Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) Chief Executive Officer Emmett Reed applauded Governor Ron DeSantis for prioritizing Florida’s long term caregivers and the residents entrusted to their care in his Freedom First budget recommendations for FY 2022-2023. Specifically, the Governor’s budget includes a 5% increase in Medicaid reimbursement for nursing centers, which amounts to an additional $185 million in funding or approximately $270,000 per care center.
The statement is attributable to Emmett Reed, FHCA Chief Executive Officer.
“FHCA appreciates Governor DeSantis for recognizing the need for increasing Medicaid funding for Florida’s nursing center residents. Meaningful investments in our state’s nursing centers will help address the workforce challenges that providers are facing. The Governor’s recommended budget is an important first step toward ensuring these care centers have the resources needed to be competitive employers and offer higher wages and better benefits to attract new workers and incentivize current workers to stay.”
“We look forward to working with the House and the Senate in the upcoming session as they develop their budgets to ensure that Florida’s long term caregivers are supported so Florida’s seniors can continue getting the quality care they need.”
ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation that serves nearly 1,000 members and represents more than 500 long-term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and subacute care, short-term rehab, assisted living, and other services to the elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development, and financial stability of its members. As Florida’s first and largest advocacy organization for long-term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit http://www.fhca.org.
