Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) this week blasted Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra over a “permissive telework policy” that he said was likely impacting the department’s productivity.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were a prime target for Cassidy, who asked multiple questions about the agency’s remote work policies before the Senate Finance Committee. hearing Wednesday.
He flashed a photo of an empty parking lot, allegedly taken at CMS headquarters in Maryland on Monday, and asked Becerra how he knew if an employee was working.
“Without cars, buildings are empty,” said Cassidy. “How many full-time employees are at their desks in one of these buildings each day?”
CMS has previously admitted that it faces staffing shortages of its own, as do many state research agencies competing for nurses to fill many inspector roles. An issue highlighted by Senator Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania) from the top of the Senate Committee on Aging, since the pandemic, the majority of nursing homes across the country have been routinely surveyed for adherence to quality of care. pointing out that there is no
This issue remains a concern for operators who face increased penalties if follow-up is not carried out in a timely manner and evaluations may be affected longer than intended. It’s an ongoing concern for consumer advocates and workers alike, as workers at a Missouri nursing home held Wednesday. Press conference We ask the Governor to increase the number of inspections and complete more investigations there.
Meanwhile, CMS personnel are facing shortages across ranks. In January, Chief Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer John Blum told listeners in a phone call with a source that the company had filled about 500 positions in the second half of 2022. agency workforce.
Cassidy on Wednesday challenged a hiring strategy that promotes telework policies in an attempt to attract job seekers. He said some HHS workers, including CMS and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees, told him they only needed to report to the office once a month.
Becerra told senators that HHS ensures that all employees are “performing and performing.”
