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A group of Republican lawmakers have introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution to overturn the Biden administration’s minimum staffing requirement for nursing homes.
The new rule requires all nursing homes receiving federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid to have a registered nurse on staff 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and provide at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day.
In a statement, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach said, “The HHS nursing staff mandate is a half-baked, one-size-fits-none plan that will not solve the nursing staff shortage. I am committed to holding the government accountable and I am proud to introduce this CRA to overturn a potentially disastrous policy.”
The White House has argued that these regulations aim to increase staffing levels and improve patient care in nursing homes. According to the government, these new staffing requirements were supposed to be phased in over the next two to five years, with exemptions possible for rural areas facing caregiver shortages.
According to the administration, improving working conditions and wages will help recruit and retain direct care workers, leading to safer, higher-quality care for residents. They add that inadequate staffing has been a major factor in poor quality care in nursing homes.
Despite these claims, 15 Republican governors sent a letter to Biden opposing the new rule, citing a workforce crisis, especially in rural areas. They previously warned that the staffing levels would force over 80% of facilities to hire more staff, potentially causing many to close.
Digging Deeper:
The Department of Health and Human Services estimates the rule will cost nursing homes $43 billion over the next decade. Industry groups argue that the standards are unrealistic and will worsen staffing shortages.
