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VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA vs HOSPICE INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES OF DISTRICT VII-B, INC., 96-004078CON (1996)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 96-004078CON Visitors: 28
Petitioner: VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Respondent: HOSPICE INTEGRATED HEALTH SERVICES OF DISTRICT VII-B, INC.
Judges: J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Aug. 28, 1996
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, May 6, 1997.

Latest Update: Jul. 02, 2004
Summary: The issues in this case are whether the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) should grant Hospice Integrated’s Certificate of Need (CON) Application No. 8406 to establish a hospice program in AHCA Service Area 7B, CON Application No. 9407 filed by Wuesthoff, both applications, or neither application.Challenge to hospice fixed need dismissed. Other criteria don`t overcome fixed need pool of one. Comparison of two applications close but non-cancer and AIDS focus deciding factors.
SU AT STATE OF FLORIDA . AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION ,, VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION roe OF CENTRAL FLORIDA; WUESTHOFF CASE NO.: 96-1401 HEALTH SERVICES, INC. 96-4077 CH 96-4078 Petitioners, 96-4079 CON NO.: 8406, 8407 vs. RENDITION NO.: AHCA-97-0800 -FOF-CON 2. STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR 2 FN HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION; JLI- Close dd, be @ SE HOSPICE INTEGRATED HEALTH Ez im SERVICES OF DISTRICT VI-B, INC., CB By “, La Respondents. Eee. %, / Pe 8, FINAL ORDER This cause came on before me for the purpose of issuing a final agency order. The Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) in the above-styled case submitted a Recommended Order to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The Recommended Order entered May 6, 1997, by Administrative Law Judge J. Lawrence Johnston is incorporated by reference. RULING ON EXCEPTIONS BY VITAS AND WUESTHOFF Findings of fact stated in the following paragraphs are challenged in whole or in part as follows: Vitas, paragraphs 25, 26, 28, 30, and 89; Wuesthoff, paragraphs 31, 59, 60, 69, 82, 83, 85, 93, 94, 95, 97, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 108, 110, 112, 113, 116, 122, 126, 131, 152, 136, 139, 140 (The exception addresses the two sequential paragraphs which are designated as 140), 142, 143, 144, 146, 148, 150, 151, 156, 158, 159, and 180. At this level of review the agency has no authority to reweigh the evidence. The challenged findings are supported by competent, substantial. evidence, therefore, the exceptions are denied. Heifetz vs. Department of Business Regulation, 475 So2d 1277, 1281 (Fla. ist DCA 1985). Additionally, Vitas maintains that the ALJ implicitly treated the fixed need pool number as establishing a conclusive presumption of need. The ALJ discussed and considered at length the various review criteria. I concur with the ALJ’s weighing of the review criteria. The exception is denied. | FINDINGS OF FACT The agency hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the findings of fact set forth in the Recommended Order. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW The agency hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the conclusions of law set forth in the Recommended Order. Based upon the foregoing, it is ADJUDGED, that the application for CON 8406 by Hospice Integrated be GRANTED and that the application for CON 8407 by Wuesthoff be DENIED. DONE and ORDERED this |{_ day of 1__, 1997, in Tallahassee, Florida. STATE OF FLORIDA, AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION Qe Cel Douglas M. Cook, Director ~2- A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO A JUDICIAL REVIEW WHICH SHALL BE INSTITUTED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF AHCA, AND A SECOND COPY ALONG WITH FILING FEE AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE AGENCY MAINTAINS _ ITS HEADQUARTERS OR WHERE A PARTY RESIDES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FLORIDA APPELLATE RULES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED. Copies furnished to: J. Lawrence Johnston David C. Ashburn, Esquire Administrative Law Judge DOAH, The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, FL 32399-3060 J. Robert Griffin, Esquire J. Robert Griffin & Associates, P. A. 2559 Shiloh Way Gunster, Yoakley, Valdes~Fauli & Stewart, P. A. 515 North Adams Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 Richard Patterson, Esquire Senior Attorney, Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, Suite 3431 Tallahassee, FL 32308 Fort Knox Building III Thomas F. Panza, Esquire Tallahassee, FL 32308-5403 Seann M. Frazier, Esquire Panza, Maurer, Maynard & Neel NationsBank Building, 3rd Floor 3600 North Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has begn furnished to the above named addresses by U. S. Mail this Je day of , 1997. Elfie Stamm (AHCA/CON) R. S. Power, Agency Clerk Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, Suite 3431 Fort Knox Building III Tallahassee, FL 32308-5403 3

Docket for Case No: 96-004078CON
Issue Date Proceedings
Jul. 02, 2004 Final Order filed.
