News & Publications

Press Releases

Florida’s Largest Long Term Care Association Applauds Trump Administration for Prioritizing Nation’s Nursing Homes

Posted on: Jul 23, 2020

The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA), representing more than 600 skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities across the state of Florida, applauded the Trump administration for prioritizing the nation’s most vulnerable population as they announced $5 billion in additional Provider Relief Funds that will be allocated to skilled nursing centers across the country.

FHCA Commends Governor DeSantis for Preserving Nursing Home Funding Increase in State Budget

Posted on: Jun 25, 2020

FHCA commends Governor DeSantis for his forward-thinking decision to leave intact the Medicaid reimbursement increase for Florida’s nursing homes. As he shared in his press conference today, the Governor clearly recognizes that nursing homes are on the frontline of the COVID-19 public health emergency and the state must continue to support them, which includes having sufficient resources to properly protect…

FHCA Statement of Emergency Rules Requiring Testing of Nursing Home & ALF Staff Every Two Weeks

Posted on: Jun 17, 2020

We know that ongoing testing is an effective way to prevent spread in our care centers, since the virus can be present even when someone doesn’t show any symptoms. FHCA welcomes the opportunity to work with state and local officials to ensure that our care centers test employees every two weeks, and the state’s commitment to cover the costs of…

Just the Facts: What Caused COVID-19 Outbreak in Nursing Homes

Posted on: Jun 08, 2020

According to independent analysis by leading academic and health care experts, location, asymptomatic spread and lack of testing were determining factors in COVID-19 outbreaks.

Florida Long Term Care COVID-19 Response Significantly Better than National Average

Posted on: Jun 02, 2020

FHCA hailed the overall response to COVID-19 by long term care centers in the state, citing newly released federal data showing that Florida’s rate of nursing home cases and fatalities related to the pandemic – the subject of extensive public criticism – is in fact significantly better than the national average. A new report from CMS shows that Florida is…

FHCA Details Nursing Centers’ Preparations for Hurricane Season

Posted on: Jun 01, 2020

As Florida begins hurricane season amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has detailed long term care facilities’ storm response plans and advised that the vast majority of Florida’s nursing centers have generators capable of protecting residents in the event of power outages.
Nursing centers across the state have been actively reviewing their emergency response…

FHCA Recommendations for Reopening Long Term Care Centers to Visitors

Posted on: May 28, 2020

Florida Health Care Association shares the Governor’s desire to get our care centers back to a time when they can experience some form of normalcy. We know that families are anxious and looking forward to the day when they can wrap their arms around their loved ones. We also know our residents want their care centers to return to the…

FHCA Statement in Response to Emergency Rule Requiring Hospitals to Test All Patients Prior to Transfer to a Long Term Care Facility

Posted on: May 05, 2020

The key to slowing the spread of COVID-19 is adequate and timely testing, since we know the virus can be spread by people who don’t show any symptoms. We applaud the Governor for this latest emergency rule requiring hospitals to test all patients before they are transferred to our care centers. This ensures nursing centers will be able to make…

FHCA Asks Gov. DeSantis to Preserve Medicaid Funding Increase When Signing State Budget

Posted on: Apr 28, 2020

In a recent letter to Gov. DeSantis, Florida Health Care Association asked the Governor to sign a budget that retains the needed Medicaid rate increase for nursing center care to ensure Florida’s frail elders continue receiving high-quality, long term care and to support centers with meeting the challenges of COVID-19 to ensure resident and staff safety.

Together We are Making Progress for Nursing Homes, But Our Work Is Far From Over

Posted on: Apr 23, 2020

As Florida joins the nation in weighing the difficult question of how and when to reopen the country, it’s vitally important for everyone to remember that for many, including our long-term care facilities, the battle with COVID-19 is far from over. Our long-term caregivers are still on the frontline in the fight against this pandemic, and we are fortunate to…

FHCA Statement in Response to Media Reports of Deficient Care at Monticello Facility

Posted on: Apr 21, 2020

If the account in the news media is accurate, it is heartbreaking and frustrating that our elderly residents were subject to those shameful conditions by this operator. FHCA has hundreds of members whose top priority, always, is excellent care and the well-being of their residents. We want to tell Floridians the rest of the story where our state regulators worked…

FHCA Statement in Response to Decision to Identify LTC Facilities with Positive COVID-19 Cases

Posted on: Apr 18, 2020

It’s been clear since the beginning that Governor DeSantis shares our goal of protecting our state’s elders in this fight against COVID-19. All of us are working vigilantly to address the massive challenges this pandemic places on our caregivers who continue to remain focused on keeping their residents safe. Since the beginning, we have supported transparency to our residents, families…