Nursing homes seek immunity amid the Coronavirus pandemic

Several lawmakers held a conference call about the state not disclosing nursing homes and assisted living facilities with confirmed COVID cases.

Now they are seeking immunity.

PUSH...AND HOW THE LONG CAREINDUSTRY IN PUSHING BACK48-53134-153Senator Farmer 3:10- the lack oftransparency as it relates tonursing home reporting iswoeful.

STATE SENATOR GARYFARMER NOT HOLDING BACK INCRITICIZING THE STATE FORKEEPING SECRETS OVER WHICH LONGTERM CARE CENTERS HAVE OUTBREAKSOF COVID-19.

9:51- i don’t seeany justification for thecontinued concealment of thatinformation.

I don’t .

There isno justification that comes tomy mind for not releasing thisinformation FARMER, OF BROWARDCOUNTY ALONG WITH REPRESENTATIVEWENGAY NEWTON OF ST.PETERSBURG...BOTH CALLING ON THEGOVERNOR TO DETAIL WHICH NURSINGHOMES AND ASSISTED LIVINGFACILITIES IN THE STATE AREDEALING WITH THE VIRUS AND TOWHAT EXTENT... TO DATE... THESTATE HAS ONLY SHARED TOTALNUMBERS OF POSITIVE CASES INSIDELONG-TERM CARE CENTERS.

AS OFTHIS MORNING...IT WAS JUST SHYOF ...AND GROWING.

1:55- we areso upset and concerned.

FAMILYMEMBERS ARE ALSO DESPERATE FORDETAILS.(from package earlier this week)3:35- if this gets into anursing home, it’s going tospread like wildfire and no-oneis going to know, none’s goingto know AROUND THE STATE...NEWSOF COVID-19 OUTBREAKS AND DEATHSINSIDE THESE CENTERS ARETRICKLING OUT... AFTER WORD GOTOUT ABOUT DOZENS OF INFECTEDRESIDENTS AND STAFF AT THISCENTER ON FLORIDA’S WESTCOAST...A SPOKEPSERSON CONFIRMEDA NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES - BUTWOULDN’T SAY HOW MANY.

MEANTIME,THE INDUSTRY IS FIGHTING BACK.RECENTLY...THE FLORIDA HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION FILED THISUNPRECEDENTED REQUEST TO THEGOVERNOR-ASKING FOR BOTH CIVILAND CRIMINAL IMMUNITY FOR ALLHEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ANDPROVIDERS...INCLUDING LONG TERMCARE CENTERS...A SPOKESPERSONDESCRIBED IT AS A WAY TO STOPVILLAINIZING HEALTHCARE WORKERSON THE FRONTLINES OF A PANDEMICWITH LIMITED SUPPLY AND RAPIDLYCHANGING RULES.

FARMER CALLS ITOUTRAGEOUS.

3:18- not only do wesee no need for immunity fornursing homes, we need greatertransparency and ensuredaccountability bc they are thelast line of defense.

They arethe ones supposed to beprotecting our elderly communityand if they’re not doing it,they need to be heldaccountable.

KATIE TAG-ACCORDING TO THE FLORIDA HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION- TEN OTHERSTATES HAVE ALREADY GRANTEDHEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND NURSINGHOMES IMMUNITY DURING THISPANDEMIC.

WE’VE SUBMITTED ARECORDS REQUEST TO THE STATE FORLOCATION DETAILS OF CASES I