For the first time ever, the United States government plans to regulate nursing home staffing. This news comes as a relief for those who have long- awaited changes to the nursing home industry. Critics argue that staffing mandates cannot be met and believe that it would actually worsen existing issues.
Under Biden’s plan, nursing homes that accept Medicare and Medicaid would be required to adhere to federal staffing levels in order to continue receiving taxpayer dollars. A registered nurse would be required to be on-site at all times and must allocate a minimum of approximately 33 minutes of care per resident each day. In addition, a nursing aid would be required to provide another 2.45 hours of care to each resident.
The devastation caused by the pandemic placed nursing homes in the spotlight when more than 18,000 nursing home residents nationwide perished. In 2022, during his State of the Union Address, President Biden stated:
"Medicare is going to set higher standards for nursing homes and make sure your loved ones get the care they deserve and expect.”
The new rules will take years to implement and would require more than 75% of nursing homes in the US to hire additional staff in order to comply. According to US Census, older people are projected to outnumber children by the year 2034 and as a result, will require more care.
What are your thoughts on these proposed changes to the nursing home industry?
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