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Nursing Homes, Trial Bar in Huddle

Florida’s nursing home industry and trial attorneys may soon strike a deal on legislation to regulate lawsuits against nursing homes for “punitive damages,” which require a finding of “reprehensible conduct,” the Florida Times-Union reports (paywall alert).

An effort to make it more difficult to sue, pushed by the nursing home industry, failed last year under assault by the trial bar.

Both the House and Senate were scheduled to hear bills dealing with the issue on Tuesday, but they were pulled so that the two sides could hash out a deal. It may involve making it easier for patients' families to get access to medical records.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.