A proposed change to how hospitals pay employees has long-term care leaders concerned about the impact on already-tight worker recruiting. An adjustment to the hospital wage index is designed to help hospitals improve hiring, but it doesn’t address skilled nursing providers. In comments posted on the Federal Register, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) expressed concern that these add-ons will allow hospitals higher wages than post-acute providers. AHCA CEO and president Mark Parkinson said, “Such a change would further exacerbate the competitive disadvantage of post-acute providers in recruiting staff, as hospitals already can pay more.” Elsewhere, LeadingAge asked CMS to consider the potential impact boosting hospital pay would have on skilled nursing homes. Read the full article.
