Caregivers push for national staffing requirements

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Nursing home staff were on Capitol Hill Wednesday, voicing support for new national staffing requirements for nursing homes proposed by the Biden administration.

“Give us what we need so that we are able to properly take care of these residents,” Lakeshie Jones, an SEIU Union worker said.

Texas Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett says a lack of staff has hurt care for residents. He says nursing homes have the funds to fix the problem but haven’t done so.

“Thousands of lives at stake as these nursing home chains consolidate and are viewed just as another place to exploit profit, not to increase the quality of care,” Rep. Doggett said.

The rule requires nursing homes that participate in Medicare and Medicaid have a registered nurse onsite 24/7. It also says they must provide residents with a minimum number of hours of care per day.

“This rule would only make things worse,” Missouri Republican Congressman Jason Smith said during a March House Ways and Means Committee meeting.

Rep. Smith says rural facilities where labor is hard to find may be forced to downsize or even close if the rule were to take effect.

“The administration is about to place a giant $40 billion unfunded mandate on nursing homes and seniors,” Smith said.

A House Committee in March voted to block the rule.

Congressman Doggett says a full House vote could happen any day. He’s urging colleagues to oppose it.

“If they’re successful, again, there’ll be no action to save lives through safe standards,” Doggett said.

A Senate version of the bill to block the rule has also been introduced.

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