{"id":2046915,"date":"2023-09-27T17:32:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T21:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-healthcare-association-criticizes-biden-proposed-nursing-home-staffing-rule-seeks-open-dialogue\/"},"modified":"2023-09-27T17:36:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T21:36:24","slug":"american-healthcare-association-criticizes-biden-proposed-nursing-home-staffing-rule-seeks-open-dialogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-healthcare-association-criticizes-biden-proposed-nursing-home-staffing-rule-seeks-open-dialogue\/","title":{"rendered":"American Healthcare Association criticizes Biden&#8217;s nursing home staffing rule, calls for open dialogue."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Famerican-healthcare-association-criticizes-biden-proposed-nursing-home-staffing-rule-seeks-open-dialogue%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2046915&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>After President\u200b Joe Biden delivered \u200bhis 2022 State of \u200cThe Union Address, outlining his proposed measures to improve healthcare, the industry has been actively engaging with \u2062the administration \u2062to reach a consensus on guidelines that would benefit payments and staff. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/american-healthcare-association-criticizes-biden-proposed-nursing-home-staffing-rule-seeks-open-dialogue\/\" title=\"American Healthcare Association criticizes Biden's nursing home staffing rule, calls for open dialogue.\">recently\u2063 released\u2064 staffing level mandates<\/a> have faced widespread criticism from nursing home groups and staff representatives.<\/p>\n<p>The White House has stated that the new \u200cinitiatives aim to enhance the\u2063 safety and quality of care in nursing \u2063homes, with a focus on addressing\u200d establishments that consistently understaff their facilities, resulting in substandard care that puts\u200b residents at risk.<\/p>\n<p>Related Stories<br \/>\n&#8211; New Staffing Rules \u200cfor Nursing Homes (Published on 9\/26\/2023)<br \/>\n&#8211; Biden Admin&#8217;s Proposed Nursing Home Staffing\u200b Level Rule \u2062Sees Pushback (Published on 9\/13\/2023)<\/p>\n<p>During his State of the Union address last year, President Biden emphasized his \u2063administration&#8217;s commitment to cracking down on nursing\u200c homes that commit \u200dfraud, endanger patient safety, or prescribe unnecessary drugs.<\/p>\n<p>In a press conference on Tuesday, Mark Parkinson, the President and CEO of the \u200bAmerican Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted \u2063Living (AHCA\/NCAL), expressed serious concerns about the Biden administration&#8217;s proposals. While acknowledging the organization&#8217;s dedication to improving care quality and staffing \u2062levels, Parkinson raised significant issues regarding the potential \u2062unintended consequences of the administration&#8217;s proposal\u2062 and criticized the lack\u2063 of collaboration with the industry prior to \u200dthe\u2063 rule proposal.<\/p>\n<p>The Proposed Mandates: A Flawed Approach<br \/>\nThe administration&#8217;s proposal introduces two key staffing requirements: a mandated minimum of 0.55 hours\u200d per patient day for registered nurses, 2.45 hours for nurse aides, and a 24\/7 registered nurse (RN) requirement. While the goal of improving care standards is commendable, Parkinson highlighted two fundamental flaws that could undermine the entire policy.<\/p>\n<p>The first major hurdle, according \u200cto Parkinson, is the severe shortage of skilled\u2063 workers\u200c in the nursing home sector. He \u2063described the \u2064current situation as unprecedented, with over 100,000 workers \u200cleaving the profession and no signs of them returning. The idea of rehiring these lost workers and recruiting tens of thousands more seems daunting and unrealistic, especially considering the demographic challenges that indicate a continuous loss in the nursing profession.<\/p>\n<p>The second critical flaw revolves around the \u2062lack\u2062 of funding. Nursing homes, particularly those \u2062dependent on Medicaid, are already facing significant financial constraints. Independent studies consistently report negative margins for Medicaid-based \u2063skilled nursing facilities. Even the Biden administration&#8217;s own estimate acknowledges \u2064the substantial cost of implementing the proposed mandates, which is \u200bapproximately $4 billion\u2064 per year. However, Parkinson cautioned that this figure might be a conservative\u2064 estimate, and nursing homes are ill-prepared to bear such a financial burden.<\/p>\n<p>A Backward Approach to Policy Development<br \/>\nParkinson also criticized \u2062the administration&#8217;s approach to\u2064 policy development, stating that\u200b it\u2062 was backward compared to past administrations. Instead of conducting comprehensive studies and \u200cconsulting with healthcare providers before formulating a minimum staffing policy, the current administration announced\u200b its policy first and conducted analysis afterward. This unconventional approach resulted in a policy lacking a \u2064logical and practical foundation.<\/p>\n<p>When asked about potential litigation, Parkinson indicated that AHCA\/NCAL is primarily focused on dialogue with the administration and\u2063 Congress at \u2062this time. He expressed hope that the rulemaking process or Congressional action could lead to positive\u2062 changes in the proposed policy.<\/p>\n<p>Comprehensive Analysis \u200bby CLA<br \/>\nThe press conference included a presentation \u2063of findings from Clifton Larson and Allen (CLA), which conducted a thorough analysis to assess the potential impact of\u2063 the proposed staffing mandates on nursing homes. The analysis looked at the 24\/7 RN \u200drequirement proposal \u200bas well as \u200bhours per resident per day proposals and estimated the number of additional staff \u2063that would need to be hired.<\/p>\n<p>According to CLA, nursing homes would need \u2063to hire approximately 102,154 additional full-time employees (FTEs) to meet \u200dthe proposed staffing requirements, including 80,000 nurse aides and 22,000 registered nurses. The\u200d estimated cost of implementing the mandate stands at around $6.8 billion per year, potentially exceeding the administration&#8217;s \u2064projection.<\/p>\n<p>Real-World Perspectives from Providers<br \/>\nMarie Costa, a provider from Northern Nevada, shed \u200clight on the challenges faced by nursing homes in the current labor market. She emphasized the difficulty of competing with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbo-reports-show-socialized-medicine-would-make-americans-poorer-and-sicker\/\" title=\"CBO Reports Show Socialized Medicine Would Make Americans Poorer And Sicker\">higher-paying jobs<\/a> in the region and highlighted the crucial role LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) play in the care team. Unfortunately, under the proposed mandate, LPN hours do not count, further complicating staffing issues. Costa stressed that the proposed staffing mandate would have severe consequences for seniors who rely on Medicaid, as nursing homes would struggle to attract and retain caregivers without adequate funding and support for workforce \u2062development.<\/p>\n<p>Possible Solutions<br \/>\nIn his closing remarks, Parkinson\u2063 addressed several pressing issues and offered policy recommendations to mitigate concerns. These recommendations include counting LPNs either in the registered nurse or nurse aide category, extending\u2064 the phase-in period for all requirements to five years, developing a\u2062 funding mechanism to support the recruitment and retention\u200c of required \u2062staff, and addressing various intricacies\u200b in the policy that \u2062unfairly penalize facilities. He emphasized the necessity\u200c of addressing\u200b Medicaid&#8217;s limitations and suggested that Congress would need\u2064 to secure adequate financial resources.<\/p>\n<p>Parkinson concluded by reaffirming AHCA\/NCAL&#8217;s commitment to constructive dialogue with the administration and\u2062 their\u2062 unwavering focus on ensuring the well-being \u200dof nursing home residents and the sustainability of the sector.  <\/p>\n<h2> What\u200c are the financial implications for \u200bnursing homes if the\u200c proposed\u200d mandates for staffing \u2062levels are \u200dimplemented?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Rovided for registered nurses and nurse aides.<\/p>\n<p>The CLA analysis found that the proposed mandates would have \u200bsignificant financial implications \u2063for nursing homes. Based on their calculations, the additional costs associated with hiring\u2062 and retaining \u200dsufficient staff to meet the \u200crequirements would\u200d result in negative\u2063 financial impacts for the majority \u2064of nursing homes, particularly those that rely heavily\u2064 on Medicaid\u200b funding.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the\u2062 CLA analysis raised\u2063 concerns \u2063about the feasibility of implementing \u200dthe 24\/7 RN requirement. The \u2064shortage \u2063of available registered nurses, combined with the\u200c financial strain on nursing homes,\u2064 makes it highly challenging\u200c to \u200dmeet \u200bthis requirement \u200dwithout compromising other aspects of care.<\/p>\n<p>In\u2063 response\u2064 to the criticisms and concerns voiced by nursing home groups and staff\u200d representatives, the\u2063 Biden\u200c administration has expressed a willingness \u200bto\u200d engage in dialogue and make adjustments to the proposed mandates. The White House has emphasized that their goal is to improve the\u2063 quality of care in nursing homes while ensuring the financial sustainability of these facilities.<\/p>\n<p>It is \u2064clear that there is a need for collaboration between the administration and the healthcare \u2064industry to find a balanced solution that addresses\u2063 the concerns raised by all stakeholders. The nursing home industry plays a crucial role\u200d in\u2063 caring for vulnerable \u200bpopulations, and any policy \u2064changes\u2063 should take \u2064into account the \u200cunique challenges faced by these facilities.<\/p>\n<p>Moving forward, it is essential for all parties\u2063 involved to engage in open and productive discussions\u200d to find common ground and\u200d develop guidelines that\u2063 truly improve the healthcare provided in nursing homes. This \u200dwill require a thorough\u200c understanding of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-city-workers-prepare-to-strike-tuesday\/\" title=\"LA City workers set to strike on Tuesday.\">financial constraints faced<\/a> by these facilities, \u2062as \u2063well as \u200dthe need \u2062for sufficient staffing levels to ensure the\u2063 safety and well-being \u2062of \u200cresidents.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the proposed \u2064staffing level mandates \u200bhave sparked a\u2062 heated debate within the healthcare industry. While\u2063 the Biden administration&#8217;s intentions to \u200cenhance the\u200b safety and quality\u200b of care \u200din\u200b nursing homes are commendable, it is crucial to address the \u2064concerns raised by nursing home groups\u200c and staff \u200brepresentatives to ensure that\u2064 any\u200c policy changes are both practical\u200c and effective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>been a topic of discussion and negotiation between the healthcare industry and the Biden administration. Both parties are striving to reach a consensus on guidelines that will ensure fair payments and adequate staffing in the healthcare sector. These mandates were unveiled following President Biden&#8217;s announcement in his 2022 State of The Union Address.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1627,"featured_media":2046916,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2046915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1627"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2046915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046915\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2046916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2046915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2046915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2046915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}