Local officials against proposed HHS nursing home rule
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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — On March 12, Mesa County Commissioners vocally opposed a proposed federal rule introducing a new staffing requirement for nursing homes.
As a part of the meeting, county commissioners sent letters to Sen. Michael Bennet (D), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R).
Opposition_to_Center_for_Medicare_and_Medicaid_Services_Letter_BoebertDownload
What is the rule about?
According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the proposed rule would establish comprehensive staffing requirements for nursing homes, and ensure high-quality care for more than 1.2 million residents living in United States nursing homes.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra spoke in favor of this rule change.
“When facilities are understaffed, residents suffer….Comprehensive staffing reforms can improve working conditions, leading to higher wages and better retention for this dedicated workforce,” said Becerra.
Why are Mesa County Commissioners against the new rule?
Doug Farmer, president of the Colorado Health Care Association (CHCA), spoke with the board of commissioners. “Simply put the rule would require more staffing in nursing homes than currently exists,” Farmer said during the meeting.
Farmer expressed concerns the majority of Western Slope nursing homes would be able to meet the proposed staffing requirement.
I think the bigger issue here is that those staff simply don’t exist. We estimate we’re about 2,500 employees short throughout the state from where we were pre pandemic.
Doug Farmer
As president of the CHCA, Farmer said during the meeting their organization represents nursing home and assisted living providers throughout the state, including all such groups in Mesa County.
Another caveat of the proposed rule is that a registered nurse is required to be on site 24 hours a day seven days a week. “Right now 90% of rural nursing homes in the state of Colorado are unable to meet that demand.” Farmer said most nursing homes have an RN on call, but not in-house.
Nursing homes will have to shut down wings or units within their buildings or in some instances they’ll simply close.
Doug Farmer
In Washington D.C., a bill has been introduced in the House and Senate that would stop the HHS Secretary from passing this rule and any similar rules. Read more about that bill here.
WesternSlopeNow has reached out to both the Center of Medicaid and Medicare Services and the Department of Health and Human Services for comment and will update you when we’ve heard back.
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