March 7 2022- Today the Florida Legislature passed HB 1239, giving providers the flexibility they need to increase access to care for Florida’s seniors. The legislation now goes to Governor DeSantis for final action. LeadingAge Florida applauded its passage and issued the following statement that can be attributed to President and CEO Steve Bahmer.
“Our providers have, and continue to explore, every possible avenue to recruit, train and retain qualified healthcare personnel, but the reality is that even with significantly increased hourly wages, there is a scarcity in the long-term care workforce.
This has resulted in many providers reducing their bed capacity because of the lack of staff. That means a growing number of high-quality nursing home beds are simply not available to the Florida seniors who need them.
The workforce crisis is a complex and multi-faceted problem that is going to require an equally complex set of solutions in the long-term. This legislation is an important piece of the solution. It provides the flexibility to utilize, and to be credited for, the highly trained and skilled professionals who are already on staff and are already providing high-quality care.”
“We appreciate Representative Melo and Senator Albritton’s leadership and recognition of this issue and urge Governor DeSantis to sign this legislation into law.”
For nearly 60 years, LeadingAge Florida has been the state’s leading advocate for high-quality senior living, aging services and care. We are the only statewide association representing the full continuum of care for seniors. The Association provides up-to-date regulatory information, a wide variety of educational opportunities, representation before the Legislature and government agencies, group purchasing services, and opportunities for networking with peers to help member communities best serve the needs of Florida’s senior population.
