Attorney General of Florida — Opinion
August 28, 1995
RE: NURSES — AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION — HOME HEALTH CARE — licensed nurses providing nursing services as independent contractors in patients’ homes. s. 400.464(5), Fla. Stat.
Licensed nurses as ind. contractors in patients’ homes
Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General
Mr. Jerome Hoffman General Counsel Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403 Ms. Carolyn Pardue Florida Nurses Association Post Office Box 536985 Orlando, Florida 32853-6985
Dear Mr. Hoffman and Ms. Pardue:
You ask substantially the following question:
May a nurse, licensed pursuant to Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, directly contract with a patient to provide nursing services to such patient in the patient’s private residence?
In sum:
A nurse, licensed pursuant to Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, may directly contract with a patient to provide nursing services to such patient in the patient’s private residence.
You have informed this office that the American Home Health Industries of Florida, Inc., has advised that in order for a person to provide health or personal care in patient’s homes, the person must either work for or be licensed as a home health agency by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Individual nurses have expressed concern that they may now be unable to contract with patients directly to provide nursing services to such patients in their homes unless they are licensed as a home health care agency or are employed by such an agency.
Section 400.464(5)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that it is unlawful to offer or advertise “home health services” to the public without a valid license. “Home health services” are defined as
health and medical services and medical supplies furnished to an individual by home health agency personnel or by others under arrangements with the agency, on a visiting basis, in the individual’s home or place of residence. The term includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Nursing care. (b) Physical, occupational, respiratory, or speech therapy. (c) Home health aide services. (d) Nutritional guidance. (e) Medical supplies, restricted to drugs and biologicals prescribed by a physician.[1]
“Home health agency” is defined as “an organization that provides home health services and staffing services for health care facilities.”[2] Rule 59A-8.002(15), Florida Administrative Code provides a definition for “organization.” The rule states that an organization consists of “two or more persons or entities who as a course of business arranges [sic] for the delivery of home health services through others.”[3] “Home health agency personnel” are defined as “persons who are employed by or under contract with a home health agency and enter the home or place of residence of patients[.]”[4]
Thus, the statutory provisions requiring licensure as home health services are not applicable to a nurse licensed pursuant to Chapter 464, Florida Statutes, who is directly contracting to provide nursing services to a patient in the patient’s private residence. This office has been advised that the Agency for Health Care Administration has reached a similar conclusion on this issue.[5]
Sincerely,
Robert A. Butterworth Attorney General
RAB/tall