As the federal government's new staffing mandate for nursing homes approaches, operators face significant challenges in meeting the upcoming facility assessment requirements. Despite the burden on staff, compliance is essential to ensure quality care and avoid penalties. This article explores the complexities of facility assessments in light of the new mandate and provides insights from industry leaders on how to manage these challenges.
The Impact of the Federal Staffing Mandate
The federal staffing mandate requires nursing homes to hire an estimated 102,000 nurses and certified nurse aides, which would require approximately $6.5 billion in funding. During a recent panel discussion, Stuart Almer, President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System in New York, highlighted the daunting nature of this mandate.
“Reading the data, only 6% of skilled nursing facilities may be able to meet the requirements of the new facility assessment. So clearly, that’s telling all of us that there’s a problem,” Almer said. “We’re all doing many things to recruit to retain staff, but the numbers are concerning.”
Compliance Despite Challenges
Despite the significant challenges, Erin Schvetzoff Hennessy, CEO of Health Dimensions Group (HDG), emphasized the importance of complying with the facility assessment requirements, effective August 8, to prepare for state surveys starting in October.
“This first step is making sure that your facility assessment is updated, and it is a lot of work for providers who are already understaffed. You’re adding more work to a group that already is balancing a wide variety of things,” Hennessy said.
Understanding Facility Assessments
Facility assessments are critical for identifying staffing needs based on resident-specific care requirements. These assessments involve input from residents, families, and external stakeholders to ensure that nursing homes can meet the diverse needs of their residents, including those related to behavioral health.
“We need to continue at a larger level, as an organization, as a trade, to really understand those assessments, and see where the gaps are,” Hennessy said. “We’re going to be ready for a survey when they come in October, right? We’re going to make sure that we’re ready. We have all the information done.”
Training and Preparation
To prepare for the upcoming assessments, HDG is mobilizing resources and conducting training sessions for executive directors and directors of nursing (DONs). This comprehensive training ensures that leadership is well-equipped to handle the assessments effectively.
Challenges in Implementation
Almer and Hennessy pointed out significant hurdles in implementing these assessments effectively, primarily due to a need for clear guidance.
“There’s a lack of clear guidance,” Almer said. “And once we have more guidance, it will be easier for us. But right now, we have to adjust, and we’re being required to adjust and take all this into consideration when there’s still overall a lack of available, qualified staff.”
Potential Penalties and Financial Strain
Non-compliance with the staffing mandate has led to citations for staffing deficiencies in state surveys. Almer expressed concerns about potential penalties exacerbating financial strains on facilities.
“Facilities are being cited for lack of staff, and it’s a challenge,” Almer noted. “I’m concerned because that will just make the financial situation tougher for everyone, while we are working very hard to improve things.”
Advocacy for Funding and Collaboration
Industry leaders advocate for government funding to support staffing efforts and collaborations with educational institutions to develop a qualified workforce pipeline. Almer stressed the need for incentivizing staffing initiatives to address long-term shortages and ensure sustainable staffing solutions.
“Incentivizing staffing initiatives is crucial,” Almer said. “Operators are bearing the costs of improving the size of the nursing home workforce. Eventually, these efforts will play a key role in bolstering SNFs’ capacity to meet federal standards and ensure quality care.”
Conclusion
The upcoming facility assessment requirements present significant challenges for nursing home operators. However, these challenges can be managed with thorough preparation, training, and advocacy for additional funding. Compliance with facility assessments is essential to meet regulatory requirements and ensure the provision of high-quality care for residents.
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