CMS proposes minimum staffing standards for nursing homes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services last week released a proposed rule that would impose minimum staffing requirements for long-term care facilities ─ including skilled nursing facilities ─ participating in Medicare and Medicaid. CMS estimates about 75% of nursing homes would need to increase staffing in their facilities under the proposed standards, exceeding existing standards in nearly all states. The proposed standards would stagger implementation and exemptions processes. The agency also released a fact sheet about the proposal. Comments on the rule are due Nov. 6. (CMS news release, 9/1/23)