AHCA Sues Federal Agencies Over Nursing Home Staffing Mandate
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), challenging the new minimum staffing rule for nursing homes. AHCA claims the rule, finalized on May 10, exceeds statutory authority and imposes unrealistic standards, potentially harming thousands of facilities and residents.
The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Texas, argues that the mandate—requiring 3.48 hours of care per resident per day with specific hours for registered nurses and nurse aides—ignores the diverse needs of nursing home populations and local conditions. AHCA President Mark Parkinson criticized the rushed implementation, noting it disregards stakeholder concerns and threatens access to care.
CMS estimates the rule will cost over $5 billion annually, while AHCA's analysis predicts costs closer to $6.5 billion. The lawsuit warns that compliance could force many nursing homes to downsize or close, particularly in underfunded states like Texas, exacerbating care shortages.
This legal action represents a significant pushback from the largest national trade group for the nursing home sector, highlighting ongoing tensions over federal regulations and their impact on healthcare providers.
Source: Siddiqi, Z. (2024). ‘A nightmare’: AHCA files lawsuit against federal nursing home staffing mandate. https://skillednursingnews.com/2024/05/a-nightmare-ahca-files-lawsuit-against-federal-nursing-home-staffing-mandate/?euid=6a8af0b718&utm_source=snn-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5d01279f13&mc_cid=5d01279f13&mc_eid=6a8af0b718