Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced intense questioning during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, as lawmakers grilled him over his handling of COVID-era nursing home policies. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, pressed Cuomo to apologize to families who lost loved ones during the pandemic, accusing him of being responsible for the controversial policies that led to a spike in nursing home deaths.
Families of nursing home residents who died during the COVID-19 pandemic will be present at former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s congressional testimony on Tuesday, September 10th. They are seeking accountability for his administration’s handling of the crisis, particularly regarding the directive to place COVID-19 patients in nursing homes.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will testify before a congressional subcommittee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The hearing will focus on Cuomo’s handling of the pandemic, particularly his controversial policies regarding nursing homes. The subcommittee will examine whether Cuomo’s directives led to increased deaths in nursing homes, with Republicans arguing that he should be held accountable for his decisions. Cuomo’s spokesperson has defended his record, attributing the high death rate to factors beyond his control.
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.
Vice President Kamala Harris announced the first rule to establish minimum staffing levels at federally funded nursing homes, ensuring a certain portion of taxpayer dollars goes toward wages for caregivers. The rule aims to enhance patient care, increase staff availability, and support caregivers. This announcement aligns with President Biden’s plan from his 2022 State of the Union address to address staffing shortages and improve nursing home quality standards.
The federal government has established minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes, aiming to address the grim realities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These rules mandate a minimum number of hours of care per resident and round-the-clock availability of registered nurses. The new regulations aim to ensure quality care by requiring 80% of Medicaid payments to go towards worker wages.
The Biden administration has announced new requirements for nursing homes, including minimum levels of front-line caregivers. The policy, announced by Vice President Harris, requires nursing homes that receive federal funding to provide residents with certain hours of care from registered nurses and nurse aides. The final rule also requires facilities to have a registered nurse on staff 24/7.
