Senate Finance Democrats Seek Input on Nursing Home Reform Package
Senate Finance Committee Democrats, led by Ranking Member Ron Wyden, issued a request for information on long-term care reform covering nursing home ownership transparency, private equity influence, staffing standards, and workforce development. The RFI proposes reinstating detailed ownership-disclosure requirements, expanding beneficial ownership reporting to nursing homes, requiring CMS to scrutinize operator track records before approving ownership changes, and establishing a federal spending floor directing a minimum share of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to direct resident care. It also seeks feedback on staffing mandates, citing Illinois's value-based Medicaid staffing incentives as a model, and proposes updating CNA training standards and Five-Star Quality Rating staffing metrics. Nursing home industry groups including AHCA/NCAL and Saber Healthcare Group expressed support for several proposals while opposing reinstatement of the repealed 2024 federal staffing rule.