The American Heart Association is calling on Congress to suspend implementation of a nurse staffing requirement.

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The American Hospital Association (AHA) has sent letters to Senate and House members urging them to support legislation that would prevent the enforcement of minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The AHA expressed concerns that these requirements would stifle innovation in care delivery, lead nursing homes to reduce capacity or close, and exacerbate shortages of nurses and skilled healthcare workers.

The CMS rule requires 24/7 RN staffing and sets minimum staffing ratios for long-term care facilities. The AHA argues that this could lead to delays in urgent medical care as patients wait for nursing home placements, occupying hospital emergency departments and inpatient beds. Additionally, the AHA notes that implementing these requirements would be difficult for many nursing homes, with CMS estimating that 79% of long-term care (LTC) facilities would need to increase staffing to meet the proposed standards.

The AHA is supporting legislation that would prevent enforcement of this rule, citing concerns about its impact on patient care and the healthcare workforce. The organization has been vocal in its opposition to the CMS rule, arguing that it could have unintended consequences for patients and providers alike. By urging lawmakers to support legislation blocking the rule, the AHA hopes to prevent these potential negative outcomes.

The issue of staffing ratios in long-term care facilities is a contentious one, with some advocates arguing that minimum requirements are necessary to ensure adequate patient care, while others argue that such mandates could have unintended consequences for providers and patients. The AHA's efforts to block enforcement of the CMS rule reflect its concerns about the potential impact on healthcare delivery and workforce shortages.

It remains to be seen how lawmakers will respond to the AHA's appeals, but the organization's vocal opposition to the CMS rule has helped bring attention to the issue of staffing ratios in long-term care facilities. As debates over healthcare policy continue, the AHA is likely to remain a key player in advocating for policies that promote high-quality patient care and support the healthcare workforce.