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Florida Senate Bill 8A Effect on Physicians’ Medical Marijuana Practices
in Videos
Under SB8A, a “qualified physician” is a person who holds an active and unrestricted license to practice medicine in compliance with the physician education requirements. In order to be approved as a qualified physician, the physician must successfully complete a 2-hour course and exam by either the Florida Medical Association or the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association. The exam will not cost more than $500. This requirement also applies to those seeking to become Medical Directors in medical marijuana treatment centers (“MMTC”).
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What Are My Options If I’ve Been Wrongfully Terminated From My Hospital Residency Program?
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If you are discharged from a medical residency program it is important to examine the language contained in the hospital policies and procedure manual. In the manual it will explain the procedure for internal disciplinary action taken against hospital staff, which may require a mandatory board hearing depending on the alleged infraction. Prior to the board hearing, a neutral intermediary may be utilized so that direct communication between the hospital and the resident is limited. The disciplinary board may be comprised of a three-person panel where you can choose to present your defense. I would advise against signing any documents presented to you by the hospital after you have received written notice of the disciplinary hearing until you have spoken to an attorney with experience in health and employment law.
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Lighting Up Florida’s Medical Marijuana Industry
in Videos
On November 8, 2016, Florida voters approved the use of Medical Marijuana in a constitutional ballot initiative called Amendment 2. This Amendment approved the use of Medical Marijuana in treatment for patients who suffer from specific debilitating medical conditions. These debilitating medical conditions include, but, are not limited to, cancer, AIDS, PTSD, glaucoma, Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy, and Crohn’s disease. Physicians may also prescribe Medical Marijuana for “other debilitating medical conditions of the same kind or class” as those mentioned above and “for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.” Those looking to do business in the medical marijuana industry must proceed with some caution because even with the passage of Amendment 2 marijuana is still considered a controlled substance consumption of which is illegal under federal law creating several barriers to entry into the industry.
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What to Consider When Negotiation Physician Employment Agreements
in Videos
Physicians employed by hospitals, group practices, or any other type of healthcare facility usually enter into the business relationship by signing a Physician Employment Agreement unless the physician is an independent contractor. At Jones Health Law, we instruct all of our physician clients to carefully review their Physician Employment Agreement prior to signing.
Many physicians believe that they can’t negotiate the contract. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Every section of the contract can be negotiated by your attorney. If you don’t approve of some of the terms contained therein you have to power to ask your prospective employer to change that provision so that it better suits you and your needs. Of course, the prospective employer may be unwilling to revise some of the terms of the contract, and at that point you have a very important decision to make. You have to decide whether these terms are deal breakers or not. Only you can decide whether you are going to take it or leave it.
There’s no secret that there’s a shortage of physicians and it’s even more difficult to find physicians adequately suited and licensed in certain specialties. Use that to your advantage when you enter the negotiation process. Younger physicians may have more difficulty with negotiating contracts but it is not impossible. You want to place yourself in the best situation possible even if it means walking away from a prospective employer.
Physicians must realize that while working for a specific healthcare facility may initially be a dream job it can turn into a nightmare later on. Terms of the contract can pose limitations on the physician for several years after their employment with that particular employer has concluded.
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My DEA Number was Stolen by an Employee and Used to Buy Controlled Substances
in Videos
Most doctors have various licenses that provide them with unique identification numbers. If any of these identification numbers find their way into the wrong hands it can be detrimental to the healthcare provider’s practice, their patients, and the public. Doctors hire support staff to run their practice efficiently by perform tasks that they don’t have time to do or don’t have the training to perform. This employer-employee relationship requires a certain level of trust from both parties because a bad act by either party can have a negative impact on the other party’s license, privileges, or reimbursement for services. Some of the support staff working in a doctor’s office may have access to HIPAA-protected information and a doctor’s unique identification numbers, such as his NPI and DEA numbers. What should you do if one of your employees steals your DEA number and uses it to self-prescribe controlled substance through e-prescribing or traditional prescription pads? What if they use your DEA number to order controlled substances for the practice without your knowledge or consent? Doctors should also be concerned with their potential liability for the unauthorized use of their DEA number.