Oct. 02, 1997 Sam Powers has the case files, case on Agency Appeal.
May 06, 1997 Recommended Order sent out. CASE CLOSED. Hearing held 11/18-26/96.
Apr. 28, 1997 (From D. Ashburn) Notice of Change of Address filed.
Mar. 06, 1997 Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc. and the Agency for Healthcare Administration`s Joint Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Mar. 06, 1997 Proposed Recommended Order submitted by Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida filed.
Mar. 06, 1997 Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law filed.
Mar. 06, 1997 Notice of voluntary dismissal filed.
Feb. 10, 1997 (Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.) Response to Motion for Extension of Time to File Proposed Recommended Orders filed.
Feb. 10, 1997 Letter to JLJ from D. Ashburn Re: Deadline for filing proposed recommended orders filed.
Feb. 10, 1997 Order Denying Extension of Time sent out. (Re: for PRO's)
Feb. 06, 1997 (Petitioner) Motion for Extension of Time to File Proposed Recommended Orders (filed via facsimile).
Feb. 04, 1997 Notice of Filing; (Volumes 10-13 of 13) DOAH Court Reporter Final Hearing Transcript filed.
Jan. 31, 1997 Notice of Filing; (Volumes 4-9 of 13) DOAH Court Reporter Final Hearing Transcript filed.
Jan. 27, 1997 Notice of Filing; Volumes 1-3 of 13 DOAH Court Reporter Final Hearing Transcript filed.
Nov. 18, 1996 (Joint) Stipulation of Facts (filed w/judge at hearing) filed.
Nov. 18, 1996 CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
Nov. 18, 1996 (From S. Frazier) Notice of Telephone Deposition Duces Tecum filed.
Nov. 06, 1996 (From S. Frazier) Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum (Cancels Previous Deposition of Friday, October 25, 1996 at 1:00 p.m.) filed.
Nov. 06, 1996 AHCA Witness and Exhibit Lists filed.
Nov. 06, 1996 (Joint) Prehearing Stipulation; Intervenors, Integrated`s, Preliminary Witness List; Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s Compliance With Order of Prehearing Instructions; Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida Witness a
Nov. 05, 1996 Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s Responses to Vitas Health Care Corporation of Central Florida's First Request for Production of Documents; Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s Objections to Vitas Health Care Corporation of Central Florida's First Set of
Nov. 05, 1996 Integrated`s Notice of Service of Answers to Vitas` First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Nov. 05, 1996 Integrated`s Objections and Response to Vitas` First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Oct. 30, 1996 Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s Compliance With Order of Prehearing Instructions; Intervenor, Integrated`s Preliminary Witness List (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 28, 1996 Hospice Integrated Health Services of Florida, Inc.`s Notice of Service of Answers to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Oct. 28, 1996 Integrated`s Objections and Response to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Oct. 25, 1996 (Respondent) Response to Order Continuing and Rescheduling Formal Hearing filed.
Oct. 25, 1996 (Integrated) Re-Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum (Cancels Previous Deposition of Friday, October 25, 1996 at 8:00 a.m.) filed.
