Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) joined over 600 long-term and post-acute care professionals from across the nation for the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s (AHCA/NCAL) Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C. The annual event allowed advocates to meet with Members of Congress to discuss legislative priorities impacting residents in Florida.
During the briefing, leaders from FHCA and its “Caring Together” partner, the Florida Assisted Living Association, along with more than 30 care professionals from Florida’s nursing centers and assisted living communities—including operators, administrators, and direct caregivers—met with their Members of Congress and staff. They advocated for solutions that prioritize seniors’ and individuals with disabilities’ access to high-quality care.
This year’s priority issue is the Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act (S. 3410/H.R. 7513), which aims to block a federal staffing mandate for nursing homes recently finalized by the Administration. According to new data, nearly 75 percent of Florida’s nursing centers cannot currently meet these requirements without hiring over 3,800 additional nurses and aides at an additional cost of $226 million per year.
“In light of the federal staffing mandate, it is more important than ever to meet with our lawmakers and advocate on behalf of our seniors and caregivers,” said Emmett Reed, CEO of FHCA. “Protecting access to care must be a priority.”
Additionally, consequences of the federal staffing mandate could jeopardize access to various types of care in rural and underserved communities that may not have sufficient workforce levels.
“Assisted living providers continue to struggle with workforce shortages,” said Bijou Ikli, CEO of the Florida Assisted Living Association. “Our assisted living facilities are still struggling to return their pre-pandemic workforce levels.”
The significant increase in labor costs resulting from the mandate could lead to higher turnover rates in long-term care centers, potentially affecting quality of care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects senior living industry employment needs will rise significantly between 2024 and 2040.
AHCA/NCAL’s Congressional Briefing offers Members of Congress a chance to hear directly from long-term care providers about legislative decisions' real-world implications.
###