Let’s Get Staffing Right; Tell Congress to Support HR 5796

The Protecting Rural Seniors Access to Care Act was introduced in the House to keep the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing its proposed staffing mandates for nursing homes.

Rural and underserved communities already face a crisis in access to care, and this mandate would only make it harder for older adults and families in these communities–and across the country–to get the care they need.

LeadingAge roundly supports this bill, which would also require annual analysis and recommendations by a new advisory committee on the nursing home workforce shortage. We urge you to take action in support of this bill today.

Nursing homes aren’t the only part of the health care system that would be affected if the rule is implemented as proposed. At a time when the entire sector is struggling to find nurses and other front line staff, there are simply not enough people to hire.

Ensuring older adults and families can receive quality care is a shared goal. Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) and Greg Pence (R-IN) introduced this legislation to stop an approach that isn’t going to get us there.

Take action today and tell Congress to support the new bill and protect rural and underserved communities already facing a crisis in access to care.