Across America, 1.3 million people live in nursing homes— including almost 10,000 of our fellow Nebraskans. Many of us have parents, grandparents, or other loved ones who rely on these homes for care and community in their golden years.We understand just how vital nursing homes are, in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike, to help seniors around our country thrive.
But unfortunately, a federal rule that is still in place from the Biden era is putting many of America’s nursing homes in jeopardy—especially those in rural communities. Last year, under President Biden, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) finalized a rule that imposed strict, unrealistic regulations on nursing homes.The rule requires a registered nurse (RN) to be present 24/7 in these homes and requires three and a half daily hours of dedicated nursing care for each resident. If this rule is not stopped, the regulations will be imposed on every nursing home in America over the next few years.
It may sound nice to have a nurse on hand in nursing homes every moment of the day or night. But the reality is that these homes are already facing historic staffing shortages. Across the country, according to federal labor statistics, nursing homes lost more than 200,000 workers from February 2020 to December 2022.
