The Florida Hospital Association said Wednesday that delays in insurance approvals and limited access to post-hospital care are keeping medically cleared patients in hospitals longer than necessary, slowing recovery and adding billions of dollars in avoidable health care costs.
A new association survey found that about 243,000 patients remained hospitalized after they were cleared for discharge between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025. Those delays resulted in an estimated 781,000 unnecessary hospital days and $2.5 billion in preventable health care spending, according to the association.
Nearly one in 10 patients experienced a delayed discharge, the survey found. Of those, 41 percent were waiting for their health plan to authorize follow-up care, including rehabilitation, skilled nursing or other post-acute services.
“No one should be in a hospital any longer than is appropriate for their medical care needs,” Florida Hospital Association President and CEO Mary Mayhew said in a statement. “Patients deserve timely access to the next level of care or critical services and supports to aid in their recovery and healing.”
Medicare Advantage patients accounted for almost half of those whose discharges were delayed. The association said 52 percent of delays involving those patients were linked to prior authorization requirements. Nearly 4,000 Medicare Advantage patients waited more than a week for placement in another care setting.
A shortage of available post-hospital options also contributed to delays. About 41 percent of affected patients were waiting for a bed in a skilled nursing or rehabilitation facility. The association also cited gaps in health plan provider networks, which can limit the number of facilities authorized to accept patients.
The delays can affect other hospital operations by preventing inpatient beds from becoming available. FHA reported that 158,000 emergency department patients, or 7.4 percent, waited more than 12 hours for a hospital bed during the survey period.
The association said prolonged hospital stays can delay rehabilitation, increase stress on patients and families and add administrative burdens for health care providers.
FHA also pointed to two June investigations by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General involving Medicare Advantage prior authorization practices. The association said the federal findings identified cases in which plans improperly denied or delayed medically necessary post-acute care.
FHA is urging policymakers, regulators and insurers to speed up prior authorization decisions, improve transparency in denials and appeals, strengthen provider networks and expand access to rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities.
“By reducing discharge delays and freeing up hospital beds for other patients who need critical care, Florida’s health care delivery system can support patients’ swift recovery and optimal outcomes,” Mayhew said.
