Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act
Key claim: The bill would prohibit CMS from administering or enforcing its May 2024 rule that sets minimum nurse staffing standards for Medicare and Medicaid long-term care facilities and requires state Medicaid reporting on payments to direct care workers.
Abstract
(HR1303 · 119th Congress) Protecting America’s Seniors’ Access to Care Act This bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of the rule titled Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting , which was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on May 10, 2024. Specifically, the bill prohibits administration, implementation, or enforcement of provisions that, among other changes, (1) establish minimum staffing standards for nurses in Medicare and Medicaid long-term care facilities, including requiring a nurse to be onsite 24/7 and requiring a minimum of 3.48 total nurse staffing hours per resident per day; and (2) require state Medicaid programs to report on payments to direct care workers and support staff of nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Latest action (2025-02-13): Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Why this matters
The May 2024 CMS rule was the first federal minimum staffing standard for nursing homes participating in Medicare and Medicaid, with implications for what care residents receive and what states must disclose about how Medicaid dollars flow to direct care workers. This bill would nullify both the staffing floor and the Medicaid payment reporting requirement, leaving LTC staffing levels to state law and facility discretion. The measure sits alongside broader legislative efforts (e.g., Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act, Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act) that shape the LTC workforce pipeline and regulatory environment.