Smith Statement on Nursing Home Staffing Mandate

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its finalized rule for minimum staffing requirements in long-term care facilities:

“Nursing home closures are disproportionately impacting rural areas such as the Third District of Nebraska where workforce shortages have increased pressure on facilities struggling to fill vacancies," said Rep. Smith. "Arbitrary staffing ratio mandates like the one CMS finalized today are sure to put more communities at risk of not having access to a local facility at all. I have repeatedly spoken against this rule and continue to support legislation we advanced in the Ways and Means Committee to block such a mandate. Rather than piling on regulations, the Biden administration should be promoting innovative solutions to build up the workforce, such as extending successful staffing flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Smith is a cosponsor of the Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act (H.R. 7513) which would block implementation of the Biden administration's proposed nursing home staffing mandate. In March, Rep. Smith highlighted the link between staffing shortages and nursing home closures in the Ways and Means Committee markup of the legislation.