CMS Proposed Minimum Staffing Requirements Could Cost $10B Annually

Nursing homes and long-term care (LTC) facilities need to increase staffing minimums at the federal level and that expansion might cost $10 billion dollars annually according to The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The AHCA/NCAL published a new report titled, “Staffing Mandate Analysts In-depth Analysis on Minimum Nurse Staffing Levels and Local Impact” released from accounting and consulting firm CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP).

The report was in response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) report released in April 2022, with the proposed rule for the skilled nursing facilities per diem prospective payment system, payment updates for Federal Fiscal Year 2023. In the proposed rule, CMS is seeking input regarding the establishment of a minimum staffing requirement for LTC facilities.

The report says that the funds would hire 187,000 nurses and nurse aids at 4.1 hours per resident day in 94% of LTC facilities to comply with the requirement in caring for more than 900,000 residents.