LeadingAge Florida, the state’s only association representing the entire continuum of care for older adults, announced today it submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) strongly urging them to reconsider and refrain from implementing the proposed minimum staffing standards for nursing homes.
LeadingAge Florida recognizes that staffing drives quality long-term care outcomes and has always been supportive of accountability and transparency. The proposed minimum staffing standards recently proposed by CMS however could have unintended consequences that adversely affect the quality of care provided to older adults.
“The reality is that over 80% of Florida’s nearly 700 nursing homes would not meet the minimum staffing hours per day as proposed,” said Steve Bahmer, LeadingAge Florida President & CEO. “With the current shortfall of nurses and the outlook worsening in the future, this proposal is simply not realistic. The education system cannot meet the current demands. The added demand that this rule would create would dramatically increase scarcity, with ripple effects throughout the entire healthcare system.”
LeadingAge Florida encourages CMS to work collaboratively with long-term care providers and stakeholders to find a balanced solution that ensures high-quality care for seniors in our state.
