Hospitals
A hospital is a licensed facility that offers services more intensive than those required for room, board, personal services and general nursing care, and offers facilities and beds for use beyond 24 hours by individuals requiring medical, surgical, psychiatric, testing, diagnosis, treatment, or care for illness, injury, deformity, infirmity, abnormality, disease, or pregnancy. Also available are clinical laboratory services, diagnostic X-ray services, and treatment facilities for surgery, obstetrical care, or other definitive medical treatment of similar extent.
A license issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration is required in order to operate a hospital. It is unlawful for a person to use or advertise to the public, in any way or by any medium whatsoever, any facility as a "hospital" unless such facility has first secured a license under the provisions of Chapter 395, Part I, Florida Statutes and Chapter 408, Part II, Florida Statutes. This licensure does not apply to veterinary hospitals or to commercial business establishments using the word "hospital" as a part of a trade name if no treatment of human beings is performed on the premises of such establishments.
Hospitals must maintain state licensure but may choose to be Medicare certified and may choose to be accredited.
Health Facility Reporting System
The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) requires all licensees providing residential or inpatient services to use an Agency approved database for reporting its emergency status, planning or operations. The Agency approved database for reporting this information is the Health Facility Reporting System (HFRS).
Notices/Updates
The fiscal year 2024-2025 Behavioral Health Teaching Hospital (BHTH) grant program open application period began November 1, 2024 and closes November 30, 2024. Qualified hospitals may use AHCA Form 3180-5007 November 2024 Recommended Form to apply for grant funding as specified in 395.903, F.S.
Supplemental Licensure Information - Effective July 1, 2019, as a result of House Bill 21 (Chapter 2019-136, Laws of Florida) certain hospital programs and services are no longer subject to Certificate of Need review. As stated in this legislation, information currently found in Rules 59C-1.039, 59C-1.042, and 59C-1.044, F.A.C., remains in effect for the sole purpose of maintaining licensure requirements for the applicable services until licensure rules are adopted. This supplemental information should be provided by any hospital seeking to add additional comprehensive medical rehabilitation (CMR) beds, any general hospital seeking to establish a new CMR unit, or any hospital establishing transplant services.
| Name | For | Description |
|---|---|---|
Supplemental Information – Comprehensive Medical Rehabilitation Beds [ 
104.7 kB
]
| Any bed change | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.039, F.A.C. |
Supplemental Information – Heart Transplant Services [
114.9 kB
]
| Initial Designation | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.044, F.A.C., related to heart transplantation programs. |
Supplemental Information – Liver Transplant Services [
115.1 kB
]
| Initial Designation | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.044, F.A.C., related to liver transplantation programs. |
Supplemental Information – Kidney Transplant Services [
117.5 kB
]
| Initial Designation | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.044, F.A.C., related to kidney transplantation programs. |
Supplemental Information – Bone Marrow Transplant Services [
126.8 kB
]
| Initial Designation | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.044, F.A.C., related to bone marrow transplantation programs. |
Supplemental Information – Lung, Heart and Lung, Pancreas and Islet Cells, and Intestines Transplant Services [
114.6 kB
]
| Initial Designation | A program description that outlines how the hospital will meet the current requirements of Rule 59C-1.044, F.A.C., related to lung, heart and lung, pancreas and islet cells, and intestines transplantation programs. |
Accreditation Requirements
Accreditation is voluntary. Accredited hospitals meeting Rule 59A-3.253(3), Florida Administrative Code, may be "deemed" to be in compliance with the licensure and certification requirements. Deemed hospitals are not scheduled for routine on-site licensure or recertification surveys, although periodic Life Safety Code inspections are still required. Facilities must provide a complete copy of the most recent survey report indicating continuation as an accredited facility in lieu of inspections. The survey report should include correspondence from the accrediting organization containing:
- The dates of the survey,
- Any citations to which the accreditation organization requires a response,
- A response to each citation,
- The effective date of accreditation,
- Any follow-up reports, and
- Verification of Medicare (CMS) deemed status, if applicable.
Pursuant to section 395.0162, Florida Statutes, this report will become part of the facility file maintained by our office and therefore will be considered public record. Facilities no longer accredited or granted accreditation status other than accredited or fail to submit the requested documentation will be scheduled for annual licensure and/or recertification surveys to be conducted by Agency field office staff.
Statutory Authority: Section 408.811(2), 395.002(1), 395.0161(2), 395.003(2)(c), Florida Statutes
| Accrediting Organization | Web Address | Deemed for State Licensure | Deemed for Medicare Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNV Healthcare | https://www.dnv.us/ | Yes | Yes |
| Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) | https://www.achc.org/ | Yes | Yes |
| The Joint Commission (TJC) | https://www.jointcommission.org/ | Yes | Yes |
| Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities | https://www.carf.org/home/ | Yes, for Class IV hospitals only | Yes, for Class IV hospitals only |
| The Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality | https://www.cihq.org | Yes | Yes |
Licensure Requirements
- Licensure Requirements - Overview for initial, renewal, change of ownership, and other changes to a license.
- Licensure Fees
- Licensed Hospital Programs
Applications & Supporting Forms
- Online Licensure – In addition to submitting license renewal applications online, licensees may also submit changes during the licensure period. Changes to the fictitious name, personnel, addresses, services, and number and type of licensed beds can be submitted by going to the online portal and creating a new application. Contact the licensure unit for additional information.
- Hospital applications & supporting forms
Regulations & Requirements
- State and Federal Regulations
- Background Screening Requirements
- Medicare Certification Information
- Emergency Preparation
- Mandatory Radon Testing Requirements for 24-hour State Regulated Providers
- Map of Affected Counties for Radon Testing
Misc. Reporting Requirements
- Fire Incident Report Form
- Organ & Tissue Donation Reporting
- Death in Restraints Reporting
- Notification of Disposition of Fetal Remains
- Induced Termination of Pregnancy Reporting
Emergency Services
- Hospital Emergency Access
- DOH Trauma Center Designation
- Hospital-based Off-campus Emergency Departments
Hospital Reports - updated monthly
Public Records
Copies of licenses, applications, inspection reports and other documents issued by or submitted to the Agency are public record, but are not posted on this page. If you are searching for public records, please check the following sources:
If you cannot find what you are looking for on this page, please contact the Hospital and Outpatient Service Unit by calling (850) 412-4549.
