Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act
Summary
The "Ensuring Seniors' Access to Quality Care Act" (H.R. 7096) aims to amend Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act. The goal is to ensure appropriate approval processes for skilled nursing facility and nursing facility nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs under Medicare and Medicaid. This bill focuses on facilities with deficiencies related to the quality of care provided to residents.
Expected Effects
The bill will likely lead to stricter oversight and potentially increased accountability for skilled nursing facilities and nursing aide training programs. Facilities with significant deficiencies and civil money penalties may face restrictions on their ability to conduct training programs. This could improve the quality of care provided to seniors in these facilities.
Potential Benefits
- Improved quality of care in skilled nursing facilities.
- Increased accountability for facilities with poor performance records.
- Enhanced training and competency evaluation programs for nursing aides.
- Potentially reduced instances of neglect or abuse in nursing homes.
- Greater protection for vulnerable senior citizens.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased administrative burden on nursing facilities.
- Possible shortage of qualified nursing aides if training programs are restricted.
- Increased costs for facilities to comply with stricter regulations.
- Risk of facilities avoiding training programs altogether to avoid scrutiny.
- Potential for unintended consequences if the regulations are overly burdensome.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). Congress has the power to legislate in areas concerning the health and well-being of citizens, particularly vulnerable populations like seniors. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights or liberties.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).