Florida bill would greatly limit physicians' satellite offices

Tallahasse, Fla. - A proposed bill making its way through the Florida House of Representatives would limit the number of satellite offices doctors could operate, with dermatological practices getting the most restrictions.

The bill seeks to restrict the number of satellite offices for primary care physicians to four, and for specialists to two. For dermatologists specializing in aesthetic skin care services, the restriction would be two satellite offices, then would drop the allowable number to one in July 2011.

Other rules for dermatologists specify satellite offices must be no more than 25 miles away from their primary office within the same county or no more than 75 miles away in a contiguous county. The offices would be required to post hours that the physician is present and offer patients the option of seeing the physician.

The bill already has passed through committee successfully.