Open AccessFactors Associated With State Mandate of Nursing Home Staff Testing During COVID-19
Author(s) -
Edward Miller,
Molly Wylie,
Lisa Kalimon Beauregard,
Pamela Nadash,
Michael K. Gusmano,
Elizabeth Simpson
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
innovation in aging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2399-5300
DOI - 10.1093/geroni/igab046.959
Subject(s) - medicaid , mandate , legislature , government (linguistics) , business , salary , covid-19 , population , public economics , medicine , nursing , environmental health , economic growth , economics , health care , political science , law , linguistics , philosophy , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
COVID-19 has presented challenges for nursing homes (NHs) and other congregate living settings which serve older adults at high risk for morbidity and death from the virus. This study identified factors associated with states’ adopting a mandate for regular staff testing for COVID-19 in NHs. Potential correlates included state government ideology and capacity, NH supply and demand, prevailing economic conditions, existing state policies, and NH characteristics. Findings indicate that percent for profit NHs is most strongly associated with adoption of a state staff testing mandate. Governing capacity (average legislative salary), percent population at risk for COVID-19, and existing public policy (percent Medicaid spending devoted to long-term services and supports (LTSS) were also associated with the probability of adoption. Based on these results, states with more proprietary facilities and greater capacities for government action, investment in Medicaid LTSS, and at-risk populations were more likely to mandate regular staff testing in NHs.