FCCB Opposed Long Term Care Funding Mechanism Advances

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Health and Human Services had its final discussion on a new funding mechanism for long-term care providers before advancing it to the full Appropriations Committee.
 
Coming into the session, the legislature received a proposal to establish a new prospective payment system from the Agency for Health Care Administration by Navigant. It was rejected because it penalized high quality, efficient nursing homes while benefiting less efficient, lower quality homes without ensuring additional funds would be used for better resident care.
 
A group representing a large portion of the nursing homes industry has put forth a second proposal, which was discussed in the committee. It does not address the flaws in the earlier plan that was rejected and in ways is worse:

• it reduces quality thresholds;
• it shifts funds from care of residents to property; and
• it costs Florida taxpayers more (at least $57M for each of the next 3 years).

The current proposal is not oriented to recognizing and meeting the needs of persons receiving care in these facilities.

Prior to advancing the proposal, Senator Anitere Flores, chair of the subcommittee, indicated that additional work and revisions will be considered.