Physician Led Access Network of Collier County

No, the State of Florida requires only one contract to perform volunteer services in Florida. However, we will ask you to complete PLAN’s program application so that we have your contact information and volunteer preferences on file. Contact our office and PLAN will make all of the arrangements.

PLAN staff will conduct a very brief orientation session with you and/or your staff to explain the referral process and answer any questions. After that, you or your designated staff member will be contacted by a PLAN Patient Navigator when an appropriate patient/case presents on a rotational basis.

You may also refer patients to the Patient Care Coordinator for eligibility.

Our goal is to make your participation as seamless and transparent as possible for you and your staff. A PLAN Patient Navigator will meet with you and/or your staff to review PLAN’s referral procedures and to explain how all coordination for labs, diagnostics, and additional specialty referrals is done by the PLAN Patient Navigator.

PLAN is open to any Collier County resident – U.S. citizenship is not required. The patient cannot have health insurance of any kind. The program also excludes people eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or VA Benefits. People with an income greater than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, for their household size, are not eligible for PLAN.

• Injuries or Illnesses that occurred in other counties, states or countries
• Emergency Room Visits
• Workers Compensation Claims
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Pregnancy and Infertility
• Elective Surgery
• HIV or AIDS Treatments
• Chronic Issues, e.g. Hepatitis B, Alzheimer’s Disease, Pain Management
• Disability Claims
• Work-Related Injuries
• Litigation Cases
• Second Opinions
• Medical Expenses Already Incurred
• Substance Abuse

• Only members of PLAN may refer patients to the program.
• Your office completes the Patient Referral Request and returns it to us as instructed on the form.
• Tell the patient that you are recommending him/her for qualification with PLAN. A PLAN staff member will contact the patient directly to set up his/her own appointment for eligibility.

A patient’s eligibility expires 6 months from the day of enrollment. On or before that date, a patient may contact the PLAN Patient Navigator to request an extension.

NO. All PLAN Volunteer Providers are covered under the Florida Sovereign Immunity statute that strictly prohibits charging for service. If a physician collects any money for the services provided, the immunity will be voided. If you have any further questions about this, please contact us at (239) 776-3016.

If you are able to provide these services in your office, please consider donating them to PLAN. Otherwise, complete the Referral Request Form and fax it to the PLAN Patient Navigator at (239) 435-1297.

Contact the PLAN Patient Navigator at (239) 776-3016.

PLAN does not cover ER visits. If a patient has an emergency or needs to be admitted to the hospital after normal business hours, the patient should go to the nearest ER and the hospital will provide treatment by following its standard charity care procedure.

Three laws protect physicians in volunteer capacities: the Florida Healthcare Access Act of 1992,” the federal “Good Samaritan Law,” and the federal “Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.”

In 1992, the Florida Legislature passed Florida Statute 766.1115, the Health Care Access Act, which created the Volunteer Health Care Provider Program. The Florida Medical Association and the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services cooperated to create a statute that would allow a health care provider that treated an income eligible client without remuneration to utilize the Department’s sovereign immunity protection rather than rely on his/her own malpractice insurance.

The Good Samaritan Law provides immunity from civil liability to physicians who provide uncompensated emergency care when the need arises as long as:

• Their actions are in good faith.
• They are not compensated.
• Their actions did not cause the emergency.
• They are not the admitting physician or associated physician treating the patient.

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 protects volunteers from liability abuses in order to promote the interests of nonprofit organizations.