title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, #30437, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620-3043, USA. lpolivka@admin.usf.edu
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Polivka
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyer
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hedgecock
mesh_terms: D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D005431:Florida; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*