Providers were bracing for the first federal minimum staffing proposal, the details of which could have broad implications for all nursing homes.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services first said in February 2022 that it would research a staffing mandate as part of a White House nursing home reform effort. Officials in January announced they had completed a study, but no rule had been issued at press time.
Skilled nursing facilities have not made significant job gains in the last year, and several groups have asked CMS to delay a rule until recovery is evident. In January, AHCA said a staffing minimum “without the proper resources to recruit staff will only worsen the crisis.”
“This labor crisis will not go away on its own or through government enforcement,” said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson. “We need immediate support, but we also need long-term investments.”
