Florida Statutes
Part III - Home Health Services (Ss. 400.461-400.53)
400.53 - Nurse Registry Excellence Program.

(1) There is created within the agency the Nurse Registry Excellence Program for the purpose of awarding nurse registries that meet the criteria specified in this section.

(2)(a) The agency shall adopt rules establishing criteria for the program which must include, at a minimum, meeting standards relating to:
1. Patient or client satisfaction.
2. Patients or clients requiring emergency care for wound infections.
3. Patients or clients admitted or readmitted to an acute care hospital.
4. Patient or client longevity with the nurse registry.
5. Independent contractor satisfaction.
6. Independent contractor longevity with the nurse registry.
7. High performance under federal Medicaid electronic visit verification requirements.

(b) The agency must annually evaluate nurse registries seeking the award which apply on a form and in the manner designated by rule.

(3) The nurse registry must:
(a) Be actively licensed and operating for at least 24 months to be eligible to apply for a program award. An award under the program is not transferable to another license, except when the existing nurse registry is being relicensed in the name of an entity related to the current licenseholder by common control or ownership, and there will be no change in the management, operation, or programs of the nurse registry as a result of the relicensure.
(b) Have had no licensure denials, revocations, or any Class I, Class II, or uncorrected Class III deficiencies within the 24 months preceding the application for the program award.

(4) The award designation shall expire on the same date as the nurse registry’s license. A nurse registry must reapply and be approved for the award designation to continue using the award designation in the manner authorized under subsection (5).
(5) A nurse registry that is awarded under the program may use the designation in advertising and marketing. However, a nurse registry may not use the award designation in any advertising or marketing if the nurse registry:
(a) Has not been awarded the designation;
(b) Fails to renew the award upon expiration of the award designation;
(c) Has undergone a change in ownership that does not qualify for an exception under paragraph (3)(a); or
(d) Has been notified that it no longer meets the criteria for the award upon reapplication after expiration of the award designation.

(6) An application for an award designation under the program is not an application for licensure. A designation award or denial by the agency under this section does not constitute final agency action subject to chapter 120.
History.—s. 10, ch. 2020-9.