As we all set foot into the New Year, we wish you all much health and prosperity in 2022. The New Year is a good time to start fresh. It is also a good time to remind ourselves that we must remain engaged in our local, state and federal law-making processes.
Initially, President Biden’s Build Back Better plan included provisions that would improve the lives of the residents of longterm care facilities. Specifically, the provisions originally included a requirement that there be 24-hour nursing coverage in all nursing homes. Overall, the provisions would have required that any facility that accepts public funding (Medicare and Medicaid) dedicate more money to patient care via minimum staffing requirements. If you or a loved one have ever spent time in a long-term care facility, you know that understaffing is a problem.
The pandemic only heightened this issue, which impacts so many of our vulnerable seniors.
As of December 11, 2021, the nursing staff mandate that was initially proposed in the Build Back Better plan has been eliminated from the plan. Please consider contacting your U.S. Senator to demand that the minimum staffing requirements be reinserted into the plan. Senators Charles Schumer (518) 431-4076 and Kirsten Gillibrand (518) 431-0120 need to hear from their constituents that minimum staffing requirements is one
of the most effective ways to improve the lives of nursing home residents.
