The Honorable Lloyd Doggett
2307 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
The Honorable Jan Schakowsky
2408 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representatives Doggett and Schakowsky:
On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I am writing to endorse the Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act (H.R. 8100).
The U.S. population of adults age 65 and older will grow by an estimated 30 million people by 2060, and the population age 85 and older will triple. As the nation ages, we will need safely staffed nursing homes to assure the health, safety, and dignity of the frailest among us. Evidence shows that higher staffing levels are associated with lower mortality rates and few rehospitalizations among nursing home residents. In addition, safe staffing reduces incidents of infections, pressure ulcers, weight loss and dehydration.
H.R. 8100 proposes to establish a minimum of 4.1 hours of direct nursing home care per resident per day, and a requirement for a Registered Nurse to be on duty and on-site 24/7. Facilities that did not meet the required minimums would be required to notify residents and their families, including posting physical notices in the facility. Such notices would also be posted on CMS’s Care Compare website. Facilities seeking “hardship” waivers from the required staffing minimums would need to submit evidence in the form of workforce and wage data, as well as annual turnover rates of nursing staff.
The National Committee endorses this bill, and we look forward to working with you to move it forward.
Sincerely,
Max Richtman
President and CEO