Florida's Advocate for Long Term Care Providers and the Elders They Serve
Posted on: May 13, 2025
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Life Safety
Emergency generator batteries not only have a required weekly inspection component, they also have a monthly testing requirement. This, too, will differ depending on whether the battery is sealed or unsealed.
Posted on: May 07, 2025
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Legislative
Late Friday, Senate and House leaders extended the 2025 legislative session through June 6, adding more time on the clock to pass the 2025-2026 state budget. Policy bills, however, had to be finalized before both chambers adjourned for the day, given that the extension is for the sole purpose of passing the budget. There was action on several initiatives affecting…
Posted on: May 07, 2025
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Life Safety
Emergency generator batteries have a weekly inspection component, but the method for the inspection will differ depending on whether the battery is sealed or unsealed.
Posted on: Apr 30, 2025
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Legislative
Lawmakers have yet to agree on the 2025-2026 state budget, which means the 2025 session will end without a budget being passed. The impasse over the budget is a result of differences between the House and Senate over tax relief. In the meantime, several policy bills impacting long term care have passed and will soon be on their way to…
Posted on: Apr 30, 2025
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Life Safety
Skilled nursing facilities that allow resident smoking will need to know all the requirements of K Tag 741. That language comes from NFPA 101 (2012 edition) 19.7.4, and knowing those details and the Life Safety Code is critical to ensure compliance.
Posted on: Apr 23, 2025
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Life Safety
Knowing the construction type of the facility - Type II (000) or Type V (111) - will assist providers in better understanding some of the facility’s building elements. Additionally, life safety surveyors will ask for this information at the beginning of the survey, so knowing this information will also help with being prepared for annual survey.
Posted on: Apr 22, 2025
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Legislative
With the end of the 2025 legislative session quickly approaching, the focus remains on the Senate and House finalizing their budget allocations so conferencing on the FY 2025-2026 state budget can begin. FHCA continued meeting with Senate and House leaders, working to help them understand the important connection between high-quality care and proper funding. Several OFP Executive Committee members traveled…
Posted on: Apr 17, 2025
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Legislative
This was a shortened week for the Legislature as lawmakers returned home for the Passover and Easter holidays. FHCA continued its work on the state budget and educating legislators about the importance of investing state Medicaid dollars in high-quality care. Despite the shortened week a number of bills impacting long term care were addressed in committee.
Posted on: Apr 17, 2025
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Life Safety
Although panic hardware is not required in a health care occupancy, it can still be found in almost every skilled nursing facility in the state. Providers must be careful when replacing the hardware, as the difference between panic hardware and fire exit hardware may not be readily noticeable.
Posted on: Apr 10, 2025
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Legislative
This was the final Lobby Wednesday of the 2025 session, and it was another record crowd. Both the House and Senate were in session this week to continue debate on their budgets, and the Senate also took that time to pass the “gold standard” priority bill - SB 170 by Sen. Colleen Burton - out of its chamber.
Posted on: Apr 10, 2025
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Life Safety
Skilled nursing facilities have a number of requirements for the compliant storage of oxygen tanks, including the need to segregate empty and full cylinders, as well as the need to ensure all oxygen tanks are secured in racks or their transport carts. One requirement in NFPA 99 Chapter 11 is sometimes overlooked because it does not always apply.
Posted on: Apr 04, 2025
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Life Safety
Skilled nursing facilities should be familiar with the requirements for negative air pressure in certain areas such as soiled linen and trash rooms, dish rooms, and bathrooms. These required relative pressures are not found in the Life Safety Code, but rather in NH TABLES I, II, and III, which is incorporated into the Florida Administrative Code Chapter 59A-4.133.