Bill > S3886

This bill, titled the "Nurses Belong in Nursing Homes Act," aims to improve the quality of care in nursing homes by establishing minimum nurse staffing levels and ensuring round-the-clock registered nurse presence. Specifically, it mandates that skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities must provide a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, delivered by a combination of registered professional nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or licensed vocational nurses (LVNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), with a focus on direct resident care and ensuring resident safety. Furthermore, the bill requires that RN services be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, phasing in this requirement over 180 days after the bill's enactment. To inform future staffing needs, the bill also directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct studies and issue reports recommending potential adjustments to these minimum staffing requirements, considering factors like resident acuity and consulting with various stakeholders including residents, families, and healthcare professionals. Additionally, the bill allocates significant funding for the survey and certification program for nursing homes and establishes provisions for using civil monetary penalties collected from facilities to invest in the nursing home workforce, supporting recruitment, training, and loan repayment for qualified providers, while also codifying existing regulations regarding long-term services and supports and payment transparency.

Budget and Finance

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3886/all-info