Nursing homes would have to provide more direct care to residents under a new proposal by Governor Tom Wolf.
His administration released details of the plan yesterday. Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam says the number of hours of mandated direct care would increase from 2.7 to 4.1.
“Providing 4.1 hours of direct care not only aligns with best practices and existing research, but it prioritizes resident well-being,” Beam said. “This is an especially necessary approach after the tumultuous and trying year-and-a-half of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Critics of the proposal say it’s an unfunded mandate from Wolf. They argue that staffing is short at the moment and that it would be difficult to meet the request.