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The Florida Senate

CS/SB 1302 — Temporary Certificates for Visiting Physicians

by Banking and Insurance Committee and Senator Garcia

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)

The bill amends s. 458.3137. F.S., relating to temporary certificates for visiting physicians to obtain medical privileges for instructional purposes. The types of training programs and educational symposiums for which visiting faculty may seek a temporary certificate are expanded beyond the current single subject matter of plastic surgery to include other medical or surgical training programs affiliated with a medical school or educational symposium sponsored in conjunction with a medical school or teaching hospital.

In addition, the bill expands the types of entities that may sponsor the training programs to include any other medical or surgical training program that is affiliated with a medical school accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the American Osteopathic Association, or is part of a teaching hospital as defined in s. 408.07, F.S.

The temporary certificates are capped on a per symposium basis of 12 per event instead of the existing limit of 6 per year. Each certificate is valid for 5 days, an increase from the current limit of 3 days.

The bill also modifies the requirements for proof of financial responsibility for medical malpractice for physicians seeking a temporary certificate by providing as an additional option for physicians not licensed in this country proof that the physician is covered under the medical malpractice insurance of a teaching hospital or medical school. The amount of the bond, certificate of deposit, or guaranteed letter of credit continues to be at least $250,000.

The Department of Health is responsible for issuing the temporary certificates and updating any rules and procedures to accommodate these modifications.

If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2013.

Vote: Senate 37-0; House 117-0