Studies: Five-Star Ratings Linked To Consumer Demand, Nurse Training

Research Finds Staffing Stability Is Marker of Better Quality of Nursing Homes

Jan 30, 2023

PBJ research report and related news: This study examined whether staffing instability, defined as the percentage of days below average staffing levels, is associated with nursing home quality when controlling for average staffing levels. Findings...

U.S. News & World Report nursing home ratings poke holes in CMS ratings

Nov 23, 2022

U.S. News & World Report nursing home ratings poke holes in CMS ratingsU.S. News & World Report recently released its 2022-2023 nursing home ratings, which revealed major differences in its assessments compared with the Centers for Medicare...

Ask the payment expert …. about the total nurse staffing measure

Nov 11, 2022

Q: What is the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Payment Total Nurse Staffing Measure?
A: The Total Nursing Hours Per Resident Day Measure uses auditable electronic data reported to the Payroll-Based Journal system to calculate total nursing hours per resident day. It is one of two new measures that will begin affecting payments in the FY 2026 SNF VBP program year, the other being SNF Healthcare Associated Infections Requiring Hospitalization.

Study: Nursing Home Staffing in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods

Aug 30, 2022

Nursing home staffing in severely disadvantaged neighborhoods is significantly lower than staffing in more well-off neighborhoods, according to a new study in which the LTSS Center participated.

CMS starts study to support minimum staffing proposal

Aug 30, 2022

There was a stark, though not at all unexpected, dichotomy between participants in Monday’s listening session to gather input on coming nursing home staff minimums.

On the one hand, you had consumer advocates — armed with the Biden administration’s aggressive reform push and 20 years of resentment about perceived understaffing — ready to throw fuel on the fire.

And on the other, there were nursing home leaders from major organizations, mid-sized chains and tiny, independent facilities in rural settings pleading with federal regulators to douse the flames.

Where a resident advocate might see the potential for more staffing rules to help nursing homes rise from the ashes of COVID, providers are legitimately worried that a well-intentioned but under-supported mandate might just burn the sector down for good.

Study of Antipsychotic Use Connection to Staffing Levels

Aug 5, 2022

Researchers reported a 0.75% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in overall staff-to-patient ratio. There was a 3.09% decrease in inappropriate antipsychotic prescribing per unit increase in licensed staff hours.

Research shows COVID-19 vaccination mandates don’t negatively affect nursing home staffing

Aug 1, 2022

State COVID-19 vaccination mandates increased vaccinations among direct caregivers without negatively affecting staffing levels, according to the results of a study published Friday in JAMA Health Forum.

The researchers studied vaccination rates and staffing shortages that were reported via the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network from June 6, 2021, through Nov. 14, 2021.

Nursing home staff turnover up 25 percent from last year

Aug 1, 2022

The national nursing home staff turnover rate for all employees is up 25% from last year. That’s according to findings included in the 45th annual Nursing Home Salary & Benefits Report released Thursday by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service.

The average national turnover rate across executive-level positions and those in dining services, environmental services, marketing and therapy was 29.17%, according to the report. The national average turnover among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants was 38.68%.

Thousands of nursing homes face lower Five-Star ratings

Jul 31, 2022

New Five-Star scoring metrics could penalize an estimated 10% to 16% of providers who have relied on staffing strengths to drive their overall ratings.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Thursday published new guidance for calculating staffing stars in the public-facing rating system. It incorporates total nurse staffing on weekends; annual RN and total nurse turnover; and administrator turnover.

Research on COVID staffing finds policy action can stabilize staffing levels

Jul 30, 2022

Provider and policy action is needed to counter the effects of staff absences and departures, particularly during infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, that may put nursing home residents at risk, according to the authors of a study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum.

New research shows staffing laws, unionization can improve nurse retention

Jun 23, 2022

More than half of the nurses surveyed said they are considering leaving the profession within the next 12 months. Unresolved feelings of moral distress and unsafe staffing were the top reasons cited by nurses considering leaving their roles, according to the study.

Study confirms lower turnover linked to higher quality of care

May 30, 2022

Nursing home providers should consider implementing innovative strategies for retaining workers after a new study found that low staff turnover was consistently associated with higher quality of care, researchers said.

“While these actions are challenging — especially given that nursing homes are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, they are clearly warranted if we seek an improved quality of care for nursing home residents,” Qing Zheng, Ph.D., lead author and health economist at research firm Abt Associates