A recently finalized federal regulation could potentially save nearly 13,000 lives annually, according to researchers, despite opposition from nursing home industry representatives who contend the new staffing requirements may lead to facility closures.


At the behest of Senator Elizabeth Warren, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania evaluated the potential life-saving impact of the Biden administration's newly established minimum staffing rule for nursing homes. Their analysis suggests that full implementation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' staffing regulation could prevent nearly 13,000 deaths yearly.


Senator Warren emphasized the significant life-saving potential of the new rule, expressing criticism towards the nursing home industry's resistance to implementing these standards.


However, nursing home industry groups argue that the federal staffing minimum would place excessive strain on facilities already grappling with staffing shortages. The researchers' estimates do not address the possibility of nursing home closures resulting from the new regulation, which could disrupt resident care.


In April, the Biden administration unveiled a rule mandating federally-funded nursing homes to meet specific staffing ratios for registered nurses and nurse aides. The regulation stipulates minimum daily care hours per resident and requires round-the-clock registered nurse presence. Implementation will be phased in, with full compliance expected by May 2026.


Nursing home associations have initiated legal action against federal health agencies to block the rule, claiming it could force facility closures or downsizing, potentially displacing residents.


Industry estimates suggest nursing homes would need to hire over 100,000 additional staff at a substantial annual cost to comply with the new requirements. The University of Pennsylvania researchers noted that a majority of U.S. nursing homes currently fall short of the new staffing standards.


Medical professionals involved in the analysis have explained that the life-saving estimate was based on previous research linking staffing levels to mortality rates. They have highlighted various safety risks associated with understaffed facilities, including medication errors and inadequate patient care.


The researchers noted that exemptions from the staffing rule are available for homes in designated workforce shortage areas.


The COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in numerous nursing home deaths, brought increased scrutiny to facility safety standards. In response to industry protests against the staffing rule, several lawmakers have questioned large nursing home chains about their financial practices, including executive compensation and stock buybacks.

A late decree from the federal powers-that-be might just be the ticket to saving close to 13,000 souls each year, so say the learned folks with their noses in books. This, despite the grumblings from those who run the nursing home industry, who fear this new rule about staffing might shut their doors for good. At the urging of Senator Elizabeth Warren, a team of scholars from the University of Pennsylvania took a gander at how many lives could be spared by this new rule of the Biden administration concerning staffing in nursing homes. Their reckonings suggest that if this rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is followed to the letter, we might see nearly 13,000 folks sticking around each year. Senator Warren is all for this life-saving potential and has no patience for those nursing home industry folks who are digging in their heels against it. Yet, those who speak for the nursing home industry caution that this federal minimum staffing rule could put the squeeze on facilities already stretched thin with staffing woes. The scholars didn't take into account the possibility of nursing homes having to shut down because of this new rule, which could throw a wrench in the works for resident care. Back in April, the Biden administration pulled back the curtain on a rule requiring federally-funded nursing homes to have a certain number of registered nurses and nurse aides on hand. This rule sets a minimum of daily care hours for each resident and insists on having a registered nurse on duty all the live-long day. They plan to roll this out little by little, expecting full obedience by May 2026. Nursing home associations are lawyering up against the federal health agencies to block this rule, fearing it could shutter facilities or force them to scale back, leaving residents in the lurch. Industry reckonings suggest nursing homes would need to bring onboard over 100,000 additional staff at a hefty yearly cost to toe the line with these new rules. The University of Pennsylvania scholars pointed out that the lion's share of U.S. nursing homes are currently falling short of these new staffing standards. The doctors and such who were part of this analysis explained that their estimate of lives saved was based on earlier studies showing a link between staffing numbers and death rates. They pointed out the dangers of not having enough staff, including mix-ups with medication and subpar patient care. The scholars mentioned that there are exceptions to this staffing rule for homes in areas where there just aren't enough workers to go around. The COVID-19 plague, which led to a grim tally of nursing home deaths, put the spotlight on the safety standards of these facilities. In response to industry complaints about this staffing rule, several lawmakers have been poking around into the financial dealings of big nursing home chains, including how much the top brass is making and stock buybacks.