Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act
Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act
Plain Language Summary
# Summary: Protecting Rural Seniors' Access to Care Act **What the bill would do:** This bill would block a new federal rule requiring nursing homes and long-term care facilities to maintain minimum staffing levels for nurses. Specifically, it would prevent enforcement of requirements that facilities have a nurse on-site 24 hours a day and maintain at least 3.48 nursing hours per resident per day. The bill would also block a requirement for states to publicly report how much they pay direct care workers and support staff at nursing facilities. **Who it affects:** Rural seniors who live in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and their families would be most directly affected.
The bill also impacts nursing home operators, states that administer Medicaid programs, and healthcare workers in these facilities. Sponsor Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) argues the staffing standards could be difficult for rural facilities to meet, potentially limiting access to care in rural areas. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The bill essentially reverses the federal staffing rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in May 2024, which was designed to improve care quality by ensuring adequate nursing staff at facilities serving Medicare and Medicaid patients.
CRS Official Summary
Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care ActThis bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of the rule titled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting, which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on May 10, 2024.Specifically, the bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of provisions that, among other changes, (1) establish minimum staffing standards for nurses in Medicare and Medicaid long-term care facilities, including requiring a nurse to be onsite 24/7 and requiring a minimum of 3.48 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day; and (2) require state Medicaid programs to report on payments to direct care workers and support staff of nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.Also, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish an Advisory Panel on the Nursing Home Workforce. The panel must report annually to Congress, including on workforce shortages and barriers to accessing nursing homes in rural and underserved areas.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1399-1400)