AHA-supported bill would prohibit HHS from finalizing long-term care staffing rule

A bipartisan group of senators this week introduced the Protect Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act, AHA-supported legislation that would prohibit the Health and Human Services Secretary from finalizing a proposed rule on minimum staffing for long-term care facilities.

AHA has urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services not to finalize the rule and instead develop more patient- and workforce-centered approaches focused on ensuring a continual process of safe staffing in nursing facilities.

Over 90 organizations have endorsed the bill, introduced by Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Jon Tester, D-Mont., James Lankford, R-Okla., Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn., introduced a House version of the bill in September.