House Bill 1239 cleared the Legislature on Monday, March 7, 2022, with bipartisan support. The bill is now on the desk of Governor DeSantis, who must decide whether to approve or veto the Bill. Source.
If DeSantis signs this new legislation into law, Florida nursing homes would be required to provide each resident with two hours of care from a certified nursing assistant each day, which is a 30-minute reduction from what is currently required. While the bill does not change the required daily hours residents must receive care (3.6), it does change who would be allowed to provide care. Instead of requiring all 3.6 hours of direct care to be provided by a certified nursing assistant, 1.6 of those hours could now be provided by other types of “direct care workers” such as physical therapists, activities staff, and feeding assistants.
Supporters of the bill say that the new legislation will give nursing homes more flexibility to provide care that fits the specific needs of residents and help ease the staffing shortage currently faced by nursing homes.
Opponents of the Bill believe that, if the governor signs this bill into legislation, he would be signaling that the interests of the for-profit nursing home industry are more important than the health and safety of the seniors living in the nursing homes.
Nursing homes should be safe places for your loved ones to reside and be cared for when they can no longer care for themselves. Governor DeSantis has been advocating for the care of seniors, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic began. By vetoing this bill, opponents are hoping to “stop the harm before it can begin.”
If your loved ones are suffering in a nursing home, contact the personal injury attorneys at Beltz & Beltz. Our team of experienced attorneys will fight to get your loved ones justice.
