 Health Care |
Health Care |
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White House announces staffing proposals for nursing homes |
The Biden administration has announced a minimum staffing proposal for nursing homes to combat both worse health outcomes for residents and burnout in the workforce. |
What the administration is proposing: - Facilities must have a registered nurse on site 24/7.
- Nursing homes must provide every resident at least 33 minutes of care per day from a registered nurse.
- Homes must also provide at least two-and-a-half hours of care from a nurse aide each day.
The White House claimed its proposal is "robust yet achievable," while also acknowledging it will likely take time for facilities to hire the needed staff to meet these requirements. As such, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing that these rules go into effect in phases. The proposal also included "hardship exemptions" that would require facilities to prove they are making an effort to invest in staffing. These rules stand to impart a massive impact on the more than 15,000 certified nursing homes in the U.S. The majority of these facilities are owned by for-profit entities. The White House noted in its announcement Friday that nonprofit nursing homes are "about three times as likely as for-profit homes to already provide staffing at or above the proposed levels." The announcement on Friday drew criticisms for different reasons. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) called it "weak and disappointing" and urged stronger standards to be enacted. "CMS is proposing standards that are lower than what was recommended over 20 years ago, despite significant concern that those standards were inadequate," Doggett said. The American Health Care Association balked at the proposal, saying the White House was requiring facilities to hire workers "that are simply not there" due to the ongoing labor shortage. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. Programming note: This newsletter will be off Monday for Labor Day. We'll see you next Tuesday. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Thursday called the Senate "the most privileged nursing home in the country." In response to a question about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) apparently freezing up while taking questions Wednesday in Covington, Ky., Haley said on Fox News that the Kentucky senator has "done some great things, and he deserves credit," but emphasized that "you have to know when to leave." |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- PFAS breaks through Wausau's filtration system, exceeding levels proposed by state health officials (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- How New York's public hospitals cut carbon emissions: More vegetables (The New York Times)
- Cases of Legionnaires' disease linked to two Las Vegas hotels (NBC News)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Humana sues Biden administration over Medicare Advantage audit rule (Stat)
- It seems like everyone has Covid-19. Here's why this wave is probably worse than official data suggests (CNN)
- Most states have yet to permanently fund 988 Lifeline despite early successes (CBS News)
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You're all caught up. See you next week! |
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