This week, Congresswoman Fischbach spoke in support of her bill, the Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act in the Ways and Means Committee, where it passed 26-17.

“I am so glad to see this bill moving forward to keep CMS from implementing this misguided nursing staff ratio rule that could hurt nursing home facilities all across Minnesota’s Seventh District,” said Rep. Fischbach (MN-07). “This administration has been insistent on moving forward with this rule, despite the fact that the industry is struggling to hire and that a report commissioned by CMS itself found that there is no single staffing level that guarantees quality care. They also know a mandated ratio could force facilities to turn away patients or even close their doors altogether. If they are not going to stop the implementation of this rule on their own, House Republicans will hold them accountable.”

This bill has the support of over 1,000 nursing home leaders and associations like LeadingAge and the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a new rule requiring minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. This rule was issued despite the fact that a report commissioned by CMS itself expressed reservations about this rule. Most notably, this report said there was “no single staffing level that would guarantee quality care.” Congresswoman Fischbach (MN-07) has been pushing back against this rule since it was first proposed by the administration. 

Last year, she questioned HHS Secretary Becerra about the impacts the proposed rule would have on rural America and sent a letter to the Administrator of CMS encouraging alternatives.