Worker shortage, staffing mandates put nursing homes at risk

Nursing homes are struggling to stay afloat amid worker shortages and staffing mandates, a survey shows. 

Mechanicsburg-based LeadingAge PA said its latest survey shows nursing homes continue to struggle to fill shifts despite wage increases, causing them to close beds to people who need long-term care. 

“Since July 1, when new state staffing standards were implemented, nearly 60% of respondents said they’ve been unable to fill shifts, despite working with staffing agencies. As a result, nearly 63% will be forced to further reduce the number of beds available if new proposed federal staffing regulations are approved, and nearly 16% will have to consider closing their facility or selling to a for-profit entity,” LeadingAge PA said. “Some facilities have taken as many as 60% of their beds offline.” 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), issued a proposed rule in September that seeks to establish comprehensive staffing requirements for nursing homes, including, for the first time, national minimum nurse staffing standards. 

Under CMS’s proposal, nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid would be required to provide residents with a minimum of 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse per resident per day, and 2.45 hours of care from a nurse aide per resident per day, exceeding existing standards in nearly all states. CMS estimates approximately three quarters (75%) of nursing homes would have to strengthen staffing in their facilities. 

LeadingAge PA’s survey showed the trend is similar to a survey done in March, despite nursing homes providing raises for staff and increasing starting salaries for new employees, the survey showed. From March to October, the number of respondents who reported limiting census due to being unable to find workers grew from 34% to over 50%.
“The proposed federal staffing mandate is well-intended, but as these survey results show, it will have the opposite effect of improving care in Pennsylvania,” said LeadingAge PA President and CEO Garry Pezzano. “Without adequate funding and a sufficient supply of qualified workers, the best nursing homes across the state will have no choice but to further reduce their available beds. The ultimate outcome will be stranded families who have a loved one in desperate need of skilled care.”