This bill seeks to improve the quality of care in nursing homes in Florida by implementing several significant measures. It revives and amends section 400.0225 of the Florida Statutes, mandating the Agency for Health Care Administration to create user-friendly consumer satisfaction surveys for nursing home facilities, which must be administered annually to a random sample of residents. The bill prohibits any influence from employees or volunteers on survey responses and requires the agency to publish aggregated survey data online for consumer comparison. Additionally, nursing homes are required to conduct biennial patient safety culture surveys and submit the results to the agency. The bill also sets new qualifications for medical directors of nursing homes, mandates data sharing with the Florida Health Information Exchange program, and imposes administrative fines for non-compliance with financial reporting.

Further amendments include provisions for health care facilities to appeal fines and stipulations that a facility cannot be fined twice for the same violation. The bill revises the Medicaid reimbursement methodology, establishing a state Title XIX Long-Term Care Reimbursement Plan that includes components for direct and indirect care. It also requires the agency to revise the Quality Incentive Program payment calculations to include consumer satisfaction survey results. A comprehensive study of nursing home quality incentive programs in other states is mandated, with a final report due by December 1, 2025. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 170 Filed: 400.141, 400.191, 408.061, 409.908
S 170 c1: 400.141, 400.191, 408.08, 409.908
S 170 c2: 400.141, 400.191, 408.08, 409.908