S.Amdt. 4706

The amendment, known as the Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act, aims to increase and standardize nurse staffing levels in skilled nursing and nursing facilities. It focuses on ensuring residents have access to qualified care and investing in the nursing workforce.

Key Changes and Additions

• Staffing Requirements:

  • Requires 24-hour licensed nursing services.
  • Sets a minimum staffing requirement of at least 3.48 hours per resident day, provided by a combination of registered professional nurses, licensed practical/vocational nurses, or certified nursing assistants.
  • Mandates that registered professional nurses be available at least 8 consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week, moving to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week starting 180 days after enactment.

• Studies and Regulations:

  • Directs a study every 4 years to analyze staffing requirements and determine if the 3.48 hours per resident day should be increased.
  • Requires the Secretary to create and update regulations based on these study reports.

• Funding and Investment:

  • Appropriates $800,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and beyond for the Survey and Certification Program.
  • Allocates $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 to carry out the staffing study.
  • Directs that at least half of civil money penalties collected be used for workforce support, such as grants for recruiting and training, developing career pathways, and repaying student loans or paying tuition for qualified providers who commit to working in these facilities for at least 3 years within a 10-year period.

• Accountability and Legal Status:

  • Requires states to submit annual reports on how workforce funds are allocated and their impact on outcomes like vacancy rates and resident quality.
  • Gives the force and effect of law to specific federal regulations regarding long-term services and payment transparency reporting.