Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced a "crack down" of "unsafe nursing homes" designed to ensure, per the release, that "every nursing home provides a sufficient number of staff who are adequately trained to provide high-quality care; poorly performing nursing homes are held accountable for improper and unsafe care and immediately improve their services or are cut off from taxpayer dollars; and the public has better information about nursing home conditions so that they can find the best available options."
In its FACT SHEET: Protecting Seniors and People with Disabilities by Improving Safety and Quality of Care in the Nation’s Nursing Homes, the Biden Administration lays out sweeping reforms and priorities, including the following:
Ensuring Taxpayer Dollars Support Nursing Homes That Provide Safe, Adequate, and Dignified Care
Enhancing Accountability and Oversight
Increasing Transparency
Creating Pathways to Good-paying Jobs with the Free and Fair Choice to Join a Union
Ensuring Pandemic and Emergency Preparedness in Nursing Homes
While the planned reforms include some shared goals, such as boosting nurse aide training, supporting workforce recruitment and retention, and launching a career pathways campaign, LeadingAge Ohio is greatly concerned that the reforms are not paired with appropriate funding and resources for providers. The largest payor in long-term care nationwide is also the most underfunded, with Medicaid covering only a portion of costs of care. The connection between Medicaid payments and nursing home quality has been documented, exacerbating health disparities. In addition, LeadingAge Ohio is concerned that the sector already carries an enormous regulatory burden, and these additional requirements will expedite the flight of nurse managers and other leaders from long-term care, leaving vulnerable elders without the protections offered by experienced administrators and nurse leaders. The announcement comes just as providers work to rebuild from the effects of COVID-19.
For more details on the Biden Administration's proposed plan, please read the fact sheet. McKnight's provides informative write-ups in the following two articles: BREAKING: CMS wallops nursing homes with planned staffing requirements and increased penalties and Providers decry major ‘crack down’ without major funding. LeadingAge President/CEO Katie Smith Sloan responded here.
The President's State of the Union Address will take place at 9:00PM and can be viewed on most TV news networks. LeadingAge Ohio and LeadingAge will continue to report on this plan as it develops.