health care worker shortage

AARP Florida says its members have been calling and emailing the governor’s office, claiming the legislation will lead to reduced care for residents, potentially leading to harm.

The Senate voted to pass the measure.. Debate has centered on changes involving certified nursing assistants, who provide much of the hands-on care to nursing-home residents.

The House voted 80-31 to approve the measure. The Senate also took up the bill and could pass it as soon as Monday.

The president wants to set minimum staffing levels for the beleaguered nursing home industry. But, given a lack of transparency surrounding industry’s finances, it’s a mystery how facilities will shoulder the costs.

The House Health & Human Services Committee approved the proposal, which came as nursing homes say they are grappling with staffing shortages that, in some cases, have forced them to leave beds unused.

Hundreds of thousands of nursing home workers have quit since the pandemic began, and the ones still working suffer from burnout. Industry leaders worry the system is fracturing.

Capital Regional Medical Center officials hope the residents will settle in the Tallahassee area upon completion of their training.

The amended version of the bill reduces -- but does not eliminate -- the care that residents must get from certified nursing assistants. Those nursing hours would drop from 2½ to 2 hours a day.

The House Finance & Facilities Subcommittee approved a bill that supporters say would provide more flexibility to facilities in meeting the changing needs of residents.

Home health and hospice agencies are experiencing extreme worker shortages, which means they can’t provide services to all the patients seeking care.