Albany just put a multimillion dollar price tag on running a nursing home with too few nurses on the floor.
New York state regulators have hit 20 nursing homes with more than $4 million in civil penalties for failing to meet the state’s minimum nursing staffing standards. It is one of the first major enforcement rounds under the staffing law that took effect in 2022 and it lands at a time when many operators say they are already squeezed by tight budgets and worker shortages. Families and advocates see the fines as evidence that the state intends to back up long-promised staffing rules with real consequences.
According to Crain’s New York Business, the Department of Health issued notices in February after reviewing federal Payroll Based Journal staffing data for several quarters in 2022 and 2023. That first enforcement cycle ultimately assessed more than $4 million across multiple facilities. Crain’s reporting also details which quarters were reviewed and explains the timing behind the state’s decision to levy fines now.
How the penalties are calculated
Under New York public health rules, nursing homes must provide an average of 3.5 hours of direct nursing care per resident per day. At least 2.2 of those hours must come from certified nurse aides and at least 1.1 hours must be provided by licensed nurses. Compliance is measured on a quarterly basis using PBJ submissions, according to the New York State Department of Health…