Health care law encompasses a wide range of issues. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the main government agency for health care laws. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) controls regulations surrounding pharmaceutical issues. States set rules on financial guidelines and other factors.
These rules affect how health care providers, third-party payors, and patients interact.
In Florida, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) regulates hospitals and health care facilities, including clinics. It administers Florida’s certificate of need (CON) program.
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) regulates Florida’s licensed health care professionals, such as doctors, dentists, and nurses. It also regulates in-office surgery performed by physicians.
The DOH maintains and governs Florida’s public health clinic system. This system provides services to indigent, uninsured, and underserved people.
The Florida Department of Health investigates complaints filed against licensed health care professionals and prosecutes them where necessary. The professional boards, such as the Board of Nursing, Board of Medicine, Board of Dentistry, and others, are part of DOH.
The Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) administers programs for persons with developmental disabilities and the Medicaid benefits for them in Florida. The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) regulates services that protect children from abuse. It also provides Medicaid benefits for them.
Attorneys with health care practices often represent plaintiffs or defendants. They handle health care regulatory matters and health care contracts. They also structure new business ventures involving health care services.
They manage medical malpractice matters and professional licensing issues. They also handle disciplinary matters and Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases. They take cases against health insurers and managed care plans. They also work on other medico-legal and bioethics issues.
Health care lawyers also handle business and corporate law matters. These include the purchase, sale, or lease of health care facilities, offices, and practices.
They also help with regulatory compliance for physicians and medical clinics. They support nursing homes and hospitals. They also advise payor groups, such as health insurers.
In Florida, the Florida Bar recognizes a number of different legal specialties and grants certification in them. One of the areas of legal specialization is Health Law. The process for an attorney to become a board-certified health lawyer is rigorous.
It includes at least five years of practice.
It also requires a minimum number of hours of advanced continuing legal education in the area.
It includes a rigorous certification exam.
It also requires a peer review process.
George F. Indest III is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law.