Daines, colleagues urge CMS to find tailored staffing solutions for nation’s nursing homes

A federal one-size-fits-all staffing mandate for the nation’s nursing homes won’t work, according to U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and a bipartisan group of his colleagues, who say it would undermine access to care for patients, particularly in rural communities.

“Instead, we urge you to work with Congress and rural stakeholders on tailored solutions that address the severe workforce challenges in our states’ underserved areas,” wrote Sen. Daines and a dozen lawmakers in a Jan. 20 letter sent to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

The senators think that the agency’s intent to issue staffing mandates for nursing homes is not the only solution worth considering.

For instance, “sweeping staffing mandates” would not account for the operational capabilities and local workforce conditions at individual facilities located around the country, according to their letter, which was also signed by lawmakers including U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Joe Manchin (D-WV).

At the same time, “blanket staffing standards” also may not provide enough flexibility to nursing homes that face long-standing obstacles to the recruitment and retention of direct care workers — especially in rural and underserved areas — and could place nursing homes in financial jeopardy, wrote Sen. Daines and his colleagues.

“We stand ready to work with your agency on proposals to improve long-term care for patients,” the senators wrote. “The best way to accomplish this goal is working with Congress and stakeholders to ensure any future actions do not further exacerbate the serious challenges already facing facilities in rural America.”