Advocacy work on AHCA/NCAL’s legislative priorities will continue following the midterm elections. The year-end “lame duck” session (the period when Congress returns after the elections and before the next Congress begins) offers an opportunity to push for action on these bills.
Workforce and quality of care issues remain central focuses of our advocacy efforts. The
Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (
S. 4467/
H.R. 7096), known as the CNA Lockout bill, would help skilled nursing facilities resume and improve in-house certified nursing assistant training programs halted because of civil monetary penalties unrelated to quality of care.
Medicare Advantage also remains a key legislative priority for AHCA/NCAL. The
Medicare Advantage Improvement Act (
S. 4384/
H.R. 8375), would strengthen beneficiary protections while addressing concerns with prior authorization and payment practices. The
Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (
S. 1816/
H.R. 3514), is another priority for year-end action. The bill has advanced through markups in the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees.
The
Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act (
S. 4641/
H.R.3954), known as the Observation Stay bill, would protect beneficiary access to covered post-acute care by counting hospital observation days toward Medicare’s three-day qualifying hospital stay. We should continue pressing Congress to include this legislation among its year-end priorities.
The election results do not change the needs of residents, caregivers, or providers. Reach out to your representatives, now and after the elections. If you host a member of Congress at your facility or community, or meet with congressional staff, share how these issues affect the people you serve and why action before year-end matters.
More information is available on the AHCA/NCAL Advocacy Page under the
Bill Tracker section.