TALLAHASSEE — Three major hospital systems have challenged a new state proposal about approving organ-transplant programs, alleging it does not include adequate safeguards for quality of care.
Tampa General Hospital, UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville and Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami filed the challenges after the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in August issued a proposed rule for transplant programs. The challenges, filed this month at the state Division of Administrative Hearings, came after years of debate and disputes about approving transplant programs.
Tampa General, UF Health Shands and Jackson provide procedures such as heart, liver, lung and kidney transplants. The proposed rule, in part, would revise standards for hospitals that want to begin providing such procedures — and continue providing them after getting initial approvals…