1. Recovery Residences - Florida
Ute Gazioch
Director of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Florida Department of Children and Family Services
Bethesda, Maryland

2. Background
Treatment providers and recovery residences engaging in criminal activities and unethical practices:
Patient brokering
Insurance fraud (i.e., overbilling, unnecessary UAs)
Clinical laboratories: kickbacks & split-fee arrangements
Deceptive marketing practices
Targeting Individuals from out-of-state
Inadequate care and treatment
Doctors serving as medical director for numerous facilities
Lack of statutory authority to penalize licensed treatment providers
Lack of accountability and collaboration with regulatory agencies

3. Voluntary Certification
The 2015 Legislature passed HB 21 which established voluntary certification
Voluntary Certification of Recovery Residence Administrators
Florida Certification Board approved as credentialing entity
Voluntary Certification for Recovery Residences
Florida Association of Recovery Residences approved as credentialing entity
Utilizes the NARR standards
As of 5/1/2018, there are 363 Certified Recovery Residences in 25 counties, totaling 5,386 beds.

4. Examples of Certification Requirements
Code of ethics
Policies and procedures
Good neighbor policy
Satisfactory fire, health, and safety inspections
Onsite inspection
Interview residents and staff
Fee schedule
Training requirements and continuing education
Background screening for administrators
Referrals from and to licensed treatment providers

5. Sober Home Task Force
FY , Legislature funded Palm Beach State Attorney to create the Sober Home Task Force
December Grand Jury Report on the Proliferation of Fraud and Abuse in Florida’s Addiction Treatment Industry
January 2017 – Sober Home Task Force Report
Collaboration with state and federal law enforcement to assist with
investigations – Palm Beach County law enforcement starts making
arrests
Collaboration on recommendations to the Legislature leading to HB 807

6. House Bill 807
The bill went into effect July 1, 2017 and addresses unethical practices by recovery residences and substance use treatment providers, including:
Deceptive Advertising
Patient Brokering
Overutilization of Drug Testing
Insurance Fraud
Human Trafficking
Poor Quality of Care

7. Changes Resulting from House Bill 807
Expands prohibitions on referrals between treatment providers and uncertified recovery residences
Prohibits deceptive marketing practices and provides criminal penalties for violations & requires licensure
Enhances background screening requirements
Adds patient brokering to the offenses that constitute “racketeering activities”
Mandates accreditation of treatment providers
Mandates standards for clinical practices/management/personnel
Creates classifications for deficiencies and violations, and authorizes administrative fines

8. Recovery Oriented System of Care
Florida’s vision is to establish an integrated, values based recovery oriented system of care where recovery is expected and achieved through meaningful partnerships and shared decision making with individuals, communities, and systems
Key Priorities
Promoting Collaborative Service Relationships
Training and Technical Assistance
Promote Community Integration
Increase Peer-Based Recovery Support Services
Develop a Strong Recovery-Oriented Workforce

9. Ute Gazioch (850) 717-4322 Ute.Gazioch@myflfamilies.com
Contact Information
Ute Gazioch
(850)