Thank You and Let’s Keep Going

I wanted to send a message today to say THANK YOU. Thank you for all of your work to submit comments on the CMS proposed minimum staffing rule. The official comment period closed yesterday, and our initial goal was to submit 10,000 comments from AHCA/NCAL members. You all went above and beyond, submitting more than 18,000 comments to make sure CMS understands the devastating impact of this proposed rule on our profession and those we serve.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that more than 13,500 comments were submitted from AHCA/NCAL members as part of the pre-rule campaign conducted earlier this year. So, all together, you have submitted 31,000+ comments on this proposed rule alone. I don’t know of any other profession that could’ve come together like that and made that much of an impact. This is a tremendous effort, and I want to say thank you again.

What Happens Next?

CMS has to review each and every comment letter before it can move forward. With the number of comments that have been submitted, this will take a while. Only then can the agency decide how and when to move forward. There is no required timeline, so CMS can take as long as it needs. We will continue to keep you apprised of any updates we receive on next steps and timing.

Let’s Keep Going

In the meantime, AHCA/NCAL will not stop fighting this proposed rule. We will maintain our ongoing advocacy efforts, meet with members of Congress, communicate with the Administration, and sustain our press efforts to ensure we get our message across loud and clear. You can continue to support this effort, as well, by meeting with your members of Congress in your districts. Hosting facility and community tours also remains important. Now more than ever, we need to make sure our elected officials see what we do, who we care for, and the need for supportive policies to strengthen our workforce versus finalizing this unfunded, impossible to implement one-size-fits-all mandate.

Our team is ready to assist you. Heather Posthumus and Matt Smyth on the AHCA/NCAL Government Relations team can help as you plan visits with members of Congress. You are also encouraged to use the AHCA and NCAL issue briefs on the proposed minimum staffing mandate as we continue these efforts. Don’t hesitate to reach out to Heather or Matt if they can help at all.

Thanks again for everything you do, especially on this effort. Let’s continue to work together to ensure our residents and caregivers have the support they need and deserve through meaningful investments and policy solutions. This is not over, and we will continue to fight for you and your residents.

Sincerely,

Mark Parkinson
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL