H.R. 1683: Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act

This bill, titled the Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act, aims to influence regulations regarding nursing facility staffing and the nursing home workforce. Here are the main components of the bill:

Prohibition on Staffing Regulations

The bill prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing a specific final rule that was published on May 10, 2024, which established minimum staffing standards for nursing facilities. This means that once the bill is enacted, the Secretary cannot enforce this rule or introduce a similar one.

Establishment of Advisory Panel

The bill calls for the creation of an Advisory Panel on the Nursing Home Workforce, which must be established within 60 days of the bill becoming law. The panel is designed to address issues related to the staffing and workforce in nursing homes, especially in rural areas.

Composition of the Advisory Panel

The Advisory Panel will be made up of 17 members with diverse backgrounds, including:

• 1 chairperson representing the Secretary of Health and Human Services
• 2 registered nurses from skilled nursing facilities, one from a rural area
• 2 licensed professional nurses from skilled nursing facilities, one from a rural area
• 2 nurse aides from skilled nursing facilities, one from a rural area
• 2 physicians from skilled nursing facilities, one from a rural area
• 1 representative from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• 1 representative from the Health Resources and Services Administration
• 2 individuals with expertise in the nursing home workforce, with one having experience in rural and underserved areas
• 1 licensed administrator from a rural not-for-profit skilled nursing facility
• 1 licensed administrator from a rural for-profit skilled nursing facility
• 2 representatives from State boards of nursing

Panel's Duties

The Advisory Panel will have several responsibilities, including:

• Meeting at least twice a year and providing real-time access to meetings online.
• Submitting reports to Congress and publishing them publicly. The first report has to be delivered within 60 days after the initial meeting and should focus on the state of the nursing home workforce, particularly in rural areas.
• Subsequent reports are required annually, assessing workforce shortages and barriers to access for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

Definitions

The bill also clarifies certain terms, such as:

• Nursing facility: Defined by the Social Security Act.
• Nursing home workforce: Comprises health professionals providing direct care in nursing facilities.
• Rural area: Areas outside metropolitan statistical areas.
• Skilled nursing facility: Also defined by the Social Security Act.
• Underserved area: Areas recognized as health professional shortage areas or medically underserved areas.

Summary

In summary, this bill aims to halt certain staffing regulations for nursing facilities while establishing a panel to address workforce issues in nursing homes, particularly in rural regions. The panel's establishment and activities are geared towards understanding and improving the situation of the nursing home workforce by collecting data, analyzing regulations, and making recommendations.

Relevant Companies

None found: