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Joint Unlicensed Activity Investigation Leads To Arrest In Miami

By Florida Department of Health, Office of Communications

April 23, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 23, 2015

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

JOINT UNLICENSED ACTIVITY INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST IN MIAMI

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health's Miami Unlicensed Activity (ULA) Unit announced that their joint investigation with the Miami-Dade Police Department's Organized Crime Unit has led to the arrest of Huang Yanqin of Nova Oriental Massage for the alleged unlicensed practice of massage therapy. Practicing health care without a license is a crime and can result in misdemeanor or felony penalties including fines and possible incarceration.

Recently, the Miami-Dade Police Department conducted an undercover operation at Nova Oriental Massage located at 6455 SW 40th St., Miami, Florida 33155. Yanqin provided a massage therapy session to an undercover agent without being a Florida licensed massage therapist and was subsequently arrested.

The department has several resources to combat unlicensed activity:

  • Consumers are encouraged to use the department's website www.flhealthsource.gov where they can conveniently view the license information for their health care provider.
  • Complaints may be filed anonymously by completing and mailing the complaint form on the Florida Department of Health's website or calling 1-877-HALT-ULA.

The department's ULA program protects Florida residents and visitors from the potentially serious consequences of receiving medical and health care services from an unlicensed person. The department's Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) investigates and refers for prosecution all unlicensed health care activity complaints and allegations. The ULA program works in conjunction with law enforcement and the state attorney's offices to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. More importantly, receiving health care from unlicensed people is dangerous and could result in further injury, disease or even death.

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Working in conjunction with 22 boards and six councils, MQA regulates seven types of facilities and 200-plus license types in more than 40 healthcare professions. MQA evaluates the credentials of all applicants for licensure, issues licenses, analyzes and investigates complaints, inspects facilities, assists in prosecuting practice act violations, combats unlicensed activity and provides credential and discipline history about licensees to the public. Visit www.flhealthsource.gov for additional information about MQA.

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.

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