New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed Executive Order (EO) 4.4, which 1) extends the declaration of a statewide disaster emergency due to staffing shortages and 2) delays the start date for the laws requiring nursing facilities to spend 70% of their revenue on direct resident care and 40% on resident-facing staffing, and to maintain 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident per day. EO 4.4 extends the state of emergency and delays the nursing facility laws until January 30, 2022.
GNYHA is developing comments for the State in response to the nursing facility staffing laws and will continue to advocate for a process that ensures full funding and recognition of the staffing shortages. The comments are due in mid-January. GNYHA will closely monitor any developments and update you with any news in the coming weeks.
Please contact Roxanne Tena-Nelson with comments about these issues and to share any new information you may have about your ability or specific needs to provide post-acute care services under the current staffing shortage.
Wishing you a happy and healthy new year.