Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act establishes mandatory minimum nursing staffing requirements for skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid, taking effect January 1, 2029. Facilities must provide at least 4.1 hours of daily nursing care per resident, including a minimum of 0.75 hours from registered nurses and 0.55 hours from licensed practical nurses, plus 2.8 hours of nurse aide care, with a registered nurse present on-site 24 hours a day. Facilities that fail to comply face strict penalties including increased inspections, loss of Medicare and Medicaid payments for new admissions, exclusion from quality incentive programs, and mandatory public notices of non-compliance. States may grant temporary waivers of up to 180 days for facilities facing genuine workforce challenges, but facilities with recent safety violations or special focus status are ineligible, and no facility can receive more than two consecutive waivers. The bill requires the federal government to report to Congress by 2034 and every five years thereafter on how these staffing standards affect resident safety, care quality, and nursing workforce retention.
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