WNY has second-lowest nursing home staff vax rate of any region in the state, as mandate approaches wbfo.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wbfo.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The vacancy rate at nursing homes in New York has jumped to 21% three times the pre-pandemic level. This comes as the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the way the Cuomo administration reported coronavirus deaths in nursing homes.
More than 15,000 nursing home residents have died from COVID-19. Now, operators say families seem reluctant to send their relatives there.
Stephen Hanse is the president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association. He said this is the biggest vacancy rate he has seen and he worries some nursing homes could go out of business.
Federal data show more than 1 million people live in 15,000 nursing homes across the country. The vacancy rate in those homes is spiking in most states.
Nursing homes face high vacancies amid pandemic, raising fears for future newsday.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newsday.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NY budget makes nursing home operators spend more on staffing, take smaller profits
Updated 10:59 AM;
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Albany, N.Y. New York nursing homes will have to spend more of their revenue on staffing and keep less in profits under a provision in the state budget approved Tuesday.
Nursing homes will have to spend at least 70% of revenue on direct resident care. Of that amount, 40% must be spent on nurses, certified nurse aides and other staff who work directly with residents.
The provision also caps profits at 5%. When total operating revenue exceeds expenses by more than 5%, the excess revenue must be turned over to the state. The state will redistribute the money to nursing homes to help them improve quality.