The nursing home problem in Florida

Abstract

The nursing home problem in Florida was characterized as a debate over quality of care and the rapid increase of lawsuits against nursing homes that led to a decline in the availability of affordable liability insurance. The staff for Florida's Task Force on Availability and Affordability of Long-Term Care analyzed lawsuit and quality-of-care data from one county in Florida and quality-of-care data statewide to understand the relationship between the two sides of the argument. Analyses showed support for both positions and a middle-ground policy position was achieved. The subsequent nursing home reform legislation and implications for the future of long-term care in Florida are discussed. Copyright 2003 by The Gerontological Society of America.