Bill > HR8541

This bill, titled the "Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act," aims to bolster the direct care professional workforce, which is crucial for supporting older individuals and people with disabilities. It proposes several key provisions, including increasing reimbursement rates for long-term care services provided by these professionals through Medicaid, and awarding grants to states to improve recruitment, compensation, and retention. The bill also seeks to make permanent a state option that protects recipients of home and community-based services from spousal impoverishment and extends the "Money Follows the Person" rebalancing demonstration program. Furthermore, it introduces measures to enhance training, recruitment, career advancement, and worker supports, such as grants for workforce investment activities, demonstration projects for career advancement, and initiatives to improve mental health services and workplace safety for direct care professionals. The bill also includes provisions for fair scheduling practices, paid sick time, and a national strategy for direct care professional compensation, alongside a focus on improving oversight and accountability through evaluations of the act's implementation and outcomes.