FLORIDA OMBUDSMAN POSITION VACATED, AGAIN! Elizabeth Koh of the Miami Herald is reporting that State Ombudsman Mike Milliken abruptly tendered his resignation in late September. On the heels of his departure, Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) proposed legislation to “roll back” assisted living facility enforcement. Families for Better Care believes SB402 would endanger residents’ lives by loosening reporting requirements of adverse incident reports to state regulators. Senate Bill 402 also “waters down the role of the state ombudsman’s office, removing from statute a requirement their input be used to develop quality of care standards.” Contact Senator Harrell’s office at (772) 221-4019 and demand withdrawal of this alarming bill.


A bill before the Florida Legislature would give assisted living facilities weeks, rather than one business day, to report adverse incidents like death or abuse to AHCA, a change that elder advocates worry could potentially leave residents in harm’s way.