Tell Congress to Support Standards for Nursing Home Staffing and Transparency

The Biden Administration is on the brink of implementing important reforms for nursing homes - requiring staffing standards and increasing transparency and accountability for owners and use of public money. We need Members of Congress to show their support for these proposals that will promote meaningful improvements in care for residents. Tell your Members to support nursing home staffing and transparency!

Use the form below to send them a message.

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Dear [Decision Maker],

I'm writing to urge you to support the critical nursing home reforms the Biden administration proposed last year, including a minimum staffing standard in nursing homes, and increasing transparency and accountability around ownership and finances. Implementing these provisions would be the most significant increase in protections for nursing home residents in decades.

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These proposals (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/02/28/fact-sheet-protecting-seniors-and-people-with-disabilities-by-improving-safety-and-quality-of-care-in-the-nations-nursing-homes/) are critical for the health and safety of nursing home residents who often suffer daily neglect when their facilities are understaffed.  Numerous studies have found a correlation between higher staffing levels and improved quality of care.  Without adequate staff, residents routinely miss showers, sit in soiled clothes and dirty diapers, and fail to receive necessary medication.  Their call bells go unanswered, even in emergencies. They're left lying in bed, not being moved or turned, increasing the risk of pressure ulcers.  They face neglect in numerous ways.  Poorly staffed nursing homes are more likely to be cited for abuse, have worse health inspections, and have lower overall five-star ratings than adequately staffed nursing homes.

Yet, the nursing home industry argues that they are unable and cannot afford to provide adequate staff.  However, a new report by Consumer Voice, "Where Do the Billions of Dollars Go?  A Look at Nursing Home Related Party Transactions," (https://theconsumervoice.org/uploads/files/issues/2023-Related-Party-Report.pdf) finds that:
- Nursing homes funnel billions of dollars yearly through related party companies and there is little to no scrutiny by the federal government on how this money is spent.  
- Related parties make nursing homes look less profitable than they are - a closer look suggests that profits may be hidden in these transactions.  
- Nursing home owners and operators routinely pay their related parties more than the reported costs.  
- Cost reports do not capture enough information on related party transactions to enable CMS to fulfill its regulatory obligation to ensure taxpayer dollars are going towards care and not towards profits to owners and operators.

It is essential that we take steps to hold nursing home owners accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars.  That includes ensuring necessary funds go towards direct care. Nursing home residents cannot be left neglected and suffering in inadequate and unacceptable conditions.

Nursing home residents deserve to live their lives with dignity. We urge you to support the Administration's proposals for requiring staffing standards in nursing homes, and holding owners and operators accountable for the quality of care they provide and how they spend public dollars. This is essential for ensuring that nursing home residents receive the care they need and deserve.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]