Tell Congress to Oppose Reductions to Nursing Facility Bad Debt Reimbursement

Late last week, House Republicans released HR 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act of 2011, which reduces nursing facility bad debt reimbursement. While the bill extends the payroll tax cut, extends the therapy caps exception process and provides the doc fix, it uses skilled nursing centers, as well as other providers, as a pay-for.

Florida facilities are struggling due to the funding reductions we’ve already sustained - $187.5 million to Medicaid and $332 million to Medicare in the past six months alone. HR 3630 threatens bad debt reimbursement for Florida nursing homes and will result in an estimated $172.8 million funding cut over the next three years. A reduction of this magnitude will seriously jeopardize our ongoing quality improvement efforts, put jobs of frontline caregivers at risk and threaten our state’s seniors and individuals’ with disabilities access to nursing home care.

The House could vote on this bill anyday, so please CLICK HERE to contact Congress and tell them to oppose the provision in the bill which reduces bad debt reimbursements for skilled nursing facilities!

Share this message with your coworkers, residents and their family members and ask them to do the same.

Florida’s nursing homes provide important health care services to seniors and people with disabilities and also provide secure jobs for over 259,000 citizens in our state. While real choices need to be made to help our country at this critical time, those choices should not overwhelmingly impact the Greatest Generation or those who care for them.

Governor's Budget Recommendations

Today, Gov. Rick Scott proposed a $66.4 billion budget for next year, down from this year's $69.1 billion budget. The budget contains no cuts to Medicaid funding for nursing home care. It restores previous cuts to education by $1 billion, would cut 2,800 actual filled state jobs "all over" government and would rely on cuts in health care spending and the prison system. 

While the Governor's budget does not negatively impact nursing home funding, we want to remind our FHCA members that both the House and Senate will come out with their respective budgets not long after the session begins in January. It's important that we continue educating lawmakers about the impact the July 1st $187.5 million Medicaid cut, together with the October 1st $332 million Medicare cut, is having on facilities' ability to maintain an adequate workforce and continue delivering high-quality care to our state's seniors.

In the meantime, watch our video message by clicking here and learn how you can get involved this legislative session, which kicks off January 10, 2012. You'll hear from Sen. Thad Altman (R-24) as he shares his thoughts about the high-quality care delivered by and economic impact of Florida's long term care facilities. You'll also learn more about our 2012 legislative priorities and how you can get involved in our grassroots activities, including:

• 2012 Lobby Wednesdays - Click here to learn more.
• Get the Facts Campaign  - Spread the word about these important LTC facts.
• Safeguard Our Seniors website - Find the tools you need to advocate for our profession.

It's going to take all of us working together and staying informed to make a difference.

A Pre-Session Message from Emmett Reed

FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed wants to encourage all those who work in and support long term care in Florida to get involved this legislative session, which kicks off January 10, 2012. Listen to his important message and hear what Sen. Thad Altman (R-24) shares about the high-quality care delivered by and economic impact of Florida's long term care facilities. You'll also learn more about our 2012 legislative priorities and how you can get involved in our grassroots activities.

Get the Facts on long term care

Today, FHCA launched its "Get the Facts" social media campaign to share facts about long term care in Florida – including the impact that Medicaid/Medicare funding cuts are having on facilities’ ability to continue delivering high-quality care. The campaign will highlight long term care statistics in Florida, information related to FHCA’s legislative priorities, including reimbursement and regulatory efficiencies, the differences between nursing homes and assisted living facilities and more. Follow FHCA on Twitter or “Like” Florida Health Care Association on Facebook to follow the campaign and retweet/share these facts with your followers and friends, using the hashtag #GetTheFacts.

Florida long term care providers take to the nation's capital to urge Congress to protect Medicaid and Medicare funding.

Hear from FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed on members traveling to Washington, DC, to urge Members of Congress to protect and preserve Medicare and Medicaid funding for long term care services. The message: The combination of state and federal funding cuts are taking their toll on our ability to deliver high-quality care and support vital caregiver jobs. Help take action today. Click here to send a message to your Member of Congress and help stand up for our state's seniors and people with disabilities.

Newest Ad in “Care Not Cuts” Informational Campaign highlights skilled nursing facilities post-acute care focus

FHCA's national affiliate, American Health Care Association, launched the latest TV spot in its nationwide information "Care Not Cuts" ad campaign to increase awareness regarding skilled nursing facilities’ growing prominence in post-acute care and warn against additional cuts to the sector.

“We must shed current perceptions that nursing homes are only for those who need long term care. Skilled nursing facilities are also a place where people can rehabilitate and receive necessary treatment before returning home,” said Governor Mark Parkinson, President & CEO of AHCA. “Congress must especially be aware of this progression of care because additional cuts to skilled nursing facilities would only drive up health care and taxpayers costs. Restricting access to skilled nursing facilities will force more seniors to remain in the hospital for longer, pricier periods of time, or go home before they’re fully recovered; eventually sending them back to the expensive emergency room.”

Airing throughout the Washington, DC, Beltway beginning today, “Rehab” was filmed at Southlake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville and features a senior who, after being in the hospital, received his post-acute care from a nursing home and then returned home. To learn more about the "Care Not Cuts" campaign, visit the website at http://www.carenotcuts.org/.