A KFF estimate found that only 19% of nursing facilities meet the new minimum staffing standards issued by CMS yesterday.
KFF used Nursing Home Compare data from March 2024 and compared staffing levels from July to September 2023.
The new mandate, issued April 22, requires all nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid to provide a total of at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, including a defined number for registered nurses (0.55 hours per resident per day) and nurse aides (2.45 per resident per day).
Under full implementation of the rule, nearly 60% of facilities would meet the overall requirement of 3.48 hours per patient per day, but fewer facilities would meet the registered nurse and nurse aide provisions (49% and 30%, respectively).