April 22, 2024 Washington, DC — Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit, mission-driven providers of aging services, on Fact Sheet: Vice President Harris Announces Historic Advancements in Long-Term Care to Support the Care Economy:
“For the first time in decades, our federal government is committed to meaningful action to ensure America’s older adults and families can receive critically needed quality care wherever they live, whether in nursing homes or in their homes and communities. LeadingAge and our nonprofit, mission-driven aging services providers, who serve older adults living in nursing homes as well those who live independently – in their own homes, assisted living and federally supported housing– share the administration’s goal.
Though we still await more details on final rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on both the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting rule and the Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services rule, we are concerned by this morning’s news from the Biden Administration on these final regulations.
America’s population is aging, and demand for care and services is growing. Workforce challenges are a critical issue. More workers are needed not only in nursing homes, but also across the care continuum – in a range of care settings including home health, hospice, adult day, Programs for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and community types. Without staff, there is no care.
Two major issues – the lack of qualified candidates and the cost of recruiting and training staff – mean that implementation of the nursing home final rule will likely limit older adults and families’ access to care and services. On the Medicaid Access rule, the lack of infrastructure for collecting and reporting out accurate information, of financing to support added resource needs, and of data to ensure that the dollars are being distributed as intended, will decrease access to care. What’s more, given these shortcomings, there is no guarantee that this rule will increase worker compensation.
If policymakers and other stakeholders are truly serious about addressing the chronic shortages that all care providers —including our mission-driven, nonprofit members—serving older adults are navigating, bold, creative actions and serious solutions that in particular address funding and infrastructure are needed.
We will provide more commentary when further details emerge.”
