In anticipation of the healthcare workforce concerns slated for discussion in the 2024 legislative session, the DeSantis administration is instigating alterations to licensure regulations. The recently unveiled proposed rule amendment from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) aims to mandate specific long-term care providers to submit crucial healthcare workforce data to the state.
The proposed amendment impacts application forms for licensure in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, and homemaker/companion service providers. It mandates the inclusion of information on pay, benefits, vacancy rates, and turnover rates for registered nurses and direct care workers, including certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, and personal care assistants.
New Guidelines For Healthcare Workforce
Moreover, the facilities are required to report to the state the underlying factors contributing to staff turnovers. In response to the legislative directive, AHCA has designed a survey to capture this vital information. Since January 1, 2021, these facilities have been obligated to submit the data during licensure renewal applications, and failure to comply results in the suspension of license renewals.
Despite the mandate being in effect for over two years, AHCA issued an advisory to affected long-term care providers on June 27, 2023, outlining the online survey requirements as part of the licensure process.
Although AHCA claims to have collected information through the survey, it remains uncertain whether the agency has publicly posted the data, as required by law.
Reporting Requirements
The reporting requirement, established by lawmakers in 2020 through HB 607, aims to improve understanding of the healthcare workforce in long-term care settings. A legislative staff analysis cites projections from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, anticipating a 34% increase in demand for home health aides and nursing assistants by 2025. Simultaneously, long-term care professions are projected to experience a substantial turnover rate, ranging between 45% and 66%.
Factors Contributing To Higher Turnover
Factors contributing to this elevated turnover rate include compensation, limited full-employment opportunities, and low job satisfaction. Additionally, direct care workers often contend with significant family caregiving obligations, heightening job-related stress and contributing to increased absenteeism.
As the Legislature readies itself to address healthcare workforce issues in the forthcoming 2024 Session commencing on January 9, 2024, AHCA's proposed rule amendment signifies a noteworthy stride towards comprehensive reporting and analysis within the healthcare sector.
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