Topic: FL Dept. of Elder Affairs

Two southwest Florida lawmakers want to streamline the state ombudsman program which advocates on behalf of nursing home and assisted living facility residents. The proposal does away with district councils and recommendations that each district have ombudsmen with expertise in nutrition, medicine and other health and human services. ... Related Research: Kaiser Health News report on states muzzling ombudsmen, and Agency on Aging report on Florida Ombudsman program.

Though critics, including the AARP, say the pilot program for the managed-care plan has had problems, Washington approved the transition and Florida is implementing it to save money in a $21-billion Medicaid program.

The three meetings in December are the public's first opportunity to comment on a new set of rules for nursing homes. ... Related Research: Senate Interim Report 2012-128 Review Regulatory Oversight of Assisted Living Facilities in Florida from the Committee on Health Regulation, and Department of Elder Affairs Assisted Living Facility (ALF) Negotiated Rulemaking hearing agendas and information.

The spending plan also proposes cuts that would eliminate 52 positions. ... Related Research: Access the Agency Legislative Budget Requests for Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

This week The Florida Chamber Foundation holds its Future of Florida Forum, voter registration closes, Citizens Property Insurance Corp.'s Depopulation Committee meets, and the Office of the State Courts Administrator meets to hear and overview of the State Courts System's 2013-2014 legislative budget request.

The panel consisting of bureaucrats and industry representatives met six times as part of a negotiated rulemaking process. The public will get a chance to comment on proposed rule changes in November and December. ... Related Research: Materials from Tuesday's ALF negotiated rulemaking meeting.

Industry representatives said they fear the costs associated with the increased regulation could force many of the nearly 3,000 assisted living facilities to close their doors. About two-thirds of the assisted living facilities in Florida have 20 or fewer beds. ... Related Research: View materials from the ALF Negotiated Rulemaking committee notebook.

The House dropped its budget shoe this week while the Senate worked on its version of the spending plan, the executive director of the recently established Department of Economic Opportunity resigned, and the chief of the state's septic tank inspection bureau became the target of a House committee chairman.

Budget slashes 67 DOH administrative positions including a $125,000 deputy secretary post and another 708 "vacant" positions.

The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs and Health Regulation committees are both working on proposed committee bills that will revamp regulation of assisted living facilities. Sens. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, and Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah are among the lawmakers spearheading the effort.

This week a case challenging education funding levels stayed alive in the courts, it was suggested that public hospitals all be sold to the private sector, Rick Scott nixed a job training idea, and the Public Service Commission OK'd 3 percent higher bills for Progress Energy customers.

Agencies governing health, transportation and elder affairs have made several staff in upper mangement changes this week.