A KFF Health News article posted on August 29th was linked to the highly anticipated and previously unreleased report from CMS contractor Abt Associates on the nursing home staffing study conducted on behalf of CMS. The report, dated June 2023, had quietly been posted on the CMS website.
When the KFF report came out, CMS removed the draft report with a statement from Principal Deputy Administrator Jon Blum, saying, in part, that: the study had been posted in error. “CMS is committed to holding nursing homes accountable for protecting the health and safety of all residents, and adequate staffing is critical to this effort. CMS’s proposal is being developed using a rigorous process that draws on a wide range of source information, including extensive input from residents and their families, workers, administrators, experts, and other stakeholders. Our focus is on advancing implementable solutions that promote safe, quality care for residents.”
KFF Health News subsequently posted a copy of the report that had been posted and then removed by CMS. The report outlined the study methodology and evaluated options for a minimum staffing requirement, along with the feasibility and costs associated with a minimum staffing requirement but did not make a recommendation for a specific standard and was unable to draw conclusive evidence in favor of a specific standard to guarantee quality care. The proposed staffing standards remain under review at the Office of Management and Budget, with CMS sharing no information on what the standard proposes.
