FL H0653

Prohibits health care Medicaid fraud in the practice of health care professions and establishes grounds for denying licensure and license renewal based on felony convictions and Medicaid/Medicare program terminations.

Establishes waiting periods before individuals with disqualifying felonies may be licensed: 15 years for first/second degree felonies, 10 years for third degree felonies (5 years for drug possession under s. 893.13(6)(a)), and 15 years for federal drug/healthcare fraud felonies since July 1, 2009.

Allows renewal denial for applicants terminated from Florida or other state Medicaid programs or Medicare unless they have been in good standing for 5 years, and for federal program terminations if at least 20 years have passed since termination.

Adds current listing on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General's List of Excluded Individuals and Entities as grounds for denying initial licensure and renewal.

Requires persons denied renewal under s. 456.0635(3) to complete the full initial licensure application process to regain licensure, except those denied between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2012 are exempt from retaking examinations.

Takes effect July 1, 2012.