Among the almost 4700 comments (so far; there will be more at midnight when the comment period ends*) submitted to CMS on the FY 2023 Proposed SNF PPS rule and RFI, was a response to the RFI from the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) specifically on staffing ratios. The comment/response letter includes a review of pre-pandemic staffing data and found that nursing facilities with a higher share of Medicaid covered residents were much more likely to have lower staffing rates, serve more racial and ethnic minorities, and had considerable variation from state to state. MACPAC pledged over the coming year to continue to look at principles states should consider when setting Medicaid nursing facility payment policies to promote access to adequate staffing, an efficient resources and reduce health disparities. *You can check the final number of comments on the proposed rule here.
