U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the Emergency Support for Nursing Homes and Elder Justice Reform Act of 2020 to support the health and safety of Montana seniors during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and extend funding for vital Elder Justice Act programs.
“I’m grateful for the important work being done by Montana’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities who care for and help keep our most vulnerable populations safe,” Daines said. “This bill is critical to ensuring that our senior care facilities have the resources necessary to continue serving and keeping Montana’s seniors safe especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
Key bill highlights:
- Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing in nursing homes
- Promote tele-visitation for nursing home residents
- Establish surge teams to promptly respond to COVID–19-related crises in nursing homes that are overwhelmed by the pandemic
- Promote transparency about COVID–19-related fatalities and staffing levels in nursing homes
- Continue funding for Elder Justice Act of 2010 programs
- Increase resources to investigate elder abuse and neglect and extend services to victims
- Promote prompt reporting of abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities
- Review and upgrade the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Five-Star Quality rating system to better measure and report quality of nursing homes
- Protect Americans with dementia by ensuring that criminal justice personnel will receive specialized training on how to interact with witnesses in elder abuse cases who have dementia
To read the full bill, click HERE.
Background:
On June 9th, 2020, Senator Daines announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be distributing additional relief funds to assist our most vulnerable Montanans receiving care in safety-net hospitals, assisted living facilities, and home and community-based settings.
On May 22nd, 2020, Senator Daines announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will be directing $15,615,000 to 60 Montana nursing facilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On April 16th, 2020, Senator Daines sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Azar urging the department to direct funding from the Coronavirus economic relief package to support nursing homes, skilled nursing centers, and senior living communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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