Call to Action on Minimum Staffing Mandate

AHCA is kicking off 2023 with a grassroots campaign to CMS regarding the minimum staffing mandate. CMS’s proposed minimum staff rule will be released in early May, and AHCA wants providers to help shape the rule.

Why it Matters: A minimum staffing mandate would be detrimental to the long-term care profession. Workforce levels continue to be at a 30-year low. The sector has lost more than 220,000 caregivers since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. A staffing minimum would only exacerbate the workforce issue and make it difficult to continue to provide high-level care for our seniors.

AHCA’s goal is to submit 3,000 letters to CMS by February 28, 2023. Sending a letter is easy to do via the Action Center page. Instructions are available on the page and will guide you in your letter writing. AHCA also held a webinar about submitting letters, you can click here to watch it.

It is crucial for providers to reach out to CMS and let them know that a minimum staffing mandate is not the answer to the workforce crisis. Additional resources can be found on AHCA’s Advocacy page, including an issue brief on the minimum staffing mandate.