One in three skilled nursing operators in a recent industry survey said their workforce levels worsened over the previous year.
In addition, more than 3 in 4 said they still were relying on expensive temporary agency staff or extra overtime shifts to fill vacant posts. Survey findings were released in early June in conjunction with the American Health Care Association’s 2023 Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC.
More than 1 in 4 (26%) responding providers said they were “very concerned” they will have to close their facility because of persistent workforce challenges. Overall, 90% of providers are increasing wages and 85% are offering bonuses, per responses gathered in May.
“We’re finally getting to the point where frontline care workers are earning a living wage, but the problem is that state legislators in every state have not kept up with those increases and inflation in the corresponding Medicaid rates,” said AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson.
From the July/August 2023 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
