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In the last few weeks, the Biden Administration has released a number of final rules including some that address civil rights in health care, staffing ratios for long-term care facilities, and overtime pay. Nondiscrimination Protections and Advancing Civil Rights in Health Care HHS issued a final rule to advance protections against discrimination in health care on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability. The rule: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities Last week, CMS issued a final rule that establishes new minimum nurse staffing requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF). CMS is finalizing a total nurse staffing standard of 3.48 Hours Per Resident Day (HPRD), which must include at least: CMS is also finalizing enhanced facility assessment requirements and a requirement to have an RN onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Implementation of the new staffing ratios will be phased in order to ensure health care systems are able to prepare the workforce. Restoring and Extending Overtime Pay Protections The Department of Labor (DOL) finalized a rule that will increase the standard salary level used to determine which salaried employees are entitled to overtime pay protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Currently, salaried employees who earn less than $35,568 per year are entitled to overtime pay. Beginning July 1, 2024, that standard will increase to $43,888 per year; the standard will raise to $58,656 per year beginning January 1, 2025. The DOL will also amend the salary level standards for certain highly-compensated employees who are paid a salary, earn above a higher total annual compensation level, and satisfy a minimal duties test. The current standard for highly compensated workers is $107,432 per year; this will increase on July 1, 2024, to $132,964 per year, and to $151,164 beginning January 1, 2025. Beginning July 1, 2027, the DOL will redetermine this standard every three years by applying the methodology used to set this salary level. For further details about the rule, click here.