Florida Legislature Cuts Nursing Home Reimbursements & Staffing Requirements

The Florida legislature cut Medicaid nursing home reimbursements by 4.97% for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, effective July 1; but to mitigate the affect of these cuts on facilities, the legislature also rolled back staffing requirements in S2144. Nursing facilities are now required to provide patients with a minimum of 2.5 hours of care by a certified nursing assistant, which is a reduction from the previous requirement of 2.7 hours. Facilities are still required to provide a minimum of one hour of nursing care by a licensed nurse, for a minimum total of 3.5 hours of . . .