January 2009

In This Issue:

• Message From The Secretary
• Message From The Chair
• Message From the Executive Director
• eNewsroom
• Contact Information Updates
• Correct Zip + 4

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Message From The Secretary

Dear Friend:

Back in August, when I was appointed the Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, I set several goals for my first few months. Now that we are in the holiday season and nearing the end of this year, I have taken the time to reflect on those goals and assess my progress. I would like to share some of these goals and the progress we have made in reaching those goals during my time as Secretary.

One of the first goals I set for myself was to improve the licensure application process. We have started to achieve this goal by examining our applications and comparing them to law and rule. We want to ensure that we are only asking from you what the laws and rules require and nothing more. In several instances, we have been asking for more than what is required. We are now removing those requirements. We also are identifying requirements that are in law and rule that may no longer be necessary. In those cases, we will be asking the legislature and individual boards for their input. This is a tedious task but an important one, and I am pleased with the progress we have made.

Within my first few weeks as Secretary, I realized that it can be difficult working in a statewide agency based in Tallahassee, as I am not always readily able to meet with customers in other areas of the state. Knowing that insight provided by the end-user is the most valuable, I wanted to develop an initiative based on that fact. That is why we started the "On the Road to Better Business." I have traveled to our district offices across the state and given licensees the opportunity to meet with me in person. I have brought their feedback back to Tallahassee, and we are already making changes based on the feedback from those meetings.

Meeting with licensees and consumers provided me with great insight, but I also wanted to meet and form relationships with my fellow Governor appointees. DBPR provides services and support to 19 different boards and councils. It was my goal to meet or attend one meeting of each professional board before the end of the year. Looking back, this was a lofty goal. Although I will be just shy of my goal by the end of the December, I am scheduled to meet with all of the Boards before the end of January. I know that as public servants, we have the same goal to provide great service to our licensees and protect the public. We must work together to achieve our goals.

My first few months as Secretary of DBPR have been so rewarding. We have made great progress and we are working hard to achieve our goals. As I continue to assess our progress, we will have achieved some goals, some will carry over into next year and new goals will be created. We will continue to look for ways to serve you better while keeping public safety as our first priority. It is our duty to you and the citizens of Florida.

Sincerely,
Charles W. Drago
Secretary

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Message From The Board Chair, Dr. Robert O’Neil

Secretary Drago recently attended a Board meeting and informed the Board of his “On the Road to Better Business” tour.  Secretary Drago hit the road to work from district offices across the state providing opportunities for you to meet with him. He has completed his tour for this year, but please visit www.MyFloridaLicense.com frequently to see when Secretary Drago will be in an area near you in the coming year. You will be able to share your experiences with the Department and offer suggestions on how to enhance business. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly, and we recognize that providing great service to our customers means supporting Florida’s economy.

Secretary Drago also informed the Board about the Department’s online newsletter. To be kept up-to-date with department initiatives you can subscribe to the newsletter at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/os/newsletters/subscribe.html.

If your schedule allows, I encourage you to attend a Board meeting.  Attendance at a Board of Veterinary Medicine meeting qualifies for up to five hours of continuing education.  Attendance is a good way to stay informed of current issues as well as to provide the Board valuable feedback.  Due to the diversity of practice, the Board welcomes the dialogue in an effort to help them better serve and regulate the profession.  The next Board meeting is scheduled for March 31, 2009 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Please check the Board Web page for up-to-date meeting information.  We hope to see you there.

Please be aware the Department will continue to conduct random educational audits in the near future to verify continuing education.   If you receive an audit letter, please respond timely and submit copies of your course completion certificates.  Failure to respond to the audit or to provide proof of continuing education may result in a disciplinary case against your license. 

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Message from the Executive Director
Juanita Chastain

In an effort to better protect the public there have been two very important changes I would like to make you aware of. 

Beginning in July, 2009 you will be inspected every two years and you will no longer be required to conduct the self inspection.  The fee for the inspection will remain the same; $60 per inspection.  The rule language is provided below:

61G18-15.005, Florida Administrative Code, Periodic Inspections.

(1) The Department shall make inspections of veterinary premises every two (2) years. Such inspection shall include but not be limited to verification of compliance with Rule 61G18-15.002, F.A.C., governing minimum standards for veterinary premises.

(2) Additionally, the Department shall conduct unannounced routine inspections of one percent (1%) of the veterinary premises each year. The selection of premises to be inspected shall be made by the Department on a random basis.

Specific Authority 474.206, 474.215 FS. Law Implemented 474.215, 455.243 FS. History–New 5-11-80, Amended 12-5-82, Formerly 21X-15.05, Amended 10-14-86, 3-15-87, 4-8-90, 1-27-92, Formerly 21X-15.005, Amended 10-19-08.

Health Care Clinics Establishment Permits- Information Provided by the Department of Health

The Board of Pharmacy and Drugs, Devices and Cosmetics Program will begin issuing Health Care Clinics Establishment (HCCE) permits, in accordance with Section 499.01(2)(t), Florida Statutes.

Effective Jan. 1, 2009, a health care clinic establishment permit will be required for the purchase of prescription drugs by a group practice (place of business at one general physical location owned and operated by a professional corporation or professional limited liability company described in Chapter 621, FS, or a corporation that employs a veterinarian as a qualifying practitioner) that wishes to purchase and own prescription drugs.  Under current law, health care practitioners in a group practice setting must individually order their own prescription drugs for dispensing or administering to their own patients under their own license number.

As part of the application for the permit required under section 499.012, FS, the establishment will be required to designate a qualifying practitioner who will be responsible for complying with all legal and regulatory requirements related to the purchase, recordkeeping, storage and handling of prescription drugs.  For the purposes of this section, a qualifying practitioner is a licensed health care practitioner defined in section 456.001, FS, or a veterinarian licensed under chapter 474, FS, who is authorized under the appropriate practice act to prescribe and administer a prescription drug.

Additionally, the designated qualifying practitioner must be the practitioner whose name, establishment address, and license number is used on all distribution documents for the prescription drugs purchased or returned by the health care clinic establishment.

The Department of Health will adopt rules and forms for the HCCE permit application.  Please refer to their web site www.doh.state.fl.us/pharmacy or call 850.245.4292 if you have questions.

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eNewsroom

Check out DBPR's eNewsroom, your source for important Department news and information. Here, you can watch public service announcements, read news releases, and subscribe to and flip through our publications.

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Contact Information Updates

Please help us by notifying the Department when your address, telephone number, and/or e-mail changes. Service by regular mail to a licensee’s last known address of record constitutes adequate and sufficient notice to the licensee for any official communication, so it is important that your contact information is correct.

You may change your mailing address using our online services at www.MyFloridaLicense.com. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, or need assistance using the online services menu, please telephone the Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 or use our convenient contact form to submit any comments and/or questions you may have. In order to better serve you, please include as much information as possible about the nature of your request.

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The Correct Zip Code Makes a Difference!

The Department's Bureau of Central Intake and Licensure, located within the Division of Service Operations, receives and processes your license applications. To ensure your application and required documentation is sent directly to the Bureau of Central Intake and Licensure section for processing, always use the correct zip code, "plus-4" on all correspondence you send to us. The "plus-4" refers to the unique four-digit code that identifies the divisions and offices within the Department. The proper zip code, plus-4 for the Bureau of Central Intake and Licensure is 32399-0783. Thanks for helping us serve you better!

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