About Our Founder’s Message

The monthly Founder’s Message was born from Focused Post Acute Care Partner’s president and CEO Mark McKenzie’s desire to keep an open communication with the Focused Care family, residents and their family members, families searching for a long term care option and the general public.  It began with introducing the company, what led Mark, a leader in the Texas long term care sector for decades, to constructing his own unique business model for skilled nursing care, and conveying to those who visited the website the mission and objectives set to enhance health outcomes and make life meaningful for Focused Care residents.

As time went on, it became clear that Mark had more on his mind than telling readers about long term care.  The Founder’s Message has become a platform for Mark to reach out to the team members at Focused Care, applaud them, thank them for their commitment and dedication and encourage them to reach back out to him with anything that’s on their mind. The Founder’s Message also grew into a place where ongoing events are discussed and comfort and encouragement given as it has addressed mass shootings, social injustice and the devastating toll the pandemic has wrought on all our lives.

The Founder’s Message presents a look into the character of Focused Post Acute Care Partners and how its mission extends far beyond the walls of its long term care communities.

Mark McKenzie

A Message From Focused Care's Founder

Mark McKenzie, CEO

How the Unfunded Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Can be Funded

Washington handed down a staffing mandate to skilled nursing facilities earlier this year – requiring that as we come out of the Covid fog still facing an unprecedented nursing, physician and allied health professional shortage, we must hire a certain number of staff that the federal government deems sufficient for the delivery of high quality care. And if we don’t – here come the penalties. As I said in a previous Founder’s Message on this topic, certified nurse aides and nurses don’t just materialize out of thin air. And if you are trying to attract qualified individuals to long term care communities in rural or just outside rural areas, you are going to have to make it financially attractive for them to begin the commute. Financial incentive is a part of every sector and looking for it in pursuing a new position is just a rational person’s objective. Those taking care of seniors also have to take care of their own families.

In reading McKnight’s Long Term Care publication, I came across this illuminating idea from one of its editors.  Here’s the context:

Take, for example, what Medicare Advantage and other dubious insurers have been accused of by no less than the Wall Street Journal. “Insurers pocketed $50 billion from Medicare for diseases no doctor treated” read the headline this week. Extra MA payments kicked in for situations that were described as “anatomically impossible.” 

That’s $50 billion — with a ‘B,’ mind you.

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