CS/HB 843 - Teaching Agency for Home and Community-based Care
by Health and Human Services Access Subcommittee and Rep. Diaz (CS/SB 1158 by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee and Senator Garcia)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Committee (CF)
This bill creates s. 430.81, F.S., which authorizes the Department of Elderly Affairs to designate a home health agency as a teaching agency for home and community-based care if the home health agency:
- Has been a not-for-profit, designated community care for the elderly lead agency for home and community-based services for more than 10 consecutive years;
- Participates in a nationally recognized accreditation program and holds valid accreditation;
- Has been in business in Florida for a minimum of 20 consecutive years;
- Demonstrates an active program in multidisciplinary education and research that relates to gerontology;
- Has a formalized affiliation agreement with at least one established academic research university with a nationally accredited health professions program in Florida;
- Has salaried academic faculty from a nationally accredited health professions program;
- Is a Medicare and Medicaid certified home health agency that has participated in the nursing home diversion program for a minimum of five consecutive years; and
- Maintains insurance coverage or proof of financial responsibility.
The bill defines the term “teaching agency for home and community-based care” as “a home health agency that is licensed under part III of chapter 400 and has access to a resident population of sufficient size to support education, training, and research related to geriatric care.”
The bill also authorizes a teaching agency for home and community-based care to be affiliated with an academic health center in the state in order to foster the development of methods for improving and expanding the capabilities of home health agencies to respond to the medical, health care, psychological, and social needs of frail and elderly persons. A teaching agency for home and community-based care is to serve as a resource for research and for training health care professionals in providing health care services in homes and community-based settings to frail and elderly persons.
If approved by the Governor, these provisions take effect July 1, 2011.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 115-0