The Biden administration has announced the finalization of the first-ever minimum staffing rule at nursing homes, a key step towards ensuring quality care and patient safety. Vice President Kamala Harris made the announcement on Monday, stating that the mandate will require nursing homes receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding to provide a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day.

Under this controversial mandate, nursing homes will need to have a specified number of registered nurses and nurse aides available, depending on the number of residents. For example, a facility with 100 residents must have at least two or three registered nurses and at least 10 or 11 nurse aides, along with additional nurse staff per shift. Additionally, there must be a registered nurse present at all times.

The mandate will be phased in, with rural communities having longer timeframes. Temporary exemptions will also be available for facilities facing workforce shortages, provided they demonstrate a sincere effort to hire. The rule aims to address the chronic understaffing issues in nursing homes, which can lead to substandard and unsafe care.

However, nursing home operators strongly objected to the proposal, citing difficulties in filling open positions. They believe that the requirement could force some facilities to shut down. According to the American Health Care Association, meeting the proposed mandate would necessitate hiring over 100,000 additional nurses and nurse aides, at an estimated annual cost of $6.8 billion.

While nursing home operators have voiced concerns, some consumer advocates feel that the rule doesn't go far enough. The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care stated that the proposal contradicted decades of research, which emphasizes the need for a stronger staffing standard to protect residents from harm. They claim that nursing home residents require at least 4.1 hours of daily care.

The proposed staffing mandate has also divided Congress, with a bipartisan Senate bill and similar legislation introduced by House Republicans seeking to prohibit the Department of Health and Human Services from finalizing the rule. However, Democratic lawmakers such as Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts support the rule and urge the administration to strengthen it further.

On a separate note, the Biden administration also announced a final rule aimed at enhancing access to home care services for elderly Americans and individuals with disabilities. The rule requires that at least 80% of Medicaid payments for home care services go directly to workers' wages.

Overall, the implementation of the minimum staffing rule at nursing homes marks a significant step towards improving the quality of care and ensuring the safety of residents. While it faces opposition from some stakeholders, the rule is seen as a necessary measure to address the critical issue of understaffing in the long-term care industry. The Biden administration's move underscores its commitment to prioritizing patient and worker safety in the healthcare sector.