Rick Scott's affront to frail elderly, the primary occupants of nursing homes

[FayeforCure]

Investgate Dismissal

Published: February 21, 2011

In an obvious and shameful bow to the nursing home industry, Gov. Rick Scott has fired the state's long-serving long-term care ombudsman who runs the program charged with overseeing senior living providers around Florida.

Brian Lee spent seven years on the job. He challenged the industry to do better by being tough on "troubled homes." Yet within weeks of requesting records on nursing home directors and financial interests from the state's 677 retirement homes (as recommended by the federal General Accounting Office), he got the ax from Scott.

And in what appears to be typical fashion for Scott, he dismissed Lee without notice or explanation.

Lee's firing is an affront to an able administrator and to the frail elderly who are the primary occupants of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. It is also detrimental to an industry that is well served by adhering to federal and state regulations. It cries out for an investigation.

In that regard, a Maryland organization, Voices for Quality Care Inc., has lodged an official complaint against the governor, alleging he violated several federal laws by firing Lee and interfering with the ombudsman's purpose. The group has written to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and others seeking an inquiry. It sent a letter to Scott on Feb. 12.

The organization rightly fears that a dismissal of the ombudsman at the behest of the industry he is required to oversee could set a precedent for the rest of the country.

"Through the Governor's actions, any State Long-Term Care Ombudsman may now be in jeopardy of losing his/her job for executing the Ombudsman's federally mandated duties."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/feb/21/PMEOPINO1-investigate-dismissal/

[Charles Hunter]

Color me "unsurprised" - and saddened.