Pointing to “impossible” timeframes, an industry group has filed a legal challenge to new requirements by Gov. Rick Scott‘s administration that nursing homes and assisted-living facilities quickly install generators to power air-conditioning systems.
With time running out to comply with what could be a $240 million generator mandate handed down by Gov. Rick Scott, nursing-home administrators and long-term care lobbyists left a Tuesday meeting without an indication of what, if anything the state will do to help offset the costs.
Calling the deaths of eight seniors last week an “isolated incident,” a nursing-home industry group will hold a meeting Friday to discuss a move by Gov. Rick Scott to require nursing homes to be equipped with generators to power air-conditioning systems when electricity goes out. The Florida Health Care Association will host an emergency-preparedness “summit” in Tallahassee. Scott on Saturday directed the state Agency for Health Care Administration and the Department of Elder Affairs to issue emergency rules that would…
Jeffrey Bragg has been tapped to head up Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs. Bragg will replace Sam Verghese, the current Secretary of the Department of Elder Affairs, according to Gov. Rick Scott’s Office. Verghese, the Governor’s Office announced Wednesday, is stepping down to pursue options in the private sector. Verghese’s last day is Sept. 23. That’s the same day Bragg will take over the helm of the agency. “He has over 40 years of experience in the public and private…
Time ran short on Thursday before the Senate Children and Families Committee could weigh in on whether to approve Samuel P. Verghese as the Secretary of the State Department of Elder Affairs. Verghese, a New Jersey transplant, began his testimony by telling the committee that serving as secretary is about “serving others.” “Plain and simple, it’s about public service. It’s about serving others,” Verghese said. “It’s about about serving a purpose that’s so much greater than myself: the elders of…
The House released a health care budget on March 17 that contains no supplemental Medicaid dollars traditionally used to help pay hospitals, federally qualified health centers, graduate medical education and even prepaid health plans. House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Matt Hudson said it would be “premature” for the House to include supplemental, or Low Income Pool, dollars in the budget given the fact the federal government has not approved the continuation of the program beyond June 30. Nevertheless,…
