VHCA-VCAL issued a press release and shared information with key legislators showing that December 2021 data (latest data available) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlighting that Virginia’s nursing homes and other residential care facilities continue to suffer from a persistent workforce shortage. These providers have still not seen recovery in the over 9,100 employees lost since February 2020. This equates to an 11.6 percent loss of the workforce.

The losses in the nursing home workforce are key to VHCA-VCAL’s arguments against mandating unattainable staffing levels as a set of bills before the General Assembly proposes. The release notes nursing homes in Virginia are struggling to find caregivers. There has been an exodus of health care staff in nursing homes as the pressures of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic linger. Despite their best efforts to recruit, 59% of facilities have reported they have received few to no applicants to fill their staffing needs.

Without addressing the chronic underfunding of Medicaid nursing care, nursing homes cannot address their staffing challenge on their own. Rather than mandating additional staff, Medicaid reimbursement should recognize the current costs of care, a large part of which is related to staffing. By design, these costs are not fully reflected in Medicaid payment rates. This is significant because the Medicaid program covers the cost of care for six in 10 Medicaid residents. Additional long-range steps are also needed to increase the pipeline of nurses and nurse aides.

“It is time for Virginia to recognize its obligation to better fund nursing home care through Medicaid and invest in our long term care workforce. A strong workforce will help ensure current and future long term care residents have access to the high-quality care they deserve,” said Keith Hare, VHCA-VCAL president and CEO.