Hilovsky: Actions need to be taken to avoid staffing mandates
A recent Opinion piece from my colleague Rep. Danny Short, R-Seaford, “Staff mandates for nursing homes would hurt patients,” rightfully noted concerns regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ federal staffing mandate for nursing homes. This unfunded, blanket mandate has dangerous implications for our seniors’ access to care, but I am particularly worried what this means for our veterans.
As someone who has proudly served our country as a colonel and medical commander in the U.S. Air Force, I am keenly aware of the debt we owe to our veterans. As such, we must ensure every veteran has continued access to care.
I share a great concern with the drawdown of bed availability at our Delaware Veterans Home due to the inability to hire staff. The federal staffing regulation will exacerbate the bed availability crisis in Milford and elsewhere in the state, leading to a further reduction in access. It will not increase access for veterans who need to be in a skilled nursing facility.
I urge Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and our representatives on Capitol Hill to join the dozens of lawmakers in both parties who have asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to work with Congress to address workforce shortages and availability in a manner that provides needed flexibility and protects access to care. They should also support the bipartisan Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act, which would prevent the agency from finalizing the mandate. We shouldn’t put our seniors and veterans in harm’s way.
Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Millsboro
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