MEDIA ADVISORY
More than 100 long term care professionals and advocates will rally in support of continued Medicaid funding to improve quality care at nursing homes on Wednesday, April 10, at 9:15 am. in the Capitol courtyard. Officials from Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), Florida’s largest advocacy organization for nursing centers and the elders they serve, will be joined by Senator Gayle Harrell, Senator Ben Albritton and nursing center staff to highlight the importance of properly funding nursing home care, including the need to extend last year’s $138 million Medicaid increase in the House and Senate budgets this year.
Legislative budget plans to eliminate the quality care funding come on the heels of a recent FHCA report showing how the quality of Florida’s nursing home care has improved dramatically over the last few years, thanks in large part to funding support by the Legislature. With the ongoing workforce crisis in long term care and an ever-growing aging population in Florida, the failure to receive renewed funding would be devastating for nursing centers throughout the state. More than two out of every five Florida counties – a total of 29 – will lose over $1 million each for nursing home care for elders, while another 13 counties will lose more than a half-million dollars.
What: Advocacy Rally for Renewed Medicaid Funding
Who: Emmett Reed, FHCA Executive Director
Senator Gayle Harrell
Senator Ben Albritton
Kathy Gallin, Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Health Policy, Signature HealthCARE/FHCA Board Secretary
Kim Cloud, Administrator and Wendy Segman, RN, Director of Nursing, both from the Abbey Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in St. Petersburg
When: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
9:15 am
Where: Florida Capitol Courtyard
