Over 40,000 comments overwhelm CMS regarding nursing home staffing mandate.

The article discusses the proposed federal staffing mandate for nursing homes, which has been met with criticism from industry leaders and stakeholders. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a minimum staffing requirement of 2.5 hours of direct care per resident per day, but industry experts argue that this is not sufficient to address the current workforce crisis.

LeadingAge, a national association of non-profit aging service providers, submitted comments to CMS expressing concerns about the proposal. The organization's president and CEO, Katie Smith Sloan, stated that the proposal "will fail" due to its lack of consideration for two major issues: the ongoing workforce crisis and the high implementation costs.

LeadingAge also pointed out that the $75 million allocated for workforce development is insufficient and will not be enough to recruit and retain staff. The organization's vice president of public policy, Ruth Eyigor, called the funding "paltry" and a "drop in the bucket."

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) also submitted comments to CMS, sharing its experience with implementing state-specific staffing mandates. PHCA reported that while providers have been able to meet and exceed the state mandate, certain positions are proving difficult to fill, and staff call-offs and no-shows are exacerbating the issue.

Industry leaders argue that the proposed federal staffing mandate will only worsen access issues for older adults and families if implemented without adequate funding and support. They urge CMS to take greater responsibility and provide more resources to address the workforce crisis.

Key points from the article:

• The proposed federal staffing mandate for nursing homes has been met with criticism from industry leaders and stakeholders.
• Industry experts argue that the minimum staffing requirement of 2.5 hours of direct care per resident per day is not sufficient to address the current workforce crisis.
• LeadingAge expressed concerns about the proposal, citing its lack of consideration for two major issues: the ongoing workforce crisis and high implementation costs.
• The $75 million allocated for workforce development is insufficient and will not be enough to recruit and retain staff.
• The Pennsylvania Health Care Association shared its experience with implementing state-specific staffing mandates, highlighting difficulties in filling certain positions and addressing staff call-offs and no-shows.

Overall, the article highlights the concerns and criticisms surrounding the proposed federal staffing mandate for nursing homes, emphasizing the need for more resources and support to address the workforce crisis.