MARCH 21, 2023 —LeadingAge Florida, Florida’s only association representing the entire continuum of care for older adults, issued a statement following the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services release of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 committee budget proposal.
The following statement is attributable to President and CEO Steve Bahmer.
“We’re grateful to the Senate leadership for their continued investment in long-term care and their recognition of the continually increasing costs in Florida’s nursing homes. Their proposal includes critical funding that will help ensure the highest quality care for Florida seniors.
In conjunction with the new proposed funding for quality, we also support adjustments to the nursing home funding system that prioritize funding for direct care.
These adjustments are more appropriate now than ever before due to the staffing crisis and the legislative directive to increase wages to a minimum of $15 per hour for all staff in nursing homes. Prioritizing direct care, as opposed to other elements of the prospective payment system, will provide more funding to high-quality providers who invest more in direct patient care.
This system change would reinforce that the people caring for our nursing home residents are the most significant factor in the delivery of quality of care, and the funding system should recognize the importance of these caregivers.”
For 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.
