Missouri lawmakers are considering a series of bills that could significantly reshape the state’s long-term care landscape, with a particular focus on staffing mandates and enhanced regulatory oversight. The proposed legislation comes amid rising concerns about resident care quality and facility compliance.
One of the most closely watched bills mirrors the federal staffing mandate issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This state-level initiative aims to establish specific staffing requirements for nursing homes, a move that has sparked both support and opposition within the industry.
“Missouri consistently has the lowest hours of care per resident per day nationwide. In the second quarter of 2024, residents received, on average, 3.24 hours of care per day. The national average was 3.71 hours of care per day,” Marjorie Moore, VOYCE executive director, told McKnight’s. This statistic highlights a significant disparity, underscoring the advocacy group’s stance that stricter staffing levels are crucial for ensuring adequate resident care.
However, providers have voiced concerns about the feasibility of such mandates, particularly in the face of ongoing workforce challenges. “Ill-conceived and unrealistic” is how some providers characterized such staffing mandates to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on Wednesday. They argue that penalizing facilities for failing to hire nurses who are already in short supply is counterproductive.
Adding to the regulatory scrutiny, a recent report by the Missouri Alliance for Long-Term Care Reform identified 68 troubled nursing facilities across the state. This report cited “alarming patterns of poor care, regulatory violations, and financial exploitation,” based on critical quality indicators.
Another controversial bill proposes granting facilities 24 hours to rectify violations found during state surveys before they are made public. While proponents argue this would allow for quicker corrective action, critics, like Moore, contend that it would compromise transparency. “[We’re] opposed to this because the community and long-term care consumers have the right to understand the quality of facilities in which they may place loved ones,” she charged.
The future of these bills remains uncertain, with the staffing mandate notably lacking a committee hearing as of Wednesday afternoon. As Missouri lawmakers deliberate, the state’s nursing home industry braces for potential changes that could have profound implications for both providers and residents.