Oct. 23, 1996 Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s Response In Opposition to Motion to Compel Better Answers to Hospice Integrated Health Services Inc.`s First Request for Admissions Upon Hospice of Central Florida (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 23, 1996 Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s Responses to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Request for Production of Documents (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 23, 1996 Notice of Service of Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s answers and Objections to Wuesthoff Health Services Inc.`s First Set of Interrogatories (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 22, 1996 Order Continuing and Rescheduling Formal Hearing sent out. (hearing reset for Nov. 18-22 & 25-27, 1996; 10:00am; Tallahassee)
Oct. 21, 1996 (Wuesthoff) Response to Joint Motion for Continuance and Motion to Amend Prehearing Order (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 21, 1996 Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s Notice of Service of Answers to First Set of Interrogatories of Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.; Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s Objections Hospice Integrated Health Services of District 7B'
Oct. 21, 1996 Wuesthoff Health Services Responses to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District 7B's First Request for Admissions; Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s Responses to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District 7B's First Request for Production of D
Oct. 21, 1996 (From S. Frazier) Re-Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum (Cancels Depo of 10/25/96); Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum filed.
Oct. 21, 1996 (From S. Frazier) (2) Notice of Deposition Duces Tecum filed.
Oct. 18, 1996 Joint Motion for Continuance and Motion to Amend Prehearing Order (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 18, 1996 Integrated`s Notice of Hearing on Motion to Continue and Motion to Amend Prehearing Order (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 16, 1996 Intervenor, Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s Request for Admissions to Petitioner, Hospice of Central Florida, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 04, 1996 Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Request for Production to Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida; Notice of Service of Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Set of Interrogatories Upon Petitioner Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Centra
Oct. 02, 1996 Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s First Request for Production of Documents to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc. filed.
Oct. 02, 1996 Notice of Service of Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s First Set of Interrogatories to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 02, 1996 Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s First Requests for Production of Documents to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Sep. 27, 1996 (Vitas Healthcare) Notice of Taking Depositions Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Sep. 24, 1996 Hospice Integrated Health Services of Florida, Inc.`s First Request for Production of Documents to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc. filed.
Sep. 24, 1996 (Petitioners) First Request for Admissions to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc. (unsigned); Hospice Integrated Health Services of Florida, Inc.`s Notice of Service of Interrogatories to Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc. filed.
Sep. 20, 1996 Notice of Service of Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.`s First Set of Interrogatories Upon Petitioner Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc. filed.
Sep. 20, 1996 Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc. First Request for Admissions to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.; Wuesthoff Health Services, Inc.'s First Request for Production to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc. rec'
Sep. 20, 1996 Notice of Service of Vitas Healthcare Corporation of Central Florida`s Answers to Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Sep. 20, 1996 Responses to Intervenor, Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Sep. 18, 1996 (Respondent) Response to Intervenor, Hospice Integrated Health Services of District VII-B, Inc.`s Request for Admissions to Agency for Health Care Administration filed.
Sep. 13, 1996 Notice of Hearing sent out. (hearing set for Nov. 12-15 & 18-21, 1996; 10:00am; Tallahassee)
Sep. 11, 1996 (Petitioner) Response to Prehearing Order (filed via facsimile).
Aug. 30, 1996 Amended Prehearing Order and Order of Consolidation sent out.
Aug. 30, 1996 Order Granting Motion for Continuance and Consolidation sent out. (Consolidated cases are: 96-1401, 96-4077, 96-4078 & 96-4079)
Aug. 30, 1996 Notification card sent out.
Aug. 30, 1996 Amended Prehearing Order and Order of Consolidation sent out.
Aug. 28, 1996 Notice of Related Petitions (96-4077, 96-4078, 96-4079); Notice; Petition for Formal Administrative Proceeding filed.
Aug. 27, 1996 (Vitas Healthcare Corp.) Joint Motion for Continuance and Consolidation filed. (Cases to be consolidated: 96-1401 & 96-4078)

Orders for Case No: 96-004078CON
Issue Date Document Summary
Jul. 11, 1997 Agency Final Order
May 06, 1997 Recommended Order Challenge to hospice fixed need dismissed. Other criteria don`t overcome fixed need pool of one. Comparison of two applications close but non-cancer and AIDS focus deciding factors.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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