FALA Legislative Priorities
Florida’s aging population is growing rapidly. Florida has the second largest population of persons over the age of sixty-five (65). By the year 2020, Florida is expected to have more than 6.3 million persons age 65 and over. We must start working on how we intend to assist seniors in the aging process. For those receiving care in the community, the family members providing services to those in need, and for Florida’s economy, our system has to focus on caring for older adults in the community. Preserving state resources by in home care and assisted living services is the most cost-effective way.
Nothing will better serve the needs of our rapidly growing Senior population than investing in the fundamental services provided to those most in need – long-term care funding needs to be expanded, and we need to plan for the future of our state and for its seniors now– a future where older people live more productive lives with a modest amount of help.
Florida Assisted Living Association supports:
Quality & Resident Safety
Appropriations/Funding
Florida assisted living facilities on average have seen the same reimbursement rate from managed care organizations for the last four years. This gap impacts quality care because it contributes to staffing issues and an inability to maintain modern facilities.
Policy Priorities
Nothing will better serve the needs of our rapidly growing Senior population than investing in the fundamental services provided to those most in need – long-term care funding needs to be expanded, and we need to plan for the future of our state and for its seniors now– a future where older people live more productive lives with a modest amount of help.
Florida Assisted Living Association supports:
Quality & Resident Safety
- Protection of resident’s rights in all residential and healthcare facilities.
- Continued enforcement of of unlicensed providers.
Appropriations/Funding
Florida assisted living facilities on average have seen the same reimbursement rate from managed care organizations for the last four years. This gap impacts quality care because it contributes to staffing issues and an inability to maintain modern facilities.
- FALA supports reality based solutions built on personal responsibility that directs funding towards staffing, infrastructure, technological, and other improvement programs to improve care and care delivery; and reward providers who are investing in the areas to improve outcomes.
- Increase in appropriate funding and the establishment of policies so that seniors are provided services in the MOST integrated but LEAST restrictive environment.
- Increase funding for Medicaid waiver spots.
- Require long term care insurance companies to provide reimbursement based on resident care needs.
Policy Priorities
- Legislation that promotes a market driven economy and minimizes additional burdens on assisted living facilities; which have no direct impact or correlation to resident health and safety.
- Survey reliability throughout the state.
- Moratorium follow up inspections completed within a specified time period.
- License applications not fully processed to be provided a Provisional license until completed by the agency.
- Provide information to individuals in nursing homes and other institutions about less restrictive environments.
- Rulemaking procedures that facilitates the ability for the public to provide constructive comments that will be taken into consideration before rules are adopted.
Each week the Florida Legislature entertains Bills that affect Floridians. The goal of the Florida Assisted Living Association is to ensure that we keep members apprised of legislation that directly affects assisted living facilities and the residents that reside in Florida ALFs and Adult Family Care Homes. Each we update our Legislative Reports and the Leslie Dughi Corner during the legislative session.
2019 Session Dates
2019 Session Dates
- December-February TBD
Interim Legislative Committee Meetings
January 8, 2019
Florida’s Inauguration Ceremony
January 25, 2019
Deadline for submitting requests for drafts of general bills and joint resolutions
March 1, 2019
Deadline for approving final drafts of general bills and joint resolutions, including companion bills (Senate)
March 5, 2019
Regular Session convenes (Art. III 3(b), Fla. Const.) noon; deadline for filing bills for introduction (Senate Rule 3.7(1))
April 20, 2019
All bills are immediately certified (Senate Rule 6.8 and House Rule 11.7(i)). Motion to reconsider made and considered the same day (Senate Rule 6.4(4)).
April 23, 2019
50th day – Last day for regularly scheduled committee meetings (Senate Rule 2.9(2))
April 28, 2019
55th day – No House bills on second reading may be taken up and considered by the House (House Rule 10.18)
May 1, 2019
58th day – The House may consider only: (a) returning messages, (b) conference reports, and (c) concurrent resolutions (House Rule 10.09)
May 3, 2019
60th day – Last day of Regular Session (Art. III, 3(d), Fla. Const.)
