Florida Authorities Issue Suspension Orders for CCRC in Tampa

On March 16, 2016, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued suspension orders affecting University Village, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Tampa, Florida. Long-Term Living publication reports:

The first order states the facility was acquired illegally. IMH Healthcare, LLC, the general partner of the new ownership, does not have approval to operate as a licensed CCRC provider.

 

The second order makes several allegations against University Village for violating provisions of Florida’s Insurance Code for:

• failing to comply with the OIR’s target examination and filing false information;

• failing to fulfill statutory and contractual obligations to residents, estates of former residents and prospective residents, including failing to pay more than $4 million in refunds owed to residents;

• continuing to accept new residents while being financially insolvent; and

• engaging in fraudulent or dishonest management practices.

For more on the OIR action, read Tampa Times coverage, “Florida Officials Move to Suspend  Tampa’s University Village Retirement Home.” 

The events that led to this state action are somewhat unusual. For earlier reports on the long-simmering issues, see Channel 8 News Report from September 2015: “Owner Claims, State Lying, Retirees Suffer.”   See also a Tampa Bay Times article from February 2015, “State Looks into Alleged Financial Problems at Tampa Retirement Community.”