On March 31, Governor Kathy Hochul opted not to extend the suspension mandating increased staffing levels for nursing homes in New York State, despite providing a dispensation to other healthcare providers. At Heritage, we work tirelessly to meet, if not exceed, all mandates from the state. Our first priority is always to ensure safe, high quality care for each and every resident we serve. Along with many in the senior care industry, we share in the concern that these increased mandated staffing levels will place an undue burden on an already stretched and exhausted healthcare system and workforce, and will place the future of many nursing homes in New York State in question.
Heritage is grateful to our elected representatives, including NYS Senator George Borrello, who continue to be advocates for nursing homes and the seniors we serve. We remain thankful for their support and diligence in bringing this pressing issue to the forefront.
“Under its current leadership, New York State has elevated the practice of denying reality to an art form, to the detriment of every resident and organization residing here…By even the most conservative estimate, nursing homes would have to hire more than 12,000 nurses and aides to comply with the minimum hours requirements, a gap that has tripled since late 2019. The nursing home workforce shortage won’t change unless the state approves an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates that is substantial enough to raise wages beyond current levels,” Borrello said in a statement to the media, voicing his concern on the impacts of the mandated staffing level actions taken by the Governor this week.
As we enter the final period of the New York State budget cycle, there are two critical items in the current proposed budgets that will impact staffing and the future of nursing homes in New York State.
1. The proposed budgets do not help nursing homes at all because they do not provide a meaningful Medicaid rate increase. The 1% Medicaid rate increase provided in the proposed house budget does not do enough to help struggling nursing home and long-term care providers who are still experiencing all the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including continued staffing challenges.
2. The proposed budgets do not authorize medication aides (specially trained certified nursing assistants) to administer medications under the supervision of a registered nurse. Medication aides would help provide immediate relief to the staffing challenges nursing homes across NYS face.
Please join us in urging lawmakers to provide critical proper funding and staffing support to New York’s nursing homes and assisted living communities! It is important that your representatives know we are continuing to advocate for our beloved seniors. Every voice matters.
Make your voice heard TODAY. Please visit our advocacy page for information on how to contact your representative today.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support for Heritage and the seniors we serve.