U.S. Bill Would Require More Staffing And Curtail Arbitration In Nursing Homes

Nursing homes would face minimum staffing requirements and a prohibition on pre-dispute arbitration agreements, among other significant potential changes included in legislation introduced last week by a group of Democratic senators.

The bill would also explore future possibilities for smaller, more private nursing homes.

The Department of Health and Human Services would report to Congress within three years on establishing minimum staff-to-resident ratios in nursing homes. Follow-up reports would then come at least every five years. HHS would apply the staffing minimums, subject to waivers, to the Medicare and Medicaid requirements of participation within two years of each report.