Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition Opposes CMS Final Rule on Minimum Staffing Standards for LTC Facilities
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading national voice for the long-term care pharmacy sector, released a statement today regarding its opposition to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule on minimum staffing standards for long-term care (LTC) facilities.
In November 2023, SCPC joined a chorus of voices opposing the proposed CMS rule and the harm it will cause LTC facilities still struggling to regain solid footing amid workforce issues and other challenges. Our specific issues with the staffing rule include:
1. Inadequate workforce to meet the proposed staffing requirements.
2. Inadequate Medicaid reimbursement to meet the proposed staffing requirements.
3. Inadequate flexibility for operators already dealing with many other requirements.
4. Unduly complex when overlaid on existing state staffing requirements.
5. Unintended consequences will undermine overall quality of care for residents in LTC facilities and threaten the economic viability for significant subsets of the LTC facility and LTC pharmacy markets.
“We are disappointed that the final staffing rule by CMS does not incorporate the long-term care (LTC) sector’s clear and legitimate concerns regarding the viability of a federal minimum staffing proposal and its potential for adverse resident outcomes. This burdensome mandate will have significant implications on seniors’ access to quality care across LTC settings. Ultimately, it will limit access to nursing facility care for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, undermine overall quality of care and services for LTC facility residents, and threaten the financial viability of LTC facilities as well as LTC pharmacies,” said Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition. “At a time when our healthcare industry is already facing a multitude of challenges, including significant issues in finding an available workforce, we should be looking for innovative solutions to improve quality, accessible and affordable care, for all patients. We are committed to working with elected officials and CMS representatives to ensure those that we serve in the LTC industry receive the high-quality care they deserve regardless of their healthcare setting.”
# # #
Recent Posts
-
NCPA Advocates for Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Overhaul Due to Pharmacy Cash Flow
With its initial rollout beginning in 2026, the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program has caused significant strain on the cash flow of independent pharmacies.
The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is sounding the alarm over the federal government’s implementation of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (MDPNP) after a recent survey of its members revealed significant financial distress, according to a news release.
-
Pharmacies To Face Low Cash Flow For MFP Drugs Until Fixes Emerge
A bill introduced last year aiming to ensure long-term care (LTC) pharmacies can continue to supply and dispense Medicare Part D drugs despite lower prices resulting from the price negotiation program will need to be tweaked to ensure the intended relief is retroactive, according to Alan Rosenbloom, executive director of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC).
-
SCPC Applauds Inclusion of PBM Reform in Recent Spending Package Approved by U.S. House & Senate
The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), the leading voice for the nation’s long-term care (LTC) pharmacy community, released the following statement about the passage of PBM reform: “SCPC applauds the passage of bipartisan pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform legislation by both the U.S. House and Senate, marking a significant step toward greater transparency, accountability, and fairness in the prescription drug marketplace. These […]
Stay in the Know
Get the latest news and updates on issues impacting the long-term pharmacy community.