CMS proposes new minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities
Author
Blaire Bryant
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On September 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing standards for the approximately 758 county-owned or operated long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid.
Key highlights of the proposed rule:
- Requires long-term care facilities to have an average daily nurse staffing level equivalent to at least 0.55 hours per resident, or one registered nurse for every 44 residents
- Requires 2.45 nurse aide hours per resident per day, or approximately one aide for every 10 residents
- Requires at least one registered nurse to be on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Does not include new funding for additional staff but sites recent workforce incentive initiatives under HHS
- Includes a “hardship exemption” which exempts the facility from punitive assessments for up to 1 year
CMS estimates that approximately 75 percent of long-term care facilities would be required to add staffing to comply with the new standards. The agency is soliciting public comments on the proposed rule through October 30.
NACo will submit comments on behalf of county-owned and operated facilities and will continue to monitor further developments on the rule.
Additional Resources
Related News
CMS announces grant awards to improve the continuity of care for justice-involved individuals
On September 27, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced $106.5 million in state planning grants aimed at improving healthcare continuity for individuals transitioning from incarceration.
SAMHSA releases new 2024 data on rates of mental illness and substance use disorder in the U.S.
On July 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the findings of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which provides data on rates of substance use and mental illness at the national, state and local level.
Congress introduces bipartisan legislation to strengthen rural health care access and funding
Rural communities face unique health care challenges, from provider shortages to funding disparities. To address these concerns, the U.S. Senate recently introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at improving rural health care access and funding: the Rural Health Focus Act and the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act.