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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1057
AN ACT CONCERNING MINIMUM STAFFING LEVELS IN NURSING
HOMES.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Public Health (DPH), by
January 1, 2022, to adopt regulations modifying minimum staffing
levels in nursing homes to require at least 4.10 hours of direct care per
resident per day, including 0.75 hours of care by a registered nurse,
0.54 hours of care by a licensed practical nurse, and 2.81 hours of care
by a certified nurse’s assistant.
Current law requires nursing homes to maintain aggregate licensed
nurse and nurse’s aide staffing levels of at least 1.9 hours of direct care
per resident per day (see BACKGROUND).
The bill also requires the DPH commissioner to do the following:
1. review the current regulatory definition of “direct care” and
consider redefining the term for minimum staffing level
requirements;
2. review and implement best practices for establishing and
maintaining minimum staffing levels at nursing homes;
3. encourage nursing homes to adopt payment incentives for staff
to work in a single nursing home; and
4. prohibit anyone subject to a DPH consent order for violations of
health and safety regulations related to nursing homes from
working in a nursing home in any capacity.
The bill requires the DPH commissioner to take these actions in
consultation with the Department of Social Services (DSS)
commissioner. It also requires the DSS commissioner, in consultation 2021SB-01057-R000522-BA.DOCX
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with the DPH commissioner, to establish a minimum percentage of
Medicaid reimbursement to nursing homes for providing direct care to
nursing home residents.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021
BACKGROUND
Current Minimum Nurse Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes
DPH licenses nursing homes at two levels of care: (1) chronic and
convalescent nursing homes (CCNHs), which provide skilled nursing
care, and (2) rest homes with nursing supervision (RHNS), which
provide intermediate care. (Nursing homes generally have been
phasing out RHNS beds or converting them to CCNH beds.)
Minimum staffing requirements for CCNHs and RHNS are set by
regulation and depend on the time of day as shown in the table below
(Conn. Agencies Regs., § 19-13-D8t(m)).
Table 1: Minimum Nurse Staffing Requirements
for Nursing Homes
Direct Care
Personnel
CCNH RHNS
7 a.m. to 9
p.m.
9 p.m. to 7
a.m.
7 a.m. to 9
p.m.
9 p.m. to 7
a.m.
Licensed
Nursing
Personnel
0.47 hours per
patient (hpp)
(28 min.)
0.17 hpp
(10 min.)
0.23 hpp
(14 minutes)
0.08 hpp
(5 min.)
Total Nurses
and Nurse
Aide
Personnel
1.4 hpp
(1 hr. 24 min.)
0.50 hpp
(30 min.)
0.70 hpp
(42 min.)
0.17 hpp
(10 min.)
Related Bill
sSB 1030, favorably reported by the Public Health Committee, 2021SB-01057-R000522-BA.DOCX
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establishes the same minimum staffing requirements, among other
provisions related to long-term care facilities.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Human Services Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 13 Nay 6 (04/01/2021)