Ohio Governor Urges State Lawmakers to Approve Proposed Nursing Home Staffing Rules

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R) on Sept. 5 urged state lawmakers to approve new rules that would boost staffing and care in state nursing homes, the Columbus Dispatch reports. In a letter to state Rep. Jamie Callender (R), chair of the state Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, Taft asked the panel to pass a proposal that would revise state nursing home rules for the first time in 27 years. Under the proposed rules, nursing homes would have to provide an average of 2.75 hours of "direct care" to patients daily, up from an average of 1.6 hours. The committee plans to vote Sept. 10 on the proposal. The Ohio Public Health Council also must approve the proposed regulations. According to Taft, "These rules will protect and in some cases improve the quality of care nursing home residents receive ... to ensure residents maintain the highest level of dignity possible." State Health Director J. Nick Baird, who has met with eight of the 10 members of the committee to discuss the proposal, said that "his presentation was well-received." However, he said that the nursing home industry has lobbied against the proposal. In his letter, Taft pointed out that nursing homes will receive about $250 million in additional funding through the state budget that took effect July 1, which "will more than cover any costs generated by the proposed changes." About 100,000 Ohio residents reside in 1,030 nursing homes statewide, and about 100 nursing homes in Ohio do not provide 2.75 hours of daily direct care to patients, Baird said (Craig, Columbus Dispatch, 9/6). For further information on state health policy in Ohio, visit State Health Facts Online.