Monday, August 2, 2021

Sen. Grassley Introduces Elder Justice Act Reauthorization and Nursing Home Reform Bill

The Elder Justice Coalition today offered its support to the Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020 as introduced today by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which would reauthorize the Elder Justice Act and implement important nursing home reforms, among other provisions.

“We view this as a critical step toward the inclusion of comprehensive elder justice legislation, including urgently needed nursing home reforms, in the next emergency funding package,” said Bob Blancato, National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition. “We recognize that the pandemic has had an especially harsh impact on older residents of nursing homes and that it has created new opportunities for older adults to be scammed. This should compel us to action.”

The bill as introduced has important features, including a number previously endorsed by the Coalition:

  • The reauthorization of key provisions of the Elder Justice Act, including funding for adult protective services, long-term care ombudsman programs, and elder abuse forensic centers, and the addition of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator to the federal Elder Justice Coordinating Council;
  • Provisions from the bipartisan Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act which would ensure that the Department of Justice’s elder abuse training materials take into account individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias;
  • A review of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Compare site and the CMS nursing home Five-Star Quality Rating System to ensure that the information it contains is up-to-date and accurately reflects the quality of facilities; and
  • The creation of “strike teams” to assist nursing homes with performing medical examinations, conducting COVID-19 testing, and implementing of quarantine, isolation, or disinfection procedures.

 Blancato also noted, “We recognize that for any bill to pass, it must be bipartisan. Our Coalition and other advocates are working to achieve that in both the Senate and the House. Elder justice in Congress has always been a bipartisan issue. This is not the time for that to change. The need to protect older Americans from all forms of abuse and neglect is not an issue of ideology, but rather one of ideals.”

Blancato added, “Chairman Grassley has displayed important leadership in elder justice, especially during the pandemic. His April 17 letter to CMS resulted in their immediate decision to mandate nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to report all cases of COVID-19 to the federal government. The introduction of this bill is but another example of his leadership.”

Sen. Grassley was joined by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) in introducing the bill.

 

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