Fischer Blasts Nursing Home Staffing Rule: “Will Devastate Nursing Homes Across This Country”

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after the Biden administration announced plans to finalize a nursing home staffing rule that would hurt facilities across rural Nebraska and could force many to close.

"Time and again, this administration has abandoned rural America, leaving working families and small businesses in the dust. Instead of listening to the overwhelming, bipartisan opposition to this rule, the administration has decided to plow ahead. This misguided rule will devastate nursing homes across this country and worsen the staffing shortages we are already facing," said Senator Fischer.

In December, Senator Fischer introduced the Protecting Rural Seniors' Access to Care Act to prohibit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from finalizing the proposed rule and to establish an advisory panel on nursing home staffing to identify real solutions that won't harm seniors' access. Senator Fischer's legislation is endorsed by over 90 organizations.

Background:

On September 1, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would mandate new minimum staffing standards for long-term care (LTC) facilities. According to CMS, 75% of nursing homes would have to increase staffing to comply with the proposed standards. This standard will be even harder to meet in rural areas in states like Nebraska, which already face historic staffing shortages.

In September, Senator Fischer joined the Nebraska congressional delegation in sending a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure opposing the agency's nursing home staffing rule.