Source link : https://usa-news.biz/2024/10/10/north-dakota/north-dakota-takes-bold-step-joins-lawsuit-challenging-controversial-24-hour-nursing-home-staffing-rule/
North Dakota Joins Coalition Against New Medicaid Staffing Mandate
FARGO — The state of North Dakota has aligned itself with a coalition of 20 other states in a legal challenge against a recent rule imposed by the Centers for‌ Medicare and Medicaid Services‍ (CMS). This regulation mandates that nursing homes provide 24-hour staffing, a significant increase from the eight hours of continuous care mandated by Congress. This action was announced in a release on October 9 from North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley’s office.
Impact on Nursing Home Operations
The proposed rule requires not only around-the-clock staffing but also an elevated ratio of nursing staff to residents. According to the release, ”97% of nursing homes would fail to meet this standard”. The lawsuit emphasizes that such regulations could jeopardize the very existence of numerous care facilities that are already facing operational difficulties. “This final rule threatens the survival of many nursing homes, forcing those struggling to potentially close their doors and leaving patients without adequate options,” states the complaint.
Concerns for Rural Care Facilities
The new regulations are expected to disproportionately affect rural care centers. Wrigley remarked, “A coalition of twenty states has come together to resist what we view as overreach by the Biden-Harris Administration, which is likely to compromise patient care and limit access as more facilities are driven out of business.”
Support from State Leadership
Nebraska Governor Doug Burgum expressed his endorsement for Wrigley’s involvement in this lawsuit. He emphasized North Dakota’s ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing care quality within skilled nursing facilities across the state. “Federal directives like this one neglecting the distinct challenges faced by North Dakota and similar rural areas could exacerbate existing workforce shortages in a sector already strained post-pandemic,” Burgum stated in his announcement.
A Bipartisan Legal Effort
This legal endeavor is spearheaded by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach along with Iowa’s Brenna Bird and South Carolina’s Alan Wilson. Additional support comes from attorneys general representing Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah Virginia,, and West Virginia.
The post North Dakota Takes Bold Step: Joins Lawsuit Challenging Controversial 24-Hour Nursing Home Staffing Rule! first appeared on USA NEWS.
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Author : Jean-Pierre CHALLOT
Publish date : 2024-10-10 07:27:37
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