Leaders from the nation’s largest nursing home association declared their unwavering commitment to resist and ultimately conquer a proposed federal staffing mandate during the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Convention & Expo on Monday. This mandate would impose a substantial financial burden, potentially costing providers up to $6.8 billion annually and necessitating the hiring of an additional 100,000 employees.
“Coming out of COVID and dealing with severe workforce supply challenges, wouldn’t it have been great to have felt the support of our president and CMS?” AHCA Board Chair Phil Fogg asked here Monday, noting the agency’s lack of team members with a long-term care or post-acute background. “This absence of experience makes it difficult for them to understand how policy impacts our day-to-day work lives and it is unfortunate. … While it doesn’t always feel like it, we have the ability to lead and triumph.”