A recent Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) study found that only 41% of Wisconsin’s nursing facilities currently meet proposed federal staffing requirements, according to WisBusiness. The rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services won’t take effect immediately; however, the KFF report shows most states at present fall short of the proposed targets.
Nursing homes receiving federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid will need to have 3.48 hours per resident per day of total staffing under the new requirements. That includes at least 0.55 hours per resident per day for registered nurses (RNs) and 2.45 hours per resident per day for nurse aides.
Out of 318 Wisconsin facilities, 131 meet all three of those requirements. Eighty-eight percent meet the RN requirement, but only 42% meet the nurse aide requirement. Sixty-nine percent meet the overall requirement.
Seventeen states, including Wisconsin, have between 25–49% of their nursing facilities meeting the rule’s requirements. Most facilities will have several years to meet the new requirements. Facilities will also be able to apply for temporary exemptions if they meet various conditions.
