CMS Finalizes Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services April 22 finalized minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. As proposed in September, the final rule will require nursing homes to provide a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident day, including 0.55 hours of care from a registered nurse per resident day and at least 2.45 hours of care from a nurse aide per resident day, as well as 24/7 onsite RN services. CMS slightly expanded the opportunity for facilities to seek exemptions from the requirements from its original proposal.

Tammy Hatting, SDAHO COO and LeadingAge State Executive, “We are very disappointed to see the final rule published from CMS with no compromise or funding for this mandate.  CMS states that 79 percent of nursing homes do not currently meet this mandate and the estimated cost over 10 years is $43 billion dollars. We will continue to monitor the impact of this final rule on South Dakota’s nursing homes and will work with our state and federal policy makers to ensure sustainability of our nursing home industry. ”

The information was delivered through a Fact Sheet and White House Press release, from the Biden – Harris Administration. To view the full press release, click here.

To view the finalized rule through the US Department of Health and Human services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, click here.