It’s clear the long-term care field is in a tough spot. At a time when worker shortages have never been more severe, regulators are pushing for minimum staffing benchmarks.

One proposed response was a resolution to overturn the directive. But Republicans have now announced they won’t pursue that option, as it would face a certain veto from the Biden administration.

Which leaves providers facing a rather bleak reality. How bleak? Operators are facing  the most stringent requirement since the 1987 law that reformed the nursing home sector. The Biden administration’s mandate requires facilities to provide at least 3.48 hours of direct nursing care per resident per day.

You talk about the road to hell being paved with good intentions. While the goal of improving care is admirable, the “remedy” now on the table ignores a basic reality: many long-term care providers are already struggling to find enough staff.

As Todd Adams from LeadingAge rightly pointed out, regulations alone won’t fix the issue. What’s needed is significant investment in recruiting, training, and retaining caregivers for the nursing home workforce.

Without those table stakes, the CMS mandate is destined to fail. Many nursing homes are barely surviving as is. Adding more staffing requirements could push some facilities — particularly in rural or underserved areas — into closure.

It’s no surprise that lawsuits from the American Health Care Association and LeadingAge are already challenging the staffing rule in court. But even if the new requirement is overturned, the workforce and financial crises plaguing the sector will remain.

The nursing home industry needs more than just regulatory demands — it needs real, targeted action. That means new policies where you invest in building a stronger long-term care workforce and ensure providers aren’t shortchanged by inadequate reimbursement.

The stakes are too high to rely on mandates that don’t address the core issues. What’s needed is a comprehensive, strategic plan to strengthen the long-term care industry — before things get really ugly.

John O’Connor is editorial director for McKnight’s.

Opinions expressed in McKnight’s Long-Term Care News columns are not necessarily those of McKnight’s.