Specialized Information for:

Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocates

Action Update

Tell Your Member of Congress to Hold Nursing Homes Accountable

July 12, 2022

Have you taken all three of our recent actions? 1) Schedule a Visit; 2) Send a Message; 3) Make a Phone Call

Action Update

CALLING ALL ADVOCATES - ACTION NEEDED NOW

November 05, 2021

A provision to require at least one registered nurse 24 hours a day has been added to the four critical provisions included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act.  Contact your members of Congress to ensure all provisions will be included.

Action Update

Your Advocacy Is Working! However, Nursing Home Residents Still Need Your Help

October 29, 2021

Congress has heard your voice! Important nursing home provisions were included in the most recent version of the Build Back Better Act.  However, the inclusion of the provisions in the final bill is not ensured.

Action Update

Thank You for Tweeting!

February 12, 2021

Thank you to all those who participated in the Twitter Storm to ask CMS and Congress to #OpenNursingHomeDoors. Be sure you’ve signed the petition.

Action Update

Update on Immunity

September 15, 2020

It is now unclear whether Congress will pass any COVID-19 relief legislation, including any provisions related to immunity for nursing homes from liability for COVID-related care.

Action Update

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Passes House

March 12, 2020

HR 4334 passed the House and will now go to the President to sign.

Action Update

Money Follows the Person Funding Update

January 07, 2020

Congress has approved another short-term reauthorization of the Money Follows the Person program as a part of the minibus spending bill.

Action Update

Department of Labor Abandons Rule Allowing Teenagers to Operate Patient Lifts

November 26, 2019

The Department of Labor abandoned a proposed rule that would have allowed 16- and 17-year olds to operate power patient lifts without direct supervision in health care settings, including long-term care settings.

Action Update

CMS Begins Using Icon to Identify Abuse in Nursing Homes

October 23, 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun using a red icon to identify nursing homes with certain abuse violations on Nursing Home Compare.

Action Update

The FAIR Act has passed!

September 20, 2019

This bill would end forced pre-dispute arbitration in contracts between consumers and corporations, including nursing homes and assisted living communities.

Action Update

Consumer Voice and Justice in Aging Submit Comments to CMS Regarding Proposed Changes to Nursing Home Regulations

September 17, 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes to the current federal nursing home regulations. The proposed requirements would rollback numerous resident protections by eliminating or easing up on specific nursing home responsibilities.

Action Update

Update on Money Follows the Person

February 28, 2019

Two bills have been introduced to extend the Money Follows the Person Program for five years.

Action Update

Money Follows the Person Program Funded for Three Months

January 29, 2019

On January 24, the Medicaid Extenders Act which contains provisions to continue funding the Money Follows the Person program, was signed into law.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Resources Featured in CNN Article on Protecting Loved Ones from Sexual Assault in a Nursing Home

January 23, 2019

A recent article from CNN provided tips from Consumer Voice resources on protecting your loved ones from abuse or sexual assault in a nursing home.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Submits Comments Opposing Rule that Would Allow Teenagers to Operate Patient Lifts

December 17, 2018

Consumer Voice submitted comments to the Department of Labor opposing the proposed rule that would allow 16 and 17-year-olds to operate power patient lifts in health care settings, including long-term care settings.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Submits Comments Opposing Public Charge Rule

December 10, 2018

Consumer Voice submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security expressing strong opposition to the changes regarding “public charge.”

Action Update

Oppose the Rollback of Emergency Preparedness Rules: Sign on to Consumer Voice's NEW Letter and/or Submit Comments to CMS

November 14, 2018

Now it’s easier than ever to say “NO” to CMS’s proposal to weaken nursing home emergency preparedness regulations – just sign on to Consumer Voice’s comment letter.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Statement on Oversight and Investigations Hearing

September 06, 2018

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice) commends the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for holding a hearing today entitled, “Examining Federal Efforts to Ensure Quality of Care and Resident Safety in Nursing Homes.”

Action Update

Consumer Voice Opposes New Hampshire’s Proposal to Eliminate Retroactive Medicaid Coverage

September 03, 2018

Consumer Voice sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to oppose the New Hampshire Health Protection Program demonstration project.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Opposes Kentucky’s Proposal to Eliminate Retroactive Medicaid Coverage

August 20, 2018

Consumer Voice sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to oppose the Kentucky HEALTH proposal.

Action Update

Advocates Meet with Top CMS Official About Nursing Home Rule

June 27, 2018

Consumer Voice staff joined several advocacy organizations in a meeting with CMS officials to discuss recommendations for the nursing home Requirements of Participation.

Action Update

Consumer Voice's Robyn Grant Speaks About the VA's "Secret" Nursing Home Ratings

June 18, 2018

Consumer Voice’s Robyn Grant was quoted in a recent article in USA Today about the VA’s hidden nursing home ratings and their poor quality care.

Action Update

Consumer Voice's Lori Smetanka Interviewed on Benefits of Caregiving

June 13, 2018

Consumer Voice’s Executive Director Lori Smetanka was interviewed in a recent article on caring.com on the benefits of being a caregiver.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Opposes Florida’s Medicaid Wavier Amendment to Eliminate Retroactive Coverage

June 04, 2018

Consumer Voice has sent a letter to CMS opposing Florida’s proposal to waive retroactive Medicaid coverage.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Opposes Arizona’s Medicaid Prior Quarter Coverage Waiver Amendment

May 22, 2018

Consumer Voice has sent a letter to CMS opposing Arizona’s proposal to waive retroactive Medicaid coverage.

Action Update

Consumer Voice Recommends Increased Funding for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

May 15, 2018

Consumer Voice sent a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations recommending an increase of $24.98 million in funding for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Action Update

Spending Bill for Remainder of 2018: The Good and the Sad

March 27, 2018

Congress has passed and the President has signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government through September 2018.

Action Update

Thank You to Those Who Signed Our Letter to CMS on Arbitration

August 05, 2016

Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who signed onto our letter to CMS calling for the agency to ban pre-dispute arbitration clauses in nursing home agreements once and for all.

Action Update

U.S. Senate Approves