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VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION vs AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND CATHOLIC HOSPICE, INC., 00-003223CON (2000)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 00-003223CON Visitors: 31
Petitioner: VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Respondent: AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND CATHOLIC HOSPICE, INC.
Judges: ELEANOR M. HUNTER
Agency: Agency for Health Care Administration
Locations: Tallahassee, Florida
Filed: Aug. 04, 2000
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Tuesday, July 31, 2001.

Latest Update: Apr. 30, 2002
Summary: Hospice application denied with no numeric need, no special circumstances, highest penetration rate in state, and 4 excellent providers with standing and potential adverse impacts of varying degrees on staffing, admissions, or revenues.
STATE OF FLORIDA road AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION HOSPICE BY THE SEA, INC., Petitioner, vs. Case No. 00-3222 7 AHCA Rendition No. _92-O11L1-FOF-CON AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE CON 9333 ADMINISTRATION AND CATHOLIC HOSPICE, INC., Respondents. VITAS HEALTHCARE CORPORATION, Petitioner, vs. Case No. 00-3223 AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND CATHOLIC HOSPICE, INC., Respondents. / in HOSPICE CARE OF BROWARD COUNTY, INC., Petitioner, vs. Case No. 00-3224 AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION AND CATHOLIC HOSPICE, INC., Respondents. / FINAL ORDER This cause was referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings and assigned to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for a formal administrative hearing and the entry of a Recommended Order. The Recommended Order of July 13, 2001, is attached to this Final Order, and incorporated herein by reference except as noted in the rulings on excéptions. RULING ON EXCEPTIONS Catholic Hospice filed twenty (20) exceptions to the Recommended Order. Exceptions 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 16, and 17 challenge the Recommended Order on grounds of relevancy, motivation and incomplete analysis. None of these grounds, however, constitute a legal basis upon which an Agency may reject an ALJ’s findings of fact. See Section 120.57(1)(I), Fla. Stat.; Heifetz v. Department of Business Regulation, 475 So. 2d 1277 (Fla. 1* DCA 1985). The exceptions are denied. Meanwhile, exceptions 1, 2, 11, 14, and 20, implicitly challenge the ALJ’s refusal to focus primarily on population in making her determination of whether a need exists for additional hospice services in Broward County. The ALJ’s willingness to consider factors in addition to population, however, was not inappropriate. See Heifetz. These exceptions are also denied. Exceptions 7 and 9 are accepted, but the Agency’s acceptance of those exceptions does not provide enough legal basis upon which to reject the conclusions of law challenged by Exceptions 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19. Exceptions 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 19 are denied. FINDINGS OF FACT Except as herein noted, the Agency adopts the findings of fact set forth in the Recommended Order. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW The Agency adopts the conclusions of law set forth in the Recommended Order. IT IS THEREFORE ADJUDGED THAT: The application of Catholic Hospice, Inc., for Certificate of Need Number 9333 is denied. DONE and ORDERED this (4. day of Shc \ , 2002, in Tallahassee, Florida. RHONDA M. MEDOWS, MD., SECRETARY Agengy for Health Care Administration NOTICE OF RIGHT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO 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 THE FILING FEE 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 THE RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that a tre and correct copy of the foregoing Final Order has been furnished by U.S. or interoffice mail to the persons named below on this 73 day of A pol he , 2002. Virginla Daire, Agency Clerk Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3 Tallahassee, FL 32308-5403 COPIES FURNISHED TO: Eleanor M. Hunter Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, FL 32399-3060 Robert A. Weiss, Esquire Karen A. Putnal, Esquire Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLP 118 North Gadsden Street The Perkins House, Suite 200 Tallahassee, FL 32301 Geoffrey D. Smith, Esquire Steven E. Cole, Esquire Blank, Meenan & Smith, P.A. 204 South Monroe Street Post Office Box 11068 Tallahassee, FL 32302-3068 Stephen A. Ecenia, Esquire R. David Prescott, Esquire Thomas W. Konrad, Esquire Rutledge, Ecenia, Purnell and Hoffman, P.A. 215 South Monroe Street Suite 420 Post Office Box 551 Tallahassee, FL 323302-0551 Theodore E. Mack, Esquire Powell & Mack 803 North Calhoun Street Tallahassee, FL 32303 Richard A. Patterson, Esquire c/o Tracey Cottle, Chief Facilities Counsel Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive Ft. Knox Building Three, Suite 3431 Tallahassee, FL 32308-5403 Elizabeth Dudek, Deputy Secretary AHCA- Mail Stop #6

Docket for Case No: 00-003223CON
Issue Date Proceedings
Apr. 30, 2002 Final Order filed.
Aug. 30, 2001 Notice of Appearance and Substition of Counsel (filed by Agency for Health Care via facsimile).
Jul. 13, 2001 Recommended Order issued (hearing held January 25 through February 1, 2001) CASE CLOSED.
Jul. 13, 2001 Recommended Order cover letter identifying hearing record referred to the Agency sent out.
Apr. 23, 2001 Joint Motion to Strike (filed via facsimile).
Apr. 17, 2001 Letter to DOAH from G. Smith (Disk with Joint Proposed Recommended Order) filed.
Apr. 16, 2001 Joint Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Apr. 16, 2001 Notice of Filing Joint Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Apr. 16, 2001 Proposed Recommended Order of Agency for Health Care Administration and Catholic Hospice, Inc. filed.
Apr. 10, 2001 Catholic Hospice`s Response to Petitioner`s Joint Response to its Request for Judicial Notice and their Motion to Strike the Request (filed via facsimile).
Apr. 09, 2001 Joint Response to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Request for Judicial Notice and Motion to Strike filed.
Apr. 05, 2001 Order Granting Extension of Time to File Proposed Recommended Orders issued.
Apr. 03, 2001 Request for Judicial Notice (filed by Respondent via facsimile).
Apr. 02, 2001 Motion for Extension of Time to File Proposed Recommended Orders (filed by Respondent, T. Mack via facsimile).
Mar. 01, 2001 Transcript (Volumes 1-9) filed.
Mar. 01, 2001 Notice of Filing Transcript filed.
Feb. 23, 2001 Order on Objections to Deposition Testimony issued.
Feb. 22, 2001 Vistas` Response to Catholic Hospice Inc.`s Objection to Deposition Testimony filed.
Feb. 22, 2001 Catholic Hospice`s Response to Vitas` Objections to Deposition Testimony (filed via facsimile).
Feb. 12, 2001 Catholic Hospice Inc.`s Objections to Deposition Testimony (filed via facsimile).
Feb. 12, 2001 Vitas Objection to Deposition Testimony (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 25, 2001 CASE STATUS: Hearing Held; see case file for applicable time frames.
Jan. 22, 2001 Order Granting Hospice care of broward Co unty, Inc.`s Motion to terminate or Limit Examination and Motion for Protective Order issued.
Jan. 22, 2001 Vitas Healthcare Corporation`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 22, 2001 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 22, 2001 Hospice Care of Broward County Inc.`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 22, 2001 (Joint) Prehearing Stipulation filed.
Jan. 22, 2001 Hospice by the Sea, Inc.`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 22, 2001 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Response to Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc.`s Motion to Terminate or Limit Examination and Motion for Protective Order filed.
Jan. 19, 2001 Notice of Telephonic Hearing (on Monday, January 22, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. on the Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc.`s Motion to Terminate or Limit Examination and Motion for Protective Order) filed.
Jan. 18, 2001 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing issued (hearing set for January 25, 26 and January 29 through February 1, 2001; 9:00 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL).
Jan. 18, 2001 Vitas Healthcare Corporation`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 18, 2001 Hospice Care of Broward County Inc.`s Motion to Terminate or Limit Examination and Motion for Protective Order filed.
Jan. 16, 2001 Joint Motion to Reschedule Final Hearing filed.
Jan. 09, 2001 Hospice by the Sea, Inc.`s Notice of Serving Answers to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Second Set of Interrogatories (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 08, 2001 Catholic Hospice, Inc`s Witness and Exhibit List (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 08, 2001 Hospice Care of Broward County Inc.`s Witness and Exhibit List filed.
Jan. 08, 2001 Answer to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Second Interrogatories to Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc. filed.
Jan. 08, 2001 Hospice Care of Broward County Inc.`s Responses to Catholic Hospice Inc.`s Second Request for Production of Documents filed.
Jan. 08, 2001 Vitas` Notice of Service of Answers to Second Interrogatories filed.
Jan. 08, 2001 Vitas` Response to Second Request for Production filed.
Jan. 05, 2001 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 05, 2001 Notice of Continuing Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 05, 2001 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 05, 2001 Hospice by the Sea, Inc.`s Witness and Exhibit List (filed via facsimile).
Jan. 05, 2001 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 15, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum filed.
Dec. 14, 2000 Amended Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum as to Time Only (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 12, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 08, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Second Request for Production of Documents to Vitas Healthcare Corporation (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Second Request for Production of Documents to Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Second Request for Production of Documents to Hospice by the Sea, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding Second Interrogatories to Vitas Healthcare Corporation (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding Second Interrogatories to Hospice by the Sea, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 07, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding Second Interrogatories to Hospice Care of Broward County (filed via facsimile).
Dec. 01, 2000 Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc.`s Responses to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Dec. 01, 2000 Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc.`s Notice of Service of Answers to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s First Interrogatories filed.
Nov. 28, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s First Interrogatories to Vitas Healthcare Corporation filed.
Nov. 28, 2000 Vitas` Notice of Service of Answers to Interrogatories filed.
Nov. 28, 2000 Vitas` Response to Request for Production filed.
Nov. 27, 2000 HBTS` Notice of Service of Answers to Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s First Interrogatories (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 27, 2000 Response to Request for Admissions to Agency for Health Care Administration (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 27, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 27, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 27, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 22, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition (of J. Holmes, filed via facsimile).
Nov. 21, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition (of S. Roth, filed via facsimile).
Nov. 20, 2000 Order issued (the Pre-Hearing Order, dated September 13, 2000, is amended).
Nov. 16, 2000 Amended Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum filed.
Nov. 16, 2000 Joint Motion to Amend Prehearing Order (filed via facsimile).
Nov. 14, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (of J. McLemore) filed.
Nov. 14, 2000 Notice of Taking Deposition Duces Tecum (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 27, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding First Interrogatories to Hospice by the Sea, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 27, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding First Interrogatories to Hospice Care of Broward County, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 27, 2000 Catholic Hospice, Inc.`s Notice of Propounding First Interrogatories to Vitas Healthcare Corporation (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 27, 2000 Vitas` First Set of Interrogatories to Catholic Hospice filed.
Oct. 27, 2000 Vitas` Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Respondent, Catholic Hospice, Inc. filed.
Oct. 27, 2000 Request for Admissions to Agency for Health Care Administration filed.
Oct. 27, 2000 Vitas` First Request to Produce to Catholic Hospice filed.
Oct. 27, 2000 Hospice by the Sea, Inc.`s Amended Notice of Serving First Interrogatories on Catholic Hospice, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Oct. 26, 2000 Hospice by the Sea, Inc.`s Notice of Serving First Interrogatories on Catholic Hospice, Inc. (filed via facsimile).
Sep. 13, 2000 Order of Pre-Hearing Instructions issued.
Sep. 13, 2000 Order of Consolidation issued. (consolidated cases are: 00-003222, 00-003223, 00-003224)
Sep. 12, 2000 Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for January 22 through February 2, 2001, 9:00 a.m.,Tallahassee, Fl.)
Aug. 21, 2000 Notice of Appearance, Motion for Consolidation and Response to Initial Orders (filed by T. Mack)
Aug. 21, 2000 Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
Aug. 07, 2000 Initial Order issued.
Aug. 04, 2000 Notice of Related Petitions (00-3216 - 00-3224) filed.
Aug. 04, 2000 Petition for Formal Administrative Proceeding filed.
Aug. 04, 2000 Notice filed.

Orders for Case No: 00-003223CON
Issue Date Document Summary
Apr. 29, 2002 Agency Final Order
Jul. 31, 2001 Recommended Order
Jul. 13, 2001 Recommended Order Hospice application denied with no numeric need, no special circumstances, highest penetration rate in state, and 4 excellent providers with standing and potential adverse impacts of varying degrees on staffing, admissions, or revenues.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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