FL H1071

Amends Florida Statutes to conform provisions regarding "accrediting organizations" to the revised definition in s. 395.002, effective for hospital licensing and regulation by the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Broadens the definition of accrediting organizations in multiple healthcare statutes (154.11, 394.741, 397.403, 400.925, 400.9935, 402.7306, 408.05, 430.80, 440.13, 627.645, 627.668, 627.669, 627.736, 641.495, and 766.1015) to include any nationally recognized accrediting organization whose standards incorporate comparable regulations, rather than limiting references to specific organizations like the Joint Commission.

Deletes an obsolete provision in s. 395.3038 requiring the agency to notify hospitals by February 15, 2005 about stroke center designation criteria and removes reference requirements to specific accrediting organizations in stroke center certification.

Specifies in s. 486.102 that physical therapist assistant program accreditation may be obtained from agencies recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation, the United States Department of Education, or the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Takes effect July 1, 2013.