TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The HarborChase assisted living facility in Tallahassee is under investigation, accused of illegally charging $350 to all residents following Hurricane Irma.
The Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) has launched an investigation after receiving complaints that the HarborChase chain of assisted living facilities was charging residents a special surcharge of $350.
Per 58A-5.025(3), Florida Administrative Code, the facility cannot issue additional charges for any supplies, services, or accommodations that were agreed to in the original contract. Per 429.24(1)(2), Florida Statutes, residents are entitled to 30 days notice before a rate increase.
“We condemn, in the strongest terms, a surcharge placed on residents of facilities,” said State Ombudsman Mike Milliken. “When residents enter an assisted living facility, they sign a contract stating that they will be provided with a set of standard services, including on-site staffing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as well as meals and activities. These services must be provided rain or shine, hurricane or no hurricane."
LTCOP says they also notified the Agency for Health Care Administration, the state’s licensing and regulatory agency over long-term care facilities.
HarborChase has assisted living facilities all over the state to include Jacksonville and Gainesville. You can find a list of all Florida locations here.
If anyone has concerns about facilities failing to comply with these laws, they can call the Agency’s Consumer Complaint Hotline at (888) 419-3456 or complete a complaint form here.
