The Impact of State Minimum Staffing Standards on Nursing Homes

When the Biden Administration announced its intent to implement a minimum staffing standard, the nursing home industry immediately responded with cries that a standard would result in closures, loss of money to nursing homes, and that the standards could not be met. These arguments, although unsupported by evidence, were effective and resulted in the current administration rescinding the staffing rule in March. Now, a new research paper shows that the implementation of state staffing standards over the years did not result in facility closures, paid for themselves, did not impact profit margins, and increased staffing levels. Join Consumer Voice’s Sam Brooks who talks with Dr. Rachel Werner, one of the authors of the study, as they discuss the new paper and what it means for policymakers considering the implementation of staffing standards. Guest: Dr. Rachel Werner, Physician and Economist