Additional Funding for Workers Needed to Meet a Potential Federal Nursing Home Staffing Minimum Mandate
The American Health Care Association (AHCA), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country, released an updated
report from accounting and consulting firm CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) regarding a potential federal staffing mandate for America's nursing homes. Due to increasing labor costs and pervasive workforce shortages nationwide, CLA now estimates more than 191,000 nurses and nurse's aides are needed at the annual cost of $11.3 billion in order for nursing homes to meet a staffing minimum of 4.1 hours per resident day (HPRD). This is up from July 2022, when CLA estimated an additional 187,000 caregivers and an annual cost of $10 billion would be required.
The report also found:
- 94 percent of nursing homes would be unable to comply with a potential 4.1 HPRD staffing minimum.
- Nearly 450,000 residents (more than one-third) may be at risk of displacement if facilities are unable to increase their workforce and must reduce their census in order to comply with a 4.1 HPRD staffing minimum.
“This
report once again highlights how our nation's policymakers should be investing in our long term caregivers, not mandating quotas,” said Mark Parkinson, president & CEO of AHCA. “Nursing homes have been doing everything they can to recruit and retain staff—including increasing wages—but it has not been enough to stem the tide. If Washington wants to increase staffing in nursing homes, then they need to put their money where their mouth is. Otherwise, we'll fail to address the underlying issue here, and our residents will have fewer long term care options.”
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Staff contact:
awesthoff@mehca.org