Bill · S. 750· Senate(119-S-750)
Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act
- Introduced
- 2/26/2025
- Last activity
- 2/26/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1399-1400)
- Sponsored by
- Deb Fischer
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Protecting Rural Seniors' Access to Care Act prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing or enforcing a specific final rule regarding minimum staffing standards for nursing facilities. This prohibition also prevents the creation of any substantially similar rules. Additionally, the bill requires the establishment of the Advisory Panel on the Nursing Home Workforce. This 17-member panel will include various healthcare professionals and representatives from rural areas. The panel is tasked with meeting at least twice a year to assess the state of the nursing home workforce. Finally, the panel must submit and publish reports regarding workforce shortages and regulatory effects.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+6
The bill requires the advisory panel to provide real-time virtual access to meetings and publish recordings and transcripts online.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+3
The bill establishes an advisory panel that includes representatives and specific analyses focused on rural and underserved areas.
The opposite
Does this make health care easier to get in general?-5
By prohibiting minimum staffing standards, the bill may negatively impact the quality and availability of care in nursing facilities.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?-4
Prohibiting minimum staffing standards could potentially reduce the level of care available to seniors in nursing facilities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Establishment of an Advisory Panel on the Nursing Home Workforce: The creation of this panel aims to bring together a diverse group of professionals, including nurses, physicians, and administrators, to provide expert insight on the workforce (Section 3(b)).
-
Increased Transparency and Public Access: The bill requires the panel to provide real-time virtual access to its meetings and to publish recordings and transcripts on a public website (Section 3(c)(1)).
-
Focus on Rural and Underserved Areas: The panel is required to include members who represent rural areas and must specifically assess workforce shortages and access barriers in rural and underserved areas (Section 3(b)(1) and Section 3(c)(2)(A)(i)).
-
Recommendations for Workforce Strengthening: The panel is tasked with providing recommendations to the Secretary, which may include ways to decrease regulatory burdens and make financial investments in training for health professionals (Section 3(c)(2)(A)(iii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Prohibition of Minimum Staffing Standards: The bill prevents the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing, enforcing, or giving effect to the final rule regarding minimum staffing standards for nursing facilities published on May 10, 2024 (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access-5
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+3Good For Seniors-4
- 3/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1399-1400)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas