Patient Resources

  • The Bill of Rights applies to all physicians who see patients in an office setting, and to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers that offer emergency, outpatient, or inpatient services.

    Section 381.026, Florida Statutes, requires that physicians and health care facilities, if requested, shall inform patients of the address and telephone number of each state agency responsible for responding to patient complaints. Physicians and health care facilities are also required to adopt and make public, in writing, a summary of the rights and responsibilities of patients. This is best accomplished by posting a copy in the office in a conspicuous place. Fines for noncompliance range from $100 for non-willful violations to $500 for willful violations. View copy here.

  • A Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) is a form or patient identification device developed by the Department of Health to identify people who do not wish to be resuscitated in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest.

    For your convenience, click here to create your form.

  • The Florida Legislature has recognized that every competent adult has the fundamental right of self-determination regarding decisions pertaining to his or her own health, including the right to choose or refuse medical treatment or procedures which would only prolong life when a terminal condition exists. This right however is subject to certain interests of society, such as the protection of human life and the preservation of ethical standards in the medical profession. To ensure that this right is not lost or diminished by virtue of later physical or mental incapacity, the legislature has established a procedure within Florida Statutes Chapter 765 allowing a person to plan for incapacity, and if desired, to designate another person to act on their behalf and make necessary medical decisions upon such incapacity.

    Please visit:

    The FMA is working with the Florida Bar in an effort to provide information to all Floridians regarding this important issue. Please also visit the Florida Bar for additional information.

  • Click here for some helpful & informative resources.

Know Your Numbers

The best time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Make sure your family knows emergency phone numbers – and make sure your kids know how to place a call for help.

During an emergency, it’s easy to become disoriented or upset, so you need to have all important phone numbers readily available ahead of time. Write each phone number clearly so that it will be easy for kids to read. Use a pen with dark-colored ink. When creating your emergency phone list, make sure your list includes the following numbers:

Emergency Helpline Contact Details
Emergency Medical Service for the Fire or Sheriff, Police Department and Ambulance 911
Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222
Hospital Emergency Rooms
HCA Blake Medical Center 941-792-6611
HCA Doctors Hospital 941-342-1100
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center 941-782-2100
Manatee Memorial Hospital 941-746-5111
Sarasota Memorial Hospital 941-917-9000
Other helpful numbers to have readily available include:
American Red Cross 941-379-9300
FL Dept. of Health, Manatee 941-748-0747
One Blood (blood services) 941-746-7195
Manatee Coast Guard Station 941-794-1607
Suicide Prevention Hotline 988
Centerstone 941-782-4600
Suncoast Behavioral Health 941-251-5000
Palm Shores Behavioral Health 941-792-2222

The HIPAA Compliance Office assists Medicaid beneficiaries in exercising their rights, including requests for claims records, handles HIPAA complaints against the Agency and advises AHCA on how to comply with HIPAA.

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Medicare Service

Learn the new CMS provisions regarding Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2023.