A major update in nursing home care regulations

Last week the Biden Administration announced a pivotal update to nursing home care regulations, introducing the final Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Rule. This significant regulatory change in nursing home regulations aims to enhance the quality of care for residents in facilities that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid.

What’s new?

Under the new rule, each resident must receive a total of 3.48 hours of care daily from the staff. This includes 0.55 hours from registered nurses and 2.45 hours from nurse aides. For example, a nursing home with 100 residents requires at least two or three registered nurses and ten to eleven nurse aides per shift. To meet the new minimum staffing standards, facilities must also have at least two other nursing staff members per shift, including registered nurses, licensed professional nurses, or nurse aides.

A key component of the rule is the mandatory presence of a registered nurse 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This ensures that skilled nursing care is continuously available, thereby improving safety and the ability to respond to residents’ immediate needs.

Addressing staffing issues

These changes respond to longstanding concerns about understaffing in nursing homes, which can lead to neglect and poor health outcomes. The new staffing requirements aim to meet basic care needs and adapt to the higher levels of care some residents may require. The mandate will be phased in over three years, with rural communities having up to five years. Temporary exemptions will be available for facilities in areas with workforce shortages that demonstrate a good-faith effort to hire.

This update is expected to significantly impact nursing home operations, potentially requiring many to hire additional staff. The move is crucial to improving the standard of care in nursing homes across the United States and ensuring that all residents receive the attention and medical care they deserve. Along with you, Hurley Elder Care Law will anxiously await the impact of this new rule. Call our intake specialists at 404-843-0121 if you have a loved one who is seeking nursing home care. We are happy to discuss your options.