All healthcare providers who treat a patient in an office or any healthcare facility that admits and/or treats a patient shall adopt and make public, in writing, a statement of the rights and responsibilities of patients. A summary of these Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities is listed below:
Summary of the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
Florida law requires that your healthcare provider or healthcare facility recognize your rights while you are receiving medical care, and that you respect the health care provider’s or healthcare facility’s right to expect certain behavior on the part of patients. You may request a copy of the full text of this law from your healthcare provider or healthcare facility. A summary of your rights and responsibilities follows:
- A patient has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his/her individual dignity, and with protection of his/her need for privacy.
- A patient has the right to a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
- A patient has the right to know who is providing medical services and who is responsible for his/her care.
- A patient has the right to know what patient services are available, including whether an interpreter is available if he/she does not speak English.
- A patient has the right to know what rules and regulations apply to his/her conduct.
- A patient has the right to be given, by his/her healthcare provider, information concerning diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks and prognosis.
- A patient has the right to refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
- A patient has the right to be given, upon request, full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for his/her care.
- A patient who is eligible for Medicare has the right to know, upon request and in advance of treatment whether the healthcare provider or health care facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate.
- A patient has the right to receive, upon request, prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
- A patient has the right to receive a copy of a reasonably clear and understandable itemized bill and, upon request, to have the charges explained.
- A patient has the right to impartial access to medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, physical handicap or source of payment.
- A patient has the right to treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
- A patient has the right to know if medical treatment is for the purposes of experimental research and to give his/her consent or refusal to participate in such experimental research.
- A patient has the right to express grievances regarding any violation of his/her rights, as stated in Florida law, through the grievance procedure of the healthcare provider or healthcare facility which served him/her and to the appropriate state licensing agency.
- A patient is responsible for providing to his/her healthcare provider, to the best of his/her knowledge, accurate and complete information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications and other matters relating to his/her health.
- A patient is responsible for reporting unexpected changes in his/her condition to his/her healthcare provider.
- A patient is responsible for reporting to his/her health care provider whether he/she comprehends a contemplated course of action and what is expected of him/her.
- A patient is responsible for following the treatment plan recommended by his/her healthcare provider. A patient is responsible for keeping appointments and, when he/she is unable to do so for any reason, for notifying the healthcare provider or healthcare facility.
- A patient is responsible for his/her actions if he/she refuses treatment or does not follow the healthcare provider’s instructions.
- A patient is responsible for assuring that the financial obligations of his/her healthcare are fulfilled as promptly as possible.
- A patient is responsible for following healthcare facility rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
- A patient has the right to request a refund for any overpayment made on account. All refund requests are subject to an audit review prior to releasing funds.