Senate Proposes $375 Million Medicaid Funding Increase for Nursing Center Care
Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) today praised the Florida Senate for recognizing the importance of properly funding the state’s nursing centers. The Senate included a 10% increase ($375 million) to Medicaid funding for nursing center care in its preliminary budget as lawmakers move to formally adopt a spending plan for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The Senate budget proposal would increase funding by almost $550,000 per care center, giving providers much-needed resources to invest in their workforce and the systems needed to continue enhancing resident care and safety.
The following statement may be attributed to Emmett Reed, Chief Executive Officer of FHCA:
“Florida’s long term care system has faced longstanding challenges that have only gotten worse throughout the pandemic, including staffing shortages and financial issues. Increased funding across the system will allow our care centers to address significant needs in their workforce and clinical services, which are essential to continue providing high-quality care to Florida’s growing elderly population and individuals with disabilities. This includes the nearly 46,000 residents who rely on Medicaid to pay for their long term care services.
FHCA appreciates Senate President Wilton Simpson, Senators Aaron Bean and Kelli Stargel and their colleagues in the Senate for placing a high priority on meeting these challenges so that providers have the resources to build and maintain the robust workforce needed to care for our state’s most vulnerable.”
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.
