“Keep Financial and Human Resources Focused on Resident Care”
The Florida Health Care Association, which represents nearly 700 nursing homes and assisted living facilities across Florida, is advocating for COVID-19 liability protections for long term care facilities. Today the House Health & Human Services Committee passed a proposed committee bill (HHS 21-01) that extends liability protections to health care providers.
FHCA member Cindy Mitchell, Nursing Director of Marianna Health & Rehabilitation Center, testified before the committee in favor of the legislation, highlighting the importance that legal protections include those working in long term care centers.
“As the nursing director of a long term care center, my passion for the past 25 years has been caring for the elderly. Across my entire career, this past year has by far been the most difficult we’ve all faced. We need to remain focused on providing the care our residents need – we cannot worry about lawyers looking over our shoulder and second guessing every decision we make to keep our residents safe,” Mitchell said.
For nearly a year, long term care facilities have been at the epicenter of the pandemic. From increased routine testing to hiring additional staff and purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE), providers have overcome tremendous challenges and dedicated extensive resources to fight this virus.
Without COVID-19 liability protections, predatory trial attorneys who use sue and settle tactics will divert those resources away from facilities that are still working to protect their residents and strengthen their front-line workforce. COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on the vitality of our health care system unless lawmakers act.
FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed said, “Our health care heroes are deserving of the liability protections that will ensure precious resources – both human and financial – remain where they should be: caring for Florida’s elderly population.”
FHCA is advocating for COVID-19 liability protections for long term care to ensure providers can continue to operate and recover from the pandemic to meet the demands of Florida’s increasing aging population. The Association is committed to working with legislators to ensure this bill moves through the process in the strongest form possible.
ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation that serves nearly 1,000 members and represents more than 500 long-term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and subacute care, short-term rehab, assisted living, and other services to the elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development, and financial stability of its members. As Florida’s first and largest advocacy organization for long-term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit http://www.fhca.org.
