Estes introduces bill to ensure quality nursing home care for seniors

The nation’s significant shortage of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) would be addressed under a bipartisan bill introduced on Sept. 13 by U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) that aims to guarantee America’s senior citizens receive quality care in nursing homes.

“Nearly every business and industry is suffering from workforce shortages, but perhaps some of the most impactful shortages are those within facilities providing care to others,” Rep. Estes said. “This bipartisan bill is critical right now to address the devastating shortages of CNAs, especially in rural areas, by allowing nursing homes to resume CNA education programs faster.”

Rep. Estes is the lead original cosponsor of the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act, H.R. 8805, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to permit nursing homes that have suspended in-house CNA education programs due to receiving a certain level of penalties to resume once quality standards are met, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers’ offices.

“The Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act makes certain that nursing homes continue to meet high standards without losing staffing levels that are needed for quality care,” said Rep. Estes.

Under current law, nursing homes that receive a threshold number of penalties for quality deficiencies have a mandatory two-year suspension placed on their in-house CNA certification programs, according to information provided by Rep. Estes’ staff.

If enacted, the measure would allow such suspensions to be lifted on in-house CNA education once the deficiencies are remedied and would call for additional oversight of facilities that does not exceed the original two years, the information says.

H.R. 8805 is companion legislation to the same-named S. 4381 introduced on June 13 by U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Mark Warner (D-VA).