Occupational licensing of social services and nursing home quality: A regression discontinuity approach

June 25, 2019

Authors

  • John R. Bowblis
  • Austin C. Smith

Social service departments in nursing homes can be staff with either qualified social workers or unlicensed paraprofessionals. Using a federal regulation which requires nursing homes with 121+ beds to employ at least one full-time qualified social worker, this study used a regression discontinuity design to explore whether nursing homes just above the 121-bed threshold have social service departments with similar staffing levels and composition as just below the threshold.

ILR Review, doi.org/10.1177/001979391985332

Topics

  • Business/Economics of Aging
  • Long-Term Care Facilities
  • Long-Term Care Policy and Financing
  • Long-Term Care - Other
  • Workforce Issues