The 2006 Florida Legislature authorized for-profit entities to operate hospice programs and required the Department of Elder Affairs to develop quality and effectiveness measures for Florida hospices and submit an annual report analyzing these outcome measures. Since that time, six additional for-profit hospices have opened in Florida (current total of 13). While the department has established three outcome measures for evaluating hospice quality, preliminary analyses suggest these measures and their standards may not be sufficient to identify meaningful differences among hospices. The department should consider adopting additional measures to better assess hospice quality and effectiveness and take steps to ensure that data reported by hospices is complete and accurate.

Florida's Certificate of Need Process Ensures Qualified Hospice Programs; Performance Reporting Is Important to Assess Hospice Quality
Report 06-29 March 2006

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.