Exciting updates ahead: CMS to publicly release facility turnover and weekend staffing data!

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will begin posting nursing home staff turnover rates and weekend staffing levels on its consumer-facing website, Care Compare. This move aims to provide more transparency and information to consumers, residents, and families about the quality of care provided by nursing homes. The data will also be incorporated into the public Five-Star rating system in July.

Researchers have long linked high staff turnover rates with lower star ratings and poor resident outcomes, including infection control issues. A national analysis published in Health Affairs found that mean turnover rates were staggeringly high, with 140.7% among registered nurses, 129.1% for certified nursing aides, and 114.1% among licensed practical nurses. The publication of this data has been a long time coming, with the Affordable Care Act setting statutory requirements for its release.

CMS noted that facilities with lower nurse turnover may be able to identify changes in resident condition more quickly and provide better care. To encourage facilities to increase nurse staffing on weekends, CMS will begin posting data on weekend RN and total nurse staffing levels for all nursing homes on Care Compare. The goal is to put pressure on providers to improve their retention rates and address the needs of their staff.

Industry experts expect this increased visibility into operations to put additional pressure on providers. Residents and regulators will now be able to assess whether a facility is doing a good job retaining its staff, and facilities that want to improve their retention will need to better address the needs of their staff. This may include increasing wages and benefits for tenured staff.