The Biden administration, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, has announced the finalization of the first-ever minimum staffing rule at nursing homes. This mandate, which applies to facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, requires a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day. This includes specific time requirements for registered nurses and nurse aides, ensuring adequate staffing levels to meet residents' needs.
Under the new rule, nursing homes must have at least two or three registered nurses and 10 or 11 nurse aides for every 100 residents, along with additional nurse staff on each shift. Furthermore, a registered nurse must be present on-site at all times. The mandate will be phased in gradually, with rural communities given longer timeframes and temporary exemptions available for facilities facing workforce shortages.
