Washington, D.C. – The American Health Care Association (AHCA), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five million people each year, released a statement today in response to the Biden Administration's
announcement about the Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Final Rule.
The following statement is attributable to AHCA President and CEO Mark Parkinson:
“We are extremely disappointed and troubled that the Biden Administration is resolved to issue this unfunded staffing mandate despite overwhelming concerns from experts, stakeholders, and policymakers on both sides of the aisle. While it may be well intentioned, the federal staffing mandate is an unreasonable standard that only threatens to shut down more nursing homes, displace hundreds of thousands of residents, and restrict seniors' access to care.
"It is unconscionable that the Administration is finalizing this rule given our nation's changing demographics and growing caregiver shortage. Issuing a final rule that demands hundreds of thousands of additional caregivers when there's a nationwide shortfall of nurses just creates an impossible task for providers. This unfunded mandate doesn't magically solve the nursing crisis.
“Staffing minimums are a 20th Century solution for a 21st Century problem. Now the Administration has gone ever farther than originally proposed, making these requirements even more out of touch and out of reach. At the end of the day, the agency is overstepping with a one-size-fits-all enforcement approach that is deeply flawed.
“This fight is not over. We will vigorously defend our nursing home members, those they serve, and those they employ. Momentum against the mandates continues to build among both Democrats and Republicans, and we hope to work with lawmakers on more meaningful solutions that would help boost the long term care workforce. For the sake of our nation's seniors and their caregivers, we must find a better way."