The board provides within this rule chapter disciplinary guidelines which shall be imposed upon applicants or licensees whom it regulates under Florida Statutes Chapter 459, or telehealth providers registered under Florida Statutes § 456.47(4) The purpose of this rule chapter is to notify applicants and licensees of the ranges of penalties which will routinely be imposed during a formal or informal hearing unless the board finds it necessary to deviate from the stated guidelines. Each range includes the lowest and highest penalty and all penalties falling between. For purposes of this rule chapter, the order of penalties, ranging from lowest to highest, is: letter of concern; reprimand; probation; fine; restriction or certification with restrictions; suspension, revocation or refusal to certify. For telehealth registrants, a suspension may be accompanied by a corrective action plan that includes rehabilitative provisions narrowly tailored to address the conduct which resulted in the underlying disciplinary violations. The Board may require a corrective action plan to be completed prior to reinstatement of the suspended registration or the corrective action plan may follow a suspension for a definite term. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 459.015(2), combinations of these penalties are permissible by law. Nothing in this rule chapter shall preclude any discipline imposed upon an applicant or licensee pursuant to a stipulation or settlement agreement, nor shall the stated ranges of penalties preclude the probable cause panel from issuing a letter of guidance upon a finding of probable cause where appropriate.
Rulemaking Authority 456.079, 459.005, 459.015(5) FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 456.079. History-New 9-30-87, Formerly 21R-19.001, 61F9-19.001, 59W-19.001, Amended 2-2-98, 11-12-00, 11-24-20.