Minimum Staffing Levels Are Important
Care Facilities Minimum Staffing Levels – Many of the incidents of neglect and abuse which occur in a nursing home or elder care environment is due to a low staffing level and lack of adequately trained professional nursing, and other staff members.
Minimum staffing requirements. In February 2022, CMS announced a comprehensive set of reforms to improve the safety and quality of nursing home care, hold nursing homes accountable for the care they provide, and make the quality of care and facility ownership more transparent so that potential residents and their loved ones can make informed care choices.[1] One key initiative within the President’s strategy is to establish new minimum staffing requirements so every nursing home has sufficient staff who are adequately trained to provide the safe and quality care residents need. Evidence has shown that adequate staffing is closely linked to the quality of care residents receive.[2]
Minimum Staffing Levels – Minnesota Statute
Minn. Stat. Sec. 144A04, Subd. 7. My understanding is that since the RUG-III classification began, we’re back to the 2.0 hours as the minimum. (Rules section 4655.5600 refers to boarding care homes.)
Subd. 7. Minimum staffing levels, nursing staff requirement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Minnesota Rules, part 4655.5600, the minimum staffing standard for nursing personnel in certified nursing homes is as follows:
(a) The minimum number of hours of nursing personnel to be provided in a nursing home is the greater of two hours per resident per 24 hours or 0.95 hours per standardized resident day. Upon transition to the 34 group, RUG-III resident classification system, the 0.95 hours per standardized resident day shall no longer apply.
(b) For purposes of this subdivision, “hours of nursing personnel” means the paid, on-duty, productive nursing hours of all nurses and nursing assistants, calculated on the basis of any given 24-hour period. “Productive nursing hours” means all on-duty hours during which nurses and nursing assistants are engaged in nursing duties. Examples of nursing duties may be found in Minnesota Rules, parts 4655.5900, 4655.6100, and 4655.6400. Not included are vacations, holidays, sick leave, in-service classroom training, or lunches. Also not included are the nonproductive nursing hours of the in-service training director. In homes with more than 60 licensed beds, the hours of the director of nursing are excluded. “Standardized resident day” means the sum of the number of residents in each case mix class multiplied by the case mix weight for that resident class, as found in Minnesota Rules, part 9549.0059, subpart 2, calculated on the basis of a facility’s census for any given day. For the purpose of determining a facility’s census, the commissioner of health shall exclude the resident days claimed by the facility for resident therapeutic leave or bed hold days.
(c) Calculation of nursing hours per standardized resident day is performed by dividing total hours of nursing personnel for a given period by the total of standardized resident days for that same period.
(d) A nursing home that is issued a notice of noncompliance under section 144A.10, subdivision 5, for a violation of this subdivision, shall be assessed a civil fine of $300 for each day of noncompliance, subject to section 144A.10, subdivisions 7 and 8.
This website is not intended to provide legal advice as each situation is different and specific factual information must be obtained before an attorney is able to assess the legal questions relevant to your situation.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury from neglect or abuse in a nursing home or other care facility that serves the elderly in Minnesota please contact our firm for a free consultation and information regarding the obligations of the facility and your rights as a resident or concerned family member.
If you suspect elder abuse or neglect please call to discuss your options.
To contact Attorney Kenneth L. LaBore, directly for Free Consultation, please send an email to klabore@MNnursinghomeneglect.com, or call Ken at 612-743-9048 or toll free at 1-888-452-6589.
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