FHCA Applauds House & Senate Leaders for Including Prospective Payment System in Budget

House and Senate leaders reached an agreement on the budget as it relates to nursing center reimbursement. The Medicaid Conforming Bill (SB 2514), which will be voted on Monday as part of the 2017-18 state budget, includes a Prospective Payment System (PPS) using the Senate PPS model advocated for by Florida Health Care Association and its more than 550 nursing center members. The bill places in statute the Senate PPS plan, with its quality components and transition period, and has an implementation date of October 1, 2018. 

"We appreciate Senator Negron and Speaker Corcoran for creating a budget that puts the focus on quality care and quality of life for Florida's nursing center residents. Including a prospective payment system will, for the first time in Florida's Medicaid history, link nursing center reimbursement to quality outcomes," said Emmett Reed, FHCA Executive Director. "The PPS plan the budget offers true incentives to ensure our state's nursing centers continue making measurable advancements in the care they deliver."

The budget also restores the personal needs allowance to its full amount of $105 per month. The House had initially proposed reducing the allowance to $70. Senate President Joe Negron, a long-time champion for Florida's nursing center residents, was instrumental in preserving the current amount.

"We are also pleased they chose to protect residents' personal needs allowance," Reed continued. "Those dollars go a long way to help them continue enjoying the simple pleasures that many of us take for granted, such as a haircut or birthday card for a loved one."