Posted on: Jan 13, 2022
FHCA has always encouraged our members to continue working toward vaccinating as many residents and staff as possible. However, long term care is experiencing a historic labor crisis. We are extremely concerned that the court’s decision to allow the CMS mandate to go forward will cause nursing homes to lose even more staff at a time when we are grappling…
Posted on: Jan 10, 2022
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) today released its priorities for the legislative session that begins tomorrow, with a focus on ensuring that Florida’s elders have access to high-quality care. As the state’s nursing centers continue their fight against COVID-19 amid staffing and financial challenges, FHCA is advocating for solutions that will help facilities continue to meet the needs of…
Posted on: Dec 09, 2021
FHCA appreciates Governor DeSantis for recognizing the need to increase 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…
Posted on: Nov 30, 2021
Emmett Reed, CEO of the Florida Health Care Association, told the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee that, almost two years into the pandemic, chronic staffing shortages, ongoing costs to fight COVID-19, and stagnant occupancy levels are taking a significant financial toll on long term care facilities and threatening access to care for Florida’s most vulnerable long-term and post-acute care patients.
Posted on: Nov 04, 2021
Florida Health Care Association applauded Governor DeSantis, legislators and the Agency for Health Care Administration after the Joint Legislative Budget Commission today approved $99.5 million in short-term financial relief for Florida nursing centers. Funding will be distributed to centers through temporary increased Medicaid reimbursement rates over a three-month period.
Posted on: Nov 01, 2021
Florida can emerge from its ongoing health care workforce crisis by providing financial assistance for potential and current caregivers, developing training and education opportunities, and streamlining pathways for professionals to build careers in health care. Those are among the key recommendations issued today by a coalition of care-providing professions working tirelessly to serve the public amid the unprecedented challenges of…
Posted on: Oct 25, 2021
FHCA has partnered with Q3 Healthcare Consulting to implement the CaregiversFL Career Program, a statewide initiative to increase the number of direct care workers, specifically Certified Nursing Assistants, into the long term care profession.
Posted on: Oct 25, 2021
Long term care providers, including Florida Health Care Association members, last week urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for assistance with the burdens imposed by anticompetitive practices by direct care staffing agencies.
Posted on: Oct 19, 2021
While Florida’s nursing centers have recently seen steep declines in COVID-19 cases among residents, those care centers are facing significantly worsening workforce challenges and financial burdens, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) told members of the Florida House Health and Human Services Committee today.
Posted on: Oct 13, 2021
COVID-19 cases have sharply declined in Florida’s skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities, but those facilities continue to experience significant workforce challenges that existed before the pandemic but have only worsened over the past year and a half, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) told members of the Florida Senate’s Health Policy Committee this week.
Posted on: Sep 21, 2021
FHCA is pleased to announce that public policy expert Susan E. Anderson has joined the team as Director of Government Affairs. Susan will work under the direction of Senior Director of Government Affairs/Chief Lobbyist Toby Philpot and will assist with advancing the Association’s legislative agenda. She’ll also support members with regulatory compliance and liaison with the agencies providing state and…
Posted on: Sep 16, 2021
Florida’s nursing centers have put forth tremendous efforts to keep both their residents and staff safe since the beginning of the pandemic, and they continue to do so. It’s easy for AARP and others to look on from afar – with no direct involvement in the day-to-day operations of a nursing center – and cast judgment. Perhaps instead of producing…
