News Article

President Biden Issues Executive Order to Increase Access to High-Quality Long-Term Care Services, Support Family Caregivers, and Create Better Jobs for Long-Term Care Workers

April 20, 2023

On April 18, 2023, President Biden issued a wide-ranging executive order designed to increase access to high quality long-term care services and child care services, to support family caregivers, and to create better jobs for long-term care workers. Importantly, the executive order acknowledged that the country must do more to support workers who provide long-term care services by increasing pay and benefits, providing additional training and educational opportunities, and offering other supports to workers. The order also called for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to explore innovative ways to support family members providing care to loved ones with dementia. Consumer Voice strongly supports the actions announced in the executive order, and thanks President Biden for taking decisive action to support long-term care workers and family caregivers.

As Consumer Voice has pointed out, there is a job quality crisis in the long-term care industry, particularly in nursing homes. Low wages and poor benefits, little opportunities for career advancement, and impossible workloads have led to a staffing turnover rate of nearly 54% annually. In a statement on April 18, 2023, the Biden administration acknowledged this high turnover rate, and recommended that HHS “condition a portion of Medicare payments on how well a nursing home retains workers.” The statement acknowledged the forthcoming minimum staffing standard as another important tool to enhance job quality for nursing home workers. Consumer Voice strongly supports these efforts by the Biden administration to address job quality by requiring nursing homes to spend Medicare and Medicaid dollars on staffing.

It has been over a year since President Biden announced the most significant nursing home reforms in decades. Tuesday’s announcement continues the Administration’s efforts to address the crisis in nursing homes by supporting long-term care workers. We must have better jobs and supports for long-term care workers in order for nursing home residents to be safe and receive high-quality care. We applaud the Administration’s continued efforts to help protect our country’s most vulnerable residents.