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Licensing Dispute Stops Hospice Operation

Stethoscope and gavel against a white backdrop.
Wikimedia Commons
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The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

 Compassionate Care Hospice in Lakeland has laid off 30 employees, lost 115 patients, and plans to shut down operations by next week due to a licensing dispute with the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Ledger of Lakeland reports.

AHCA told Compassionate Care hospice officials a month ago that it must immediately shut down operations because the company did not apply to renew its license, but company officials say that's a mistake.

According to the Ledger, the company has filed a request with the 1st District Court of Appeal to stop the shutdown and even asked state lawmakers for help.

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.