Florida HB 259: Patient Funds Held in Trust by Chiropractic Physicians

Bill Text

HB 259 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb259-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to patient funds held in trust by 2
chiropractic physicians; amending s. 460.413, F.S.; 3
deleting the limitation on the amount of patient funds 4
a chiropractic physician may hold in trust for 5
specified purposes; providing an effective date. 6
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
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Section 1. Paragraph (y) of subsection (1) of section 10
460.413, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 11
460.413 Grounds for disciplinary action; action by board 12
or department.— 13
(1) The following acts constitute grounds for denial of a 14
license or disciplinary action, as specified in s. 456.072(2): 15
(y) Failing to preserve identity of funds and property of 16
a patient, the value of which is greater than $501. As provided 17
by rule of the board, money or other property entrusted to a 18
chiropractic physician for a specific purpose, including 19
advances for costs and expenses of examination or treatment 20
which may not exceed the value of $1,500, is to be held in trust 21
and must be applied only to that purpose. Money and other 22
property of patients coming into the hands of a chiropractic 23
physician are not subject to counterclaim or setoff for 24
chiropractic physician's fees, and a refusal to account for and 25

HB 259 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb259-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

deliver over such money and property upon demand shall be deemed 26
a conversion. This is not to preclude the retention of money or 27
other property upon which the chiropractic physician has a valid 28
lien for services or to preclude the payment of agreed fees from 29
the proceeds of transactions for examinations or treatments. 30
Controversies as to the amount of the fees are not grounds for 31
disciplinary proceedings unless the amount demanded is clearly 32
excessive or extortionate, or the demand is fraudulent. All 33
funds of patients paid to a chiropractic physician, other than 34
advances for costs and expenses, shall be deposited into one or 35
more identifiable bank accounts maintained in the state in which 36
the chiropractic physician's office is situated, and funds 37
belonging to the chiropractic physician may not be deposited 38
therein except as follows: 39
1. Funds reasonably sufficient to pay bank charges may be 40
deposited therein. 41
2. Funds belonging in part to a patient and in part 42
presently or potentially to the physician must be deposited 43
therein, but the portion belonging to the physician may be 44
withdrawn when due unless the right of the physician to receive 45
it is disputed by the patient, in which event the disputed 46
portion may not be withdrawn until the dispute is finally 47
resolved. 48
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Every chiropractic physician shall maintain complete records of 50

HB 259 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb259-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

all funds, securities, and other properties of a patient coming 51
into the possession of the physician and render appropriate 52
accounts to the patient regarding them. In addition, every 53
chiropractic physician shall promptly pay or deliver to the 54
patient, as requested by the patient, the funds, securities, or 55
other properties in the possession of the physician which the 56
patient is entitled to receive. 57
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 58