The Biden administration set a first-ever minimum staffing rule for nursing homes Monday, making good on the president’smore than two years ago to seek improvements in care for the nation’s 1.2 million nursing home residents.
per shift, according to the administration’s interpretation of its new formula. Set to phase in over the next few years, the mandate will replace the current vague standard that gives operators wide latitude on how to staff their facilities.The nation’s 15,000 nursing homes are regulated by the federal government, which pays for the majority of stays through Medicaid and Medicare federal insurance programs.
The industry has warned that rural facilities may be forced to close if they can’t meet the requirements. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Deb Fischer sponsored a bill that would prevent the administration from imposing the rule, but it did not advance after receiving insufficient support in the Democratic-controlled chamber.