CMS Readies Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Proposal, Reviews Study Recommendations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed Tuesday that it is currently reviewing a year-long study to determine “policy direction” and cost implications of its proposed federal staffing mandate.

The study includes potential barriers to and unintended consequences of staffing recommendations, Jean Moody-Williams said during a call to stakeholders. Moody-Williams serves as deputy director at the CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality.

Moody-Williams rehashed the multifaceted nature of the study, stating that it includes a literature review with quantitative analysis and cost analysis as well as qualitative data from nursing home site visits.

Qualitative components of the study are made up of primary data collected during site visits, like interviews, surveys and observation data. Meanwhile, quantitative analysis consists of Medicare Payroll-based Journal (PBJ) data, Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Medicare claims, the agency said.

There was no indication that the study would be released to the public, only that CMS plans to issue proposed federal minimum staffing requirements this spring.