Randy Gerlach is president and CEO of Schofield Care, which operates a 120-bed nursing home in Kenmore.
The Schofield Residence is rated four stars by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, meaning it’s considered above average. Yet it doesn’t quite meet the new safe staffing bill’s mandate of 3.5 care hours per resident per day.
“Are they working smarter, not harder? And if they are, why are we going to penalize them, to add cost when they re already doing a very good job?” Gerlach said.
Like nursing home operators, advocates for nursing home residents also worry the bill won’t actually improve care, but for much different reasons. They say 3.5 hours isn’t enough.
New York state staffing minimums receive pushback over nursing home requirements
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Nurses Hail Passage of Safe Staffing Bills
publicnewsservice.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from publicnewsservice.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
N.Y. lawmakers pass safe staffing bills for hospitals, nursing homes
Consumer advocacy groups say legislation doesn t go far enough to protect patients, residents
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1of5Buy Photo1199SEIU nursing home workers hold a demonstrations at the entrance to the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 in Schenectady, N.Y. Nursing home workers are holding demonstrations and vigils at more than 20 nursing homes across New York State, calling for greater transparency and investment in quality resident care. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
2of5Buy Photo1199SEIU nursing home workers hold a demonstrations at the entrance to the Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 in Schenectady, N.Y. Nursing home workers are holding demonstrations and vigils at more than 20 nursing homes across New York State, calling for greater transparency and invest