Government to Set Staffing Levels in Nursing Homes for First Time Amidst COVID-19 Crisis, But Advocates Say It's Not Enough

The federal government has announced that it will impose staffing levels at nursing homes for the first time, in response to the systemic issues brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the proposed staffing thresholds have drawn criticism from advocates who believe that they are not sufficient. The rules call for staffing equivalent to 3 hours per resident per day, with over half an hour of that coming from registered nurses.

Facilities would also be required to have a registered nurse on staff 24/7. The average US nursing home already has overall caregiver staffing of about 3.6 hours per resident per day. Despite this, the government believes that a majority of nursing homes would still need to add staff under the new rules. The American Health Care Association (AHCA), which represents care facilities, has labeled the proposal as "unfathomable" and argues that it will worsen existing problems and cost billions of dollars. The proposed rules will now enter a public comment period and would take years to fully take effect.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), called the move an "important first step" in improving staffing levels in nursing homes. Advocates for older adults and those with disabilities have expressed disappointment with the proposed thresholds, as they are much lower than what had been anticipated. They argue that even the proposed staffing levels are insufficient to ensure residents' quality of life and prevent potential harm. Some advocates feel betrayed by the administration officials they thought were allies in this effort. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the ongoing staffing issues in nursing homes