PPS Incentivizes Nursing Centers to Raise Level of Quality

By Katie Berzowski
Heritage Park Care and Rehabilitation Center in Bradenton

Quality care for our loved ones in nursing centers should not be an afterthought, it should be a priority. That is why I support a prospective payment system for nursing center reimbursement.

With this type of reimbursement system, Medicaid dollars would be put to encouraging improvement in nursing facilities, which leads to enhanced care for seniors. Reimbursement would go to updating therapy equipment, improving the nutrition of seniors, and increasing room size, factors that make a difference in their standard of living. We all want our loved ones to be cared for in a center where they are comfortable and receiving efficient care, and this system incentivizes nursing centers across the state to rise to that level of quality.

Legislators should take advantage of this innovative approach to reimbursement and implement a prospective payment system to ensure that quality care of our elders always come first.