Biden to launch ambitious overhaul of nursing home quality

President Joe Biden is launching a major overhaul of nursing home quality in his State of the Union speech

WASHINGTON -- President Joe Biden will use his State of the Union speech to launch a major overhaul of nursing home quality, including minimum staffing levels and steps to beef up inspections while continuing to keep COVID-19 at bay.

White House officials on Monday outlined more than 20 separate actions, many of them sought by advocates and opposed by the industry.

One major missing element: New sources of federal financing to pay for the ambitious upgrade.

“Overall these are very positive developments,” said Harvard health policy professor David Grabowksi, who tracks long-term care. “If you ask the industry, they'll tell you this will put them out of business. If you ask an advocate, they'll say there's plenty of money in the system. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.”