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542.335, Florida Statutes, applies to all noncompetition agreements entered into after July 1, 1996.This article is presented for educational purposes only and should not be taken as a substitute for legal advice, which should be obtained from personal legal counsel. Nevertheless, the FMA hopes that the information provided here and in its other publications continues to assist physicians in answering many of their most common legal questions allowing them to treat patients, instead of addressing legal concerns. Last Update: February 2013 OPENING OR RELOCATING YOUR PRACTICE Below is general contact information that will assist you in relocating a practice or opening a new practice. Please be advised that the information provided is not comprehensive and may not list everyone you need to contact. BOARD OF MEDICINE If you have moved, you should contact the Board of Medicine and provide them with your new address. You must provide this information in writing. When notifying the Board of Medicine regarding an address change, you should provide the physician address for the primary place of practice and include your licensure number with all correspondence. Write to: Department of Health, Florida Board of Medicine, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, BIN # CO3, Tallahassee, Florida 32300-1753; 850-245-4131.NICA All physicians licensed in Florida are required to pay into the NICA fund. To ensure that you receive all of your invoices, you should inform NICA of any change in address. NICA will process a change of address provided by telephone or written correspondence. All correspondence must include your licensure number. Write to: Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA), 2360 Christopher Pl # 1, Tallahassee, Florida 32308; It is likely that you will be providing medical services to Medicare beneficiaries. In order to get paid by the Medicare program, you must complete an enrollment application with the Medicare Carrier – First Coast Service Options (FCSO). Medicare has several different forms. The form(s) that you will need to complete depend on your current situation. Please follow the links below to for obtaining the forms and information needed to enroll in Medicare. Provider enrollment landing page:To obtain a new Medicaid provider number or inform Medicaid of a change in address, contact the Agency for Health Care Administration at: 1-800-289-7799, select Option 4. The fax number for Re-Enrollment or Updates to Existing Provider Profiles is: 1-866-270-1497 BUSINESS LICENSE Before opening your office, you will need a business license. This will be issued either by the city or county or both. Your local county medical society can provide you with the information on how to contact the city or county licensure units.If you will be performing any laboratory services in your practice, you must comply with the Clinical Laboratory Act (CLIA) of 1998 and state licensure requirements. Please refer to the FMA article on laboratory licensure for additional information.As an employer, you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. To apply for an EIN, you must fill out Form SS-4. If you will be providing “taxable” services or selling “taxable” items out of the office, you will need a state tax number. Please contact the Florida Department of Revenue at 800-352-3671 for further details. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE In Florida it is not mandatory that all physicians purchase malpractice insurance. However, physicians are required to demonstrate financial responsibility. Please refer to the FMA articles on financial responsibility for additional information. The FMA endorses The Doctors Company as the vendor of choice for malpractice insurance and FMA members receive a discount. For more information please call: 800-741-3742.DEA REGISTRATION UNIT The DEA, Office of Diversion Control, Registration Unit, has a toll free number that registrants may call 24 hours a day. This number, 1-800-882-9539, is equipped with a voice mail system that may be used to request:l New applications for registration;l Renewal applications;l Duplicate certificates of registration;l DEA order forms; and l Change of address Callers may also opt to speak with a Registration Assistant during normal business hours (8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST) or visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov for more information and forms. NOTIFYING PATIENTS If you are relocating your practice there are legal requirements regarding notifying patients – but only if you are becoming unavailable to your patients. See the FMA article entitled Retiring/Closing/Relocating A Practice if this applies to you.This article is presented for educational purposes only and should not be taken as a substitute for legal advice, which should be obtained from personal legal counsel. Nevertheless, the FMA hopes that the information provided here and in its other publications continues to assist physicians in answering many of their most common legal questions allowing them to treat patients, instead of addressing legal concerns. Last Update: August 2016 OSHA REQUIREMENTS FOR A MEDICAL OFFICE The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides health and safety guidelines for workplaces, including medical offices. The following list includes some critical requirements applicable to most health care employers. Specialty practices may be subject to different guidelines. The complete text of OSHA regulations can be found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations.“Hazard Communication Standard”This standard may also be referred to as the “employee right-to-know” standard. Employers must provide employees with information about the dangers of all potentially accessible hazardous chemicals and how to protect themselves in the event there is contact. The Hazard Communication Standard requires that employers must:Ø Develop a written hazard communication programØ Compile a list of hazardous chemicals present in any capacity in the workplaceØ Obtain a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical used or stored in the officeØ Train employees on how to recognize the release of a hazardous chemical as well as familiarize employees with the hazard communication program For a more comprehensive understanding of the Hazard Communication Standard, please see 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200.“Bloodborne Pathogens Standard”This standard applies to any employer whose employees are reasonably at risk of coming in contact with blood or any other potentially infectious material. If subject to this standard, employers must:Ø Develop and annually update a written exposure control planØ Provide training to exposed employeesØ Provide Hepatitis B vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, and follow-up to exposed employees at no costØ Provide and ensure employees wear the proper personal protective equipmentØ Color-code or label items such as sharps disposal boxes and containers for regulated waste, and contaminated laundry For a more comprehensive understanding of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, please see 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1030.“Ionizing Radiation Standard”An employer is subject to this standard if there is an X-ray or other radiation emitting device within the facility. Employers must follow certain guidelines in order to reduce employee exposure to radiation.Ø Radiation equipment and areas must be labeled with caution signsØ Employers must require their employees to wear personal radiation monitorsØ Employers must take a survey of all types of radiation used in the facilityFor a more comprehensive understanding of the Ionizing Radiation Standard, please see 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1096.“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)”Employers must perform a “hazard assessment” of the “workplace to identify and control physical and health hazards.” In identifying potential hazards, employers must then determine the need for PPE. Once the appropriate PPE is provided to employees, employers are then required to train the employees in