The executive order ‘bolsters the home care workforce while punishing nursing home providers for shortages,’ industry expert says.
President Joe Biden’s executive order to improve access to and affordability of long-term care and child care largely ignores skilled nursing facilities, instead focusing more on home care and home health, an industry expert says.
"The order bolsters the home care workforce, while punishing nursing home providers for shortages—despite the reality that employers in both care settings navigate the same challenges in a competitive labor market," said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge.
The nonprofit association of aging services providers, alongside providers and other advocacy groups, has long called for policymakers to act on issues affecting aging services. LeadingAge has previously suggested the White House develop an Office on Aging Policy for a more focused approach on doing so.
"Over a million older adults rely on the specialized care only nursing homes provide. Already, nursing homes around the country are closing or limiting admissions due to staffing shortages," Sloan said. "Why take that option away from the people who need it by implementing punitive policies that potentially worsen, rather than remedy, the ongoing staffing crisis? We are particularly concerned by the threat of withholding Medicare payment if providers don’t have workers—when workers simply don’t exist. "
When nursing homes are mentioned in the executive order it reiterates the possibility of staffing mandates with, as Sloan mentioned, a portion of Medicare payments being withheld depending on how well they retain their workers.
"We still desperately need to remedy the severe workforce crisis in long-term care," Sloan said. "In addition to increasing reimbursement and wages, the country must address immigration to build a pipeline of new workers through proven programs and pathways for those ready and willing to work in our field."
“The order bolsters the home care workforce, while punishing nursing home providers for shortages—despite the reality that employers in both care settings navigate the same challenges in a competitive labor market.”
Katie Smith Sloan, president, CEO, LeadingAge
Jasmyne Ray is the revenue cycle editor at HealthLeaders.