Staffing Shortages Plague U.S. Nursing Homes: USA Today Analysis
A recent analysis by USA Today reveals that the majority of nursing homes across the United States are failing to meet the staffing requirements outlined in a new federal rule. Based on data from the payroll-based journal (PBJ), nearly all nursing homes will need to hire additional nurses to comply with the minimum staffing standards issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The final rule stipulates a minimum of 3.48 hours per resident per day (HPRD) of total staffing, including specific allocations for registered nurses (RN) and nurse aides. While some facilities partially meet certain requirements, consistently meeting all minimums remains rare. Southern states particularly struggle to meet these standards, with Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas facing significant gaps in RN and total staffing. Conversely, states like Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah have performed better in meeting these requirements. Facilities in areas with health care worker shortages can request exemptions from the new rules if efforts to hire more staff have been unsuccessful.
Click to read the USA Today’s article.