Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.1303 - Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R.1303, the "Protecting America's Seniors' Access to Care Act," aims to prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing or enforcing minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities and Medicaid institutional payment transparency reporting. This bill directly targets a final rule published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding these standards. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce.

Expected Effects

If enacted, H.R.1303 would block the implementation of the CMS final rule concerning minimum staffing levels in long-term care facilities. This could lead to continued lower staffing levels than those proposed by the rule. It would also prevent increased transparency in Medicaid institutional payments.

Potential Benefits

  • Potentially reduces the financial burden on long-term care facilities by avoiding increased staffing costs.
  • May prevent closures of facilities, particularly in rural areas, that struggle to meet mandated staffing levels.
  • Could lead to lower costs for patients and their families, as facilities may not need to raise prices to cover increased staffing expenses.
  • Reduces administrative burden associated with increased transparency reporting requirements.
  • Allows facilities to maintain flexibility in staffing models based on their specific needs and resources.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potentially compromises the quality of care in long-term care facilities due to lower staffing levels.
  • Reduces transparency in Medicaid payments, making it harder to detect fraud or misuse of funds.
  • May negatively impact the health and well-being of residents in long-term care facilities.
  • Could exacerbate existing staffing shortages if facilities are not incentivized to improve working conditions.
  • May lead to increased instances of neglect or inadequate care due to insufficient staff.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill's constitutional alignment primarily concerns the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches. Congress has the power to legislate and to check the executive branch's implementation of regulations. Article I, Section 1 vests all legislative powers in Congress. The bill represents Congress exercising its legislative power to alter or prevent the implementation of executive branch regulations. The constitutionality hinges on whether the original CMS rule overstepped its authority, a point of potential legal debate.

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).