FHCA Applauds Florida Legislature for Making Significant Investment in Florida Nursing Centers

Funding increase will help nursing centers build a pipeline of caregivers and advance quality care

Tallahassee, FL - The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) today applauded the Florida Legislature for providing a significant Medicaid funding increase that will help nursing centers continue advancing quality care through a strengthened workforce. The state FY 2024-2025 budget approved by lawmakers today includes an 8% increase ($247.8 million) in Medicaid funding, which amounts to nearly $470,000 per center per year. 

“We are so thankful to the Florida Legislature for their strong investment in Florida’s nursing centers to help us meet the growing demand for qualified caregivers,” said FHCA Chief Executive Officer Emmett Reed. “We are especially appreciative of the hard work and leadership of House Speaker Paul Renner, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, as well as Representatives Leek and Garrison and Senators Broxson and Harrell.”

“We asked the question ‘who will care’ for our state’s growing senior population, and our state leaders answered that call. Their dedication over the last several years has put us on the path toward rebuilding a workforce that has faced many hardships since the pandemic,” continued Reed.

By 2030, Florida’s population of older adults will increase by more than 30% from what it is today, and it is estimated that long-term care employers in Florida will need to fill 235,000 job openings in direct care from 2020 to 2030. 

Despite long-term care’s labor challenges, Florida is already outpacing the nation in the standard of care provided to seniors and people with disabilities, as shown on FHCA's Long Term Care Quality Dashboard.

“With our champions in the Legislature and support from our Governor, our nursing centers can recruit and retain the workers who are essential to helping Florida continue to be the gold standard in delivering high-quality care to our state’s seniors,” said Reed. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 8, 2024

PRESS CONTACT:
Kristen Knapp, APR
850-510-4389 or kknapp@fhca.org