FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 29, 2024
CONTACT: [email protected]
Tallahassee, Fla. – Addressing the statewide challenge of timely transitioning hospitalized patients to post-acute care sites, including skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and hospice, was the subject of Tuesday’s collaborative roundtable hosted by the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) and the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association (SFHHA).
“This roundtable is just the start of what I expect to be an ongoing dialogue about how to increase post-acute care capacity and ensure that long-term care resources can keep pace with an aging population,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO of FHA. “No one should be in a hospital bed for any longer than is medically necessary, and providing the right care at the right time in the right setting is key to high-quality outcomes.”
The roundtable highlighted workforce shortages in long-term care facilities, delays in payer authorization of post-acute placement, and the need for additional supports for patients to reduce readmissions and unnecessary emergency room visits. Participants took a deep dive into the many barriers associated with transitioning patients into long-term placement, emphasizing difficulties surrounding payment for patients awaiting placement, opportunities for patient education on Medicare Advantage, and standardizing practices for streamlined transitions.
Twenty-nine representatives from seven hospitals and two hospice providers who attended the roundtable event heard from FHA, SFHHA, Memorial Healthcare System, and Vitas Healthcare. Participants included C-suite hospital executives, hospice providers, and front-line case managers who deal with placement issues daily.
The cost to hospitals of transition delays for patients ready for discharge is up to $2,000 a day. Annual costs can exceed $540 million in avoidable costs.
These challenges are not unique to Florida. According to the American Health Care Association, 55 percent of post-acute facilities are turning away prospective residents and patients due to capacity issues.
Home to the nation’s second-largest population of individuals over the age of 65, Florida’s aging population creates a unique set of circumstances for providers in the state to consider. Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association, spoke to the importance of solutions-focused dialogue to guarantee Florida is poised to meet the growing need for long-term care placements. “FHA will continue leading conversations to develop workable solutions to ensure patients have access to the right care in the appropriate setting,” said Mayhew.
ABOUT THE FHA
Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association (FHA) is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education, and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of over 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association is located in Tallahassee and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions.
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