The National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) is supporting legislation that would implement minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes.
The organization in December disclosed its support of the Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act (S.2943), which Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced in November. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the companion proposal (H.R. 5216) in the House.
“No longer shall we accept being understaffed as a standard practice, all while claiming quality care is being provided,” said Dane Henning, NAHCA’s director of public policy. “The needs of the residents are not being met and one reason is because sufficient staffing is not a requirement.”
The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care also commended the bill, while many nursing home providers have criticized it, noting that facilities could be subject to up to $10,000 in fines per day for noncompliance. The bill also would require facilities to disclose their nurse staffing levels, and to implement administrative staffing requirements and whistleblower and resident protections.
From the January 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
