Arizona is one of 15 states urging the federal government to create stronger minimum staffing standards for nursing homes.

Kris Mayes has joined a coalition of other state attorneys general who are calling for change.

Mayes and the other attorneys general have submitted a letter addressed to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

CMS recently proposed a change to the minimum number of hours of care provided to each resident each day by nursing staff.

Mayes said she commends CMS for its efforts to enhance quality care, but that the number of hours proposed isn’t high enough to accomplish that.

The proposal also only creates a minimum for registered nurses (RNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), but not licensed practical nurses (LPNs). 

The attorneys say that could drive facilities to operate only with RNs and CNAs, which would increase the workload for already overburdened nurses.