Legal Defeat Remains Key Even if Legislative, Administrative Barriers Make Repeal of the Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Inevitable

In the aftermath of the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) response to a pending lawsuit against the federal minimum staffing mandate, nursing home sector experts are stressing that legally defeating the mandate – and effectively canceling it – remains crucial. “The section [in HHS’s response] relating to the limitation on the relief is […]

‘A Very Large Task’: CMS’ Facility Assessment Arduous For Some Nursing Homes Amid Cost Pressures, Staffing Shortages

The new facility assessment requirements that federal agencies are expecting will guide decisions on staffing levels are also garnering concerns about potential administrative and financial burdens, particularly for smaller-sized nursing home chains. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) modified the existing requirements in late June, issuing expanded guidance to include metrics that are […]

CMS Staffing Mandate Modified to Include LPNs in Limited Way, Still Marginalizes ‘Backbone’ of Nursing Home Workforce

The newly finalized minimum staffing standards by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have ignited a significant debate among nursing home leaders regarding the inclusion and role of licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The mandate, announced on April 22, 2024, establishes new comprehensive minimum nurse staffing requirements, aiming to enhance the quality of care […]

‘The Audits Are Here’: Ways Nursing Homes Can Ease Regulatory Pressures After MDS Changes

As nursing homes are still in the process of updating their procedures to align with October 2023’s MDS requirements, avoiding compliance and payment problems involves having accurate data, and it all begins with its collection. Data collection has become a tough exercise in the midst of staffing challenges, and many facilities have yet to update […]