18 states push for reinstatement of SNF minimum staffing

Eighteen attorneys general are urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, to reinstate minimum staffing requirements for skilled nursing facilities.

The minimum staffing requirements, along with other protections, were established by the Nursing Home Reform initiative. These include set minimum staffing standards for nursing hours per resident per day, required SNF to have registered nurses on site 24/7 and established minimum hours for certified nurse assistants. These protections were designed to improve quality of care, prevent adverse health outcomes and save up to $465 million in Medicare costs by cutting medical emergencies and hospitalizations, according to a Feb. 2 letter the attorneys general sent to Mr. Kennedy and Dr. Oz. These protections were overturned by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The coalition is requesting replacement protections be implemented. 

“States have proven that quantitative minimum staffing standards are an effective tool to improve the quality of care in long-term care facilities and deter fraud,” the letter said. “A tailored, enhanced federal minimum staffing regulation would bring these positive outcomes to other states nationwide and further enable states and federal enforcement agencies to protect vulnerable residents of nursing homes who otherwise face increased risk of preventable neglect and abuse.”

The signing attorney generals are from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

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