Minimum staffing levels would cost nursing homes $10 billion a year

The federal government’s proposed minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes could cost the industry $10 billion a year because tens of thousands of additional caregivers would need to be hired, according to a new report from accounting and consulting firm CliftonLarsonAllen.

Further, fewer slots may be available for residents and patients as some facilities reduce their census to meet the staffing requirement, the report maintains. The report was released Tuesday by the American Health Care Association.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is considering requiring nursing homes to implement staffing minimum of 4.1 hours per resident day. The proposal comes as part of President Joe Biden’s nursing home reform initiatives.