04/11/2024

President Biden Notes Imminent Staffing Rule, Rising Long-Term Care Costs During Remarks on Care Economy

During an address on Tuesday, President Biden noted high costs for childcare, the rising costs of long-term care, and the need for mandatory paid leave. In the coming weeks, President Biden said the nurse staffing minimum final rule and the Medicaid access final rule (aka, the 80-20 rule) would be released, while also reiterating his Administration’s investments in caregivers and caregiving. 

President Biden doubled down on his commitment to reduce waitlists for Medicaid home- and community-based services, implement mandatory paid family leave, and pursue tax reform for the middle class. 

The press event followed the release of a more detailed fact sheet outlining the Administration’s efforts on these issues to date as well as ongoing priorities yet to be realized. View the press conference here (begins at 39:57) and read the fact sheet here. 

In response to the President’s remarks, LeadingAge’s president and CEO, Katie Smith Sloan, issued the following statement: “For the first time in decades, our federal government is committed to meaningful action to ensure America’s older adults and families can receive quality care in nursing homes, and in their homes and communities. LeadingAge and our nonprofit, mission-driven aging services providers share the Biden Administration’s goal. Caregivers, as the President noted, are critical; without staff, as our nonprofit mission-driven members know, there is no care. Yet, unfortunately, the administration’s approach misses the mark.”