Chattanooga Times Free Press

Agency: Most Florida nursing homes still are without backup power

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TALLAHASSE­E, Fla. — A government agency reported that most Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities do not have backup power despite new requiremen­ts enacted after a dozen people died in a sweltering center following Hurricane Irma.

The state Agency for Health Care Administra­tion said only 48 nursing homes and 91 assisted living facilities have installed equipment and had state inspection­s as of May 25. The new rules that went into effect Friday require all facilities to have backup power for cooling for at least 96 hours.

The agency reported 348 nursing homes and 343 assisted living facilities have requested extensions to install equipment and have it inspected. They have until Jan. 1 to meet the requiremen­ts, meaning many will not have backup power for this hurricane season.

Gov. Rick Scott first directed the state to issue emergency rules requiring generators in long-term care facilities in the weeks after the tragedy last fall at the Rehabilita­tion Center at Hollywood Hills, where an investigat­ion continues into the residents’ deaths after Irma knocked out power.

Following months of legal disputes between the state and industry groups that pushed back on the requiremen­ts, the Florida Legislatur­e passed rules mandating that those facilities verify they have installed a working generator or alternate backup power source by June 1, the start of hurricane season.

Yet under the rules, extensions can be granted for reasons including constructi­on or delays in delivery, zoning, or regulatory approvals, provided the facility submits alternativ­e cooling plans that can keep residents at safe temperatur­es for 96 hours. Obtaining an extension means that the facilities are still in compliance with the law, despite not having the backup power fully in place or not inspected.

The Agency for Health Care Administra­tion said it will ensure all nursing homes and assisted living facilities will meet the letter of the law.

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