‘Access Crisis Unfolding’: Nursing Home Operators, Advocates Warn of Dire Effects from Biden’s Order on Staffing

President Joe Biden’s executive order that aims to implement minimum staffing standards and tie Medicare payments to staff retention drew frustration from nursing home industry operators and advocates, who said that the well meaning directives would likely compound the staffing crisis and lead to closures unless policies are aimed at resolving its root causes, and not penalizing nursing homes.

Without policies and solutions – and funding – that allows for better paying jobs in the sector, the White House position may not serve to improve the quality of care either, they argue.

However, in signing the executive order Tuesday afternoon, Biden said funding wasn’t forthcoming.