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September 8, 2023

Proposed Federal Minimum Staffing Mandate for Nursing Homes – Call to Action

As we and our national affiliate, American Health Care Association (AHCA), have previously reported, on September 1st, CMS released its long-awaited minimum staffing rule for nursing homes. The rule contains mandatory minimum daily staffing requirement for RN’s and CNA’s as well as requiring that an RN be on site at the facility 24 hours per day/7 days per week. While there is phase in period for both of these components, at this time, over 80% of the nursing facilities across the country would not be in compliance if the rule went into effect today. In addition, at implementation, we estimate that this rule will cost over $4 billion annually. There is zero funding in the rule to pay for the mandate. We have included more detail about the rule at the end of this memorandum.
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COVID-19 cases on the rise – Ensuring access to anti-viral medications

As members may have read and/or experienced, COVID cases are on the rise around the country.  Given this concerning information, we followed up with the Department of Health Services, COVID-19 Therapeutics Team to confirm the process for obtaining Paxlovid and other anti-virals and to ensure that there was amply supply within Wisconsin.  The Therapeutics Team has replied to Rick Abrams, WHCA/WiCAL CEO.
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