Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutSeptember 22, 2017

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After 11 nursing home residents died in the sweltering heat of hurricane-induced power outages, Florida’s nursing home industry is now on a collision course with Gov. Rick Scott. Days after Hurricane Irma ravaged the state, Scott used his emergency powers to put in place new rules that require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

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A South Florida senator has filed the first bill in response to the deaths of eight nursing home residents this week after Hurricane Irma knocked out their air conditioning. Sen. Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat, filed the measure (SB 284) on Friday afternoon. Among other things, it would require the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) “to determine […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 14, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association on Thursday called the deaths of eight South Florida nursing home residents who died after Hurricane Irma knocked out their power an “isolated incident” and “not representative of the larger long term care profession in Florida.” The association advocates for “long term care providers and the elderly they serve,” according […]

Staff ReportsJune 19, 2017

Changes to how the state’s nursing that accept Medicaid are paid are coming down the pike. Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a wide-sweeping health care bill (SB 2514) last week that, among other things, moves the payment system to a cost-based system to a prospective payment system. The law delays the move from cost-based […]

Guest AuthorMay 1, 2017

I wanted to take a moment to alert Floridians to The Estates’, a Lakeland-based nursing home, significant concerns with the Florida Health Care Association’s (FHCA) plan, which would change the way nursing homes are paid, under consideration in the Florida Legislature. The FHCA is asserting that this prospective payment system (PPS) plan will incentivize nursing […]

Staff ReportsApril 12, 2017

LeadingAge Florida CEO Steve Bahmer is thanking Senate Democratic Minority Leader Oscar Braynon for a proposed amendment that would tweak the Senate’s proposed prospective payment system for nursing homes, which is currently included in the Senate’s budget. The amendment, filed earlier this week, specifies that “funds received by a facility beyond current levels be used […]

Guest AuthorApril 10, 2017

In an effort to protect their turf, the health plans behind Florida’s managed care program for Medicaid recipients keep saying they help many older Floridians move from nursing homes to live in community settings. What they fail to tell you is that these elders are just a small fraction of nursing home residents – the […]

Guest AuthorApril 4, 2017

President Ronald Reagan once noted, “Status quo, you know, is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in.’” Florida has gone to great lengths over the years to lead our nation in the quality of care we provide for our elders, and we have made tremendous strides in recent years. But new opportunities remain, as do significant […]

Drew WilsonMarch 29, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association said the removing skilled nursing centers from managed care would save taxpayers $68 million a year, a far cry from the $200 million cost claimed by the Agency for Health Care Administration. The carve-out is contained in SB 682, a bill by Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel FHCA Director of Reimbursement […]

Staff ReportsMarch 21, 2017

The Florida Health Care Association has made carving out nursing homes from the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program their top priority, touting its ability to save the state money. However, a new roadblock may have just made that task infinitely more challenging. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) recently released an agency bill […]

Tag: Florida Health Care Association

Elderly deaths: Call for generators in Florida nursing homes

First legislation filed after nursing home deaths

Florida Health Care Association issues statement on nursing home deaths

Rick Scott signs nursing home reimbursement changes into law

Brian Robare: Proposed nursing home payment system raises serious concern

LeadingAge calls proposed amendment to Senate nursing home payment plan a ‘step in the right direction’

Emmett Reed: Who best entrusted with senior care – caregivers or insurers?

Emmett Reed: Improve elder care; pass nursing center reimbursement reform

FHCA says skilled nursing center carve-out would save taxpayers millions

Hefty price tag added to long-term care carve out