In advance of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’ release of the highly anticipated proposed nursing home staffing mandates, LeadingAge’s advocacy team met with staff from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Domestic Policy Council, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’ office of the secretary as well as CMS to articulate our position on regulated ratios.

During the June 23 meeting, we emphasized that LeadingAge members share the White House’s commitment to providing high quality care, and noted that potentially taking money from nursing homes (with civil monetary penalties for not complying with ratios) detracts from quality. What’s more, doing so inequitably harms small, single-site providers. We reiterated the points we have been making in the “Get Real on Ratios” campaign, including: the need for reimbursement to cover the increased costs; an understanding that ratios will only work with confirmation that there is not a health care staffing shortage in the state or city; and that one size does not fit all.

Thanks to LeadingAge members, especially those who participate in the Nursing Home Member Network, we were able to cite specific examples and stories. Per the process for meetings with OMB on upcoming releases, Executive Branch staff listened but did not ask questions or volunteer information.