U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra visited Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, to meet with workers from caregiver union SEIU Local 2015 and celebrate the Biden administration’s new rules to improve working conditions for those across America who care for the elderly, disabled and children.
The former state attorney general is rumored to be gearing up for a California gubernatorial run in 2026 and Politico recently reported that he has approached political firms about running his campaign.
Several prominent political figures have already declared their candidacies for California governor, including state Superintendent Tony Thurmond, state Senator Toni Atkins, state Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee. When asked about jumping into the race, Becerra did not answer.
“Right now we are celebrating President Biden’s success in really helping caregivers get treated like professionals,” he said. “The other stuff we can discuss later, but right now I am thrilled I have the opportunity to be secretary of Health and Human Services. And so long as President Biden gives me that chance I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra reaches out to Kristy Madden after she spoke on the care she receives on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. Becerra celebrated with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2015 new rules and compensation for home care and heath care workers in federally-funded nursing homes. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
On Monday, the Biden administration announced new rules to boost compensation and job quality for care workers, expand access to care for Medicaid recipients, and improve quality of care in federally-funded nursing homes.
“You are professionals and we owe you respect,” Becerra said to the crowd gathered in the Westlake headquarters of SEIU Local 2015. “Not only do we owe you respect, we owe you a salary that respects you.”
The rules establish, for the first time, national minimum staffing requirements for federally-funded nursing homes.
Nina Vasquez, a nursing home caregiver and member of SEIU 2015, said that her workplace is chronically understaffed and she is frequently put in charge of up to 18 to 24 residents at a time.
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“In my five years of working in healthcare, I have seen the good and the ugly, and the worst thing I am experiencing right now is being short-staffed,” she said. “When we are short-staffed we jeopardize our workers and our residents’ safety.”
Under the new rules, nursing homes must provide staffing that is the equivalent of 3.5 hours of daily care for each resident, and have registered nurses on duty 24/7.
Becerra said this rule will ensure that “people like Nina are able to work with dignity and are not getting burned out and breaking their back.”
Other rules expand access to at-home caregiving services to those enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and ensure that 80% of money paid for at-home caregiving goes into the caregivers’ pockets.