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Press Releases

Florida Health Care Association Applauds Governor for Making Personal Care Attendants a Permanent Part of the Long Term Care Workforce

Posted on: Jun 24, 2021

In the face of significant workforce shortages in long term care, the Florida Health Care Association applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for signing legislation that makes the Personal Care Attendant program a permanent part of Florida’s long term care workforce solution. The Governor today signed House Bill 485, sponsored by Senator Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville) and Representative Sam Garrison (R-Orange Park), establishing…

FHCA Applauds Legislature for Fully Funding Nursing Home Care in State Budget

Posted on: Apr 30, 2021

“FHCA appreciates the Legislature for fully funding the nursing home Medicaid budget and supporting Florida’s nursing centers, which have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 public health emergency for over a year. Our nursing centers remain focused on doing their part to put an end to this pandemic, and proper funding ensures they have the critical resources that are…

FHCA Applauds Legislature for Passing Legislation to Make Personal Care Attendants a Permanent Part of the LTC Workforce

Posted on: Apr 26, 2021

Today, FHCA applauded Florida lawmakers for passing legislation that will make Personal Care Attendants a permanent part of Florida’s long term care workforce. “The Personal Care Attendant Program has been a win-win for Florida, addressing critical staff shortages at our state’s nursing centers and helping out-of-work Floridians find new career opportunities in a rewarding field.”

FHCA Issues Statement as Lawmakers Release Health Care Budget Allocations

Posted on: Apr 16, 2021

“As legislators head into budget negotiations, they have an opportunity to reinvest in our nursing centers and ensure that we have the funding needed to strengthen our workforce, clinical services and infrastructure so we can continue to improve residents’ quality of life.’

FHCA Launches CarefortheAging.org Website to Address Long Term Care Workforce Needs

Posted on: Apr 14, 2021

FHCA has launched Florida.CarefortheAging.org, a new website to help job seekers find career opportunities in Florida’s long term and post-acute care profession. The site features a wealth of resources, including state-specific education requirements, salaries and career-focused videos by caregivers, developed to inspire high-school students, early career professionals and job seekers looking for new opportunities to pursue a career in the…

FHCA Applauds Governor DeSantis for Signing COVID-19 Liability Protections Into Law

Posted on: Mar 29, 2021

Today, Governor DeSantis signed into law SB 72 (Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg) which provides COVID-19 liability protections for health care providers and general businesses. In a statement, FHCA CEO Emmett Reed thanked the Governor for his unwavering commitment to our long-term care facilities and noted how these much-needed liability protections are an important step forward in our facilities’ ability…

Florida Health Care Association Applauds House for Passing Liability Protections for Health Care Heroes

Posted on: Mar 26, 2021

FHCA today applauded the House of Representatives for approving Senate Bill 72, which provides liability protection to health care providers who made a good faith effort to follow government health care guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FHCA Issues Statement in Response to Florida House Cutting Medicaid Funding for Nursing Home Care

Posted on: Mar 25, 2021

“Florida’s nursing home providers are facing a significant economic crisis, caused by the combination of increased costs related to COVID-19 and chronic Medicaid underfunding. While we recognize that the Legislature must make tough decisions this session, we don’t believe the budget should be balanced on the backs of nursing center residents and their frontline caregivers, who have already sacrificed so…

Bills that Create a Pathway to Careers in Long Term Care Advance

Posted on: Mar 24, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the need for long-term solutions to help nursing centers attract and retain new talent to meet the needs of Florida’s growing elderly population. Today, Florida Health Care Association applauded lawmakers for continuing to advance legislation that would make Personal Care Attendants a permanent part of the long term care workforce.

Bills that Strengthen Nursing Home Workforce Advance

Posted on: Mar 17, 2021

Florida Health Care Association today applauded legislators in both the Senate and House for advancing legislation to further strengthen the long term care workforce by making permanent the program that allows Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) to work in Florida’s nursing centers. The Senate Health Policy Committee approved SB 1132 by Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), followed by the House Finance and…

COVID-19 Liability Protections for Health Care Providers Continues to Advance

Posted on: Mar 11, 2021

Today, applauded legislators for continuing to advance COVID-19 liability protections for health care providers, an action that underscores the need to protect facilities’ resources to support resident care. The Senate Rules Committee merged health care liability protections into SB 72 by Sen. Jeff Brandes (St. Petersburg), which extends protections to general businesses. Today’s vote follows yesterday’s approval by the House…

Legislature Must Prioritize Residents and Caregivers by Preserving Medicaid Funding for Nursing Center Care

Posted on: Mar 04, 2021

Emmett Reed, CEO/executive director of Florida Health Care Association, testified today before the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee regarding nursing centers’ extensive COVID-related expenses, federal funding levels received by providers, and the financial impact the pandemic has had on the long term care sector.