Nursing home staffing rules face legal battle as union defends reforms
WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES — The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is backing Biden’s nursing home staffing rules against 20 states’ legal challenge, arguing they will fix dangerous understaffing.
The said U.S. states and industry groups have filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa seeking to block new federal staffing requirements for nursing homes.
In the legal challenge, they said that the new staffing requirements pose, “An existential threat to the nursing home industry as many nursing homes that are already struggling will have no choice but to go out of business,” claiming $7bn in costs could force closures as facilities struggle to hire.
Worker safety against industry survival
The union has intervened in Iowa’s legal challenge against federal nursing home staffing rules, arguing the mandates address a care crisis caused by poor working conditions and not a worker shortage.
Representing 150,000 caregivers in 23 states, the union cites studies showing understaffing leads to neglected residents and high turnover.
Colorado aide LeeAn Webster said, “Without the proper staffing, people don’t get hydrated, people don’t get fed, people don’t get changed, people don’t get walked, people don’t thrive. And you don’t have five minutes to hold someone’s hand while they’re dying.”
The controversial rules, being implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), would mandate higher staffing levels at facilities nationwide.
This legal showdown now pits caregivers’ demands for sustainable jobs against operators’ warnings of mass closures, with the outcome poised to reshape elder care nationwide.
Outsourcing’s role in meeting staffing needs
With these legal battles arising, it’s time to integrate strategies to prevent more problems from emerging. Nursing homes are turning to staffing agencies to help meet new federal requirements for 3.48 daily care hours per resident.
With 14% of Iowa facilities already cited for staffing violations based on the data from CMS, which is more than double the national average, outsourcing partners may help bridge gaps while permanent hiring continues, particularly in rural areas where the worker shortage is most severe. These partnerships offer flexible solutions while maintaining care quality.
By leveraging outsourced nursing staff, facilities can comply with regulations without overburdening their budgets. This approach helps ensure consistent, quality care for seniors while giving nursing homes time to recruit permanent staff.
