Skilled Nursing Bulletins: Fla. Gov. Wants Constitutional Protections

With yet another storm affecting the Gulf Coast — this time Hurricane Nate — the Florida government continues to plan its response to the nursing home deaths in the wake of Hurricane Irma last month. Here are some of the latest updates:

  • Gov. Rick Scott has called for an amendment to the state’s constitution that would protect nursing home and assisted living residents, the Associated Press reported.
  • Scott directed a commission that’s already looking into ways to improve the Florida constitution to add “permanent measures to put safety first,” according to the AP. A spokeswoman says the governor “looks forward to seeing what proposals” the group recommends.
  • The death toll from the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills currently sits at 12.
  • The AP also reported that authorities are looking into the death of a resident at a hospital in Hialeah, Fla. with the same ownership as the Rehabilitation Center.
  • The beleaguered facility has filed an expanded lawsuit against the state, challenging an emergency order that suspended its license on September 20, according to the News Service of Florida.
  • The Florida Assisted Living Association joined LeadingAge Florida in suing the state over an emergency action that would require all skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in the state to have backup generators. Industry advocates have claimed that meeting the Sunshine State’s 60-day deadline is simply not feasible.

Written by Alex Spanko

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