The Appropriations Committee reported CS for CS for SB 170, a comprehensive bill aimed at strengthening nursing home oversight, quality measurement and regulatory reporting.

Sponsor Senator Burton said the bill complements related budget provisions and implements policy changes intended to improve resident outcomes. "This bill amends several sections related to the regulation of nursing homes, requires AHCA to develop user-friendly consumer satisfaction surveys to capture resident and family member satisfaction... and incorporate the results of these surveys into the quality incentive portion for Medicaid reimbursement," Burton told the committee.

Key provisions in the bill include: requiring user-friendly resident and family satisfaction surveys and incorporating results into Medicaid quality-incentive calculations; requiring nursing-home medical directors to hold recognized certifications or equivalents; mandating biannual patient-safety culture surveys and broader resident-centered quality metrics; requiring nursing homes to maintain electronic health record systems and to make admit/transfer/discharge data available to the state health information exchange; strengthening reporting of financial data and imposing fines for noncompliance with reporting obligations; and directing AHCA to commission a contractor to study national quality and payment systems and report findings by Dec. 1, 2025.

Senator Smith asked whether the survey and benchmarking data would allow comparison to national standards; Burton said the bill was designed to both collect new resident-experience data and to commission a study to identify best practices nationwide. A representative of the Florida Healthcare Association waived in support during the public testimony portion.

Committee action: CS for CS for SB 170 was reported favorably by the committee; the sponsor waived closing remarks and the committee recorded a favorable vote.

Why it matters: The bill ties resident experience and safety-culture metrics to Medicaid quality incentives, requires new reporting and data-exchange requirements, and directs a statewide study to identify practices that improve nursing home quality.

Implementation note: The bill requires AHCA to enhance reporting and to submit findings and recommendations to the legislature; the December 2025 study deadline was included to inform future deliberations.

Quotable: "This bill is a policy bill that actually corresponds to the bill you voted on just a minute ago presented by Senator Trumbull," Senator Burton said. "It requires AHCA to report to the governor and legislature on payments made under the Medicaid Quality Incentive Program."