Nursing homes in Maine will have to increase staffing levels to comply with new mandates from the Biden Administration. The majority of the state’s nursing homes will need to hire more staff, but many are already struggling with severe shortages. The Maine Health Care Association argues that the mandate is unrealistic and could lead to further downsizing or closures, while others believe it’s necessary to improve care quality and working conditions. The staffing crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, burnout, and competition for traveling nurses. Maine has debated but not yet implemented state-level nurse staffing mandates. Nursing homes will have two to three years to comply with the federal rules, and the state may need to provide additional funding in the next budget.