Essential Caregivers Act of 2024

(1) According to the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1,300,000 individuals resided in nursing homes in 2020 at the onset of the COVID–19 pandemic and nearly half of all nursing home residents were living with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other related dementia.

(2) Regulations issued pursuant to the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 established basic rights and services for residents of nursing homes, including the right to a dignified existence, self-determination, and communication with and access to persons and services inside and outside the facility.

(3) In March of 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructed nursing facilities to restrict visitation for all visitors and non-essential healthcare personnel and cancel communal dining and group activities. Long-term care ombudsman program representatives and State surveyors were among those whose access to long-term care facilities was prohibited or extremely restricted despite reopening guidance released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in May of 2020.

(4) Many long-term care residents declined dramatically or died prematurely from failure to thrive in isolation.

(5) According to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care, in the first year of the COVID–19 pandemic, 1 in 5 healthcare workers resigned, retired, or were fired. This exacerbated the longstanding problem of staff shortages that already existed. Lack of staff, combined with the forced absence of families, many of whom provided informal care and support to residents, resulted in a significant decline in residents’ health and well-being. During the pandemic, pressure ulcers in nursing home residents rose by 31 percent, the number of residents experiencing significant weight loss rose by 49 percent, the number of residents reporting feeling down, depressed, or hopeless rose by 40 percent, and the number of residents prescribed antipsychotic medications rose by 77.5 percent.

(6) According to the Department of Health and Human Services, loneliness and isolation, such as that experienced by long-term care residents during the COVID–19 pandemic, represent profound threats to an individual’s health and well-being.

(7) Essential Caregivers provide supplemental care for their loved one, regardless of staff shortages, staff turnover, or emergencies. Essential Caregivers support residents and advocate on their behalf.

Section 1819(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(c)(3)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively;

(2) by striking A skilled nursing facility must— and inserting the following:; and

A skilled nursing facility shall—

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

Each skilled nursing facility shall recognize the right of each resident of such facility to—

(I) designate and have access to essential caregivers for such resident at all times, including during any period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law; and

(II) amend such designation at any time.

For purposes of clause (i), in the case of a resident who is unable, by reason of cognitive or mental disability, to make an election described in such clause, the resident representative (as defined in section 483.5 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations) of such resident shall be permitted to make such designation for such resident.

During a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law, including any period in which a waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to section 1135 is in effect, a skilled nursing facility shall—

(I) not deny in-person access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident except as provided in this subparagraph;

(II) allow at least 1 essential caregiver to have access to and provide assistance to such resident at such facility every day and at any time; and

(III) enforce the agreement described in clause (vii)(III) with respect to an essential caregiver.

During a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law, including any period in which a waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to section 1135 is in effect, a skilled nursing facility may deny access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident for—

(aa) an initial period of not longer than 7 days; and

(bb) one additional period of not longer than 7 days (in addition to the initial period described in item (aa)) if the department of health of the State in which the facility is located approves the denial of access for such additional period.

For purposes of subclause (I), a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law shall begin on the date that such order or other operation of law takes effect and shall end on the date that such order or other operation of law expires or is otherwise terminated. During any such period, the maximum number of days for which a skilled nursing facility may deny access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident is 7 total days (or, subject to the approval of the department of health of the State in which the facility is located, 14 total days).

No essential caregiver who upholds the agreement described in clause (vii)(III) shall be denied access to the skilled nursing facility of the resident involved.

If an essential caregiver fails to comply with an agreement with a skilled nursing facility described in clause (vii)(III), the facility must first provide a warning to the essential caregiver and resident in writing citing specific issues of non-compliance and providing clear guidance for corrective measures.

If an essential caregiver or resident, after receiving a notification of noncompliance described in subclause (II), fails to take corrective action, the essential caregiver may subsequently be denied access to the resident. In such cases, the facility shall provide to such caregiver and such resident (or health care proxy of such resident), not later than 24 hours after such denial of access occurs, a written explanation as to why such caregiver was denied access to such resident. Such explanation must include the resident’s and caregiver's options for appeal under the processes established under clause (vi).

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall issue a final rule establishing a process for residents and caregivers to appeal denials of access.

The agency responsible for overseeing the appeals process established under subclause (I) shall—

(aa) receive appeals from residents and essential caregivers challenging a decision by a skilled nursing facility to deny access under clause (v); and

(bb) investigate all such appeals within 48 hours of receipt.

During an appeal received under the appeals process established under subclause (I), if a skilled nursing facility defends a decision to deny access to an essential caregiver under clause (v) on the basis that the essential caregiver violated the agreement described in clause (vii)(III), the skilled nursing facility shall have the burden of proof in demonstrating that the essential caregiver violated such agreement.

With respect to an appeal received under the appeals process established under subclause (I), the agency responsible for overseeing the appeal shall make a determination as to whether a skilled nursing facility violated a requirement or prohibition of this subparagraph within 48 hours of commencing its investigation. If the agency determines that a facility has violated such a requirement or prohibition the agency shall—

(aa) require the facility to allow immediate access to the essential caregiver in question;

(bb) require the facility to establish a corrective action plan to prevent the recurrence of such violation within a 7-day period of receiving notice from the agency; and

(cc) impose a civil money penalty in an amount to be determined by the agency (not to exceed $5,000) if such facility fails to implement the corrective action plan with the 7-day period specified in item (bb).

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term essential caregiver means, with respect to a resident of a skilled nursing facility, an individual who—

(I) is designated by or on behalf of the resident pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii);

(II) will provide assistance to such resident, which may include assistance with activities of daily living or providing emotional support or companionship to such resident; and

(III) agrees to follow all safety protocols established by such facility, which shall be clearly specified in writing and may be no more restrictive than the safety protocols (including safety standards and entry requirements) applicable to staff of such facility.

Section 1919(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(c)(3)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses (i) through (v), respectively;

(2) by striking A nursing facility must— and inserting the following:; and

A nursing facility shall—

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

Each nursing facility shall recognize the right of each resident of such facility to—

(I) designate and have access to essential caregivers for such resident at all times, including during any period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law; and

(II) amend such designation at any time.

For purposes of clause (i), in the case of a resident who is unable, by reason of cognitive or mental disability, to make an election described in such clause, the resident representative (as defined in section 483.5 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations) of such resident shall be permitted to make such designation for such resident.

During a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law, including any period in which a waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to section 1135 is in effect, a nursing facility shall—

(I) not deny in-person access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident except as provided in this subparagraph;

(II) allow at least 1 essential caregiver to have access to and provide assistance to such resident at such facility every day and at any time; and

(III) enforce the agreement described in clause (vii)(III) with respect to an essential caregiver.

During a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law, including any period in which a waiver or modification of requirements pursuant to section 1135 is in effect, a nursing facility may deny access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident for—

(aa) an initial period of not longer than 7 days; and

(bb) one additional period of not longer than 7 days (in addition to the initial period described in item (aa)) if the department of health of the State in which the facility is located approves the denial of access for such additional period.

For purposes of subclause (I), a period of emergency in which regular visitation is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law shall begin on the date that such order or other operation of law takes effect and shall end on the date that such order or other operation of law expires or is otherwise terminated. During any such period, the maximum number of days for which a nursing facility may deny access to a resident by an essential caregiver of the resident is 7 total days (or, subject to the approval of the department of health of the State in which the facility is located, 14 total days).

No essential caregiver who upholds the agreement described in clause (vii)(III) shall be denied access to the nursing facility of the resident involved.

If an essential caregiver fails to comply with an agreement with a nursing facility described in clause (vii)(III), the facility must first provide a warning to the essential caregiver and resident in writing citing specific issues of non-compliance and providing clear guidance for corrective measures.

If an essential caregiver or resident, after receiving a notification of noncompliance described in subclause (II), fails to take corrective action, the essential caregiver may subsequently be denied access to the resident. In such cases, the facility shall provide to such caregiver and such resident (or health care proxy of such resident), not later than 24 hours after such denial of access occurs, a written explanation as to why such caregiver was denied access to such resident. Such explanation must include the resident’s and caregiver's options for appeal under the processes established under clause (vi).

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subparagraph, the Secretary shall issue a final rule establishing a process for residents and caregivers to appeal denials of access.

The agency responsible for overseeing the appeals process established under subclause (I) shall—

(aa) receive appeals from residents and essential caregivers challenging a decision by a nursing facility to deny access under clause (v); and

(bb) investigate all such appeals within 48 hours of receipt.

During an appeal received under the appeals process established under subclause (I), if a nursing facility defends a decision to deny access to an essential caregiver under clause (v) on the basis that the essential caregiver violated the agreement described in clause (vii)(III), the nursing facility shall have the burden of proof in demonstrating that the essential caregiver violated such agreement.

With respect to an appeal received under the appeals process established under subclause (I), the agency responsible for overseeing the appeal shall make a determination as to whether a nursing facility violated a requirement or prohibition of this subparagraph within 48 hours of commencing its investigation. If the agency determines that a facility has violated such a requirement or prohibition the agency shall—

(aa) require the facility to allow immediate access to the essential caregiver in question;

(bb) require the facility to establish a corrective action plan to prevent the recurrence of such violation within a 7-day period of receiving notice from the agency; and

(cc) impose a civil money penalty in an amount to be determined by the agency (not to exceed $5,000) if such facility fails to implement the corrective action plan with the 7-day period specified in item (bb).

For purposes of this subparagraph, the term essential caregiver means, with respect to a resident of a nursing facility, an individual who—

(I) is designated by or on behalf of the resident pursuant to clause (i) or clause (ii);

(II) will provide assistance to such resident, which may include assistance with of activities of daily living or providing emotional support or companionship to such resident; and

(III) agrees to follow all safety protocols established by such facility, which shall be clearly specified in writing and may be no more restrictive than the safety protocols (including safety standards and entry requirements) applicable to staff of such facility.

Section 1905(d) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking and at the end;

(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting; and; and

(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(4) the institution complies with the requirements relating to the designation of, and access to residents by, essential caregivers described in section 1919(c)(3)(B) in the same manner as if such institution were a nursing facility.

Section 1866(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395cc(a)(1)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (X), by striking and at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (Y), by striking the period at the end and inserting, and; and

(3) by inserting after subparagraph (Y) the following new subparagraph:

(Z) in the case of an inpatient rehabilitation facility that is located on the same campus (as defined by the Secretary) as a skilled nursing facility, nursing facility (as defined in section 1919(a)), or intermediate care facility for the intellectually disabled (as described in section 1905(d)), to comply with the requirements relating to the designation of, and access to residents by, essential caregivers described in section 1819(c)(3)(B) in the same manner as if such institution were a skilled nursing facility.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, after consultation with stakeholders (including residents, family members, long-term care ombudsmen, other advocates of nursing home residents, and nursing home providers), promulgate regulations to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed as creating any new authority for State or local officials to restrict visitation at nursing facilities.

Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section shall be construed as creating any new authority for a skilled nursing facility or nursing facility (as such terms are defined in sections 1819 and 1919 of the Social Security Act, respectively (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3, 1396r)) to restrict visitation.

The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to periods beginning on or after such date in which regular visitation at nursing facilities is restricted by order of a Federal, State, or local authority or by other operation of law.