

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The investigation of a complaint which could lead to the revocation of a physician’s license to practice, usually starts with a simple letter from the Department of Health (DOH). This is a very serious legal matter and it should be treated as such by the physician who receives it. Yet, in many cases, attorneys are consulted by physicians after the entire investigation is over and the damage is already done. Often, the mistakes that have been made severely compromise an attorney’s ability to achieve a favorable result for the physician.

These are the ten biggest mistakes […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:48-04:00May 15, 2018|Medical Education Law Blog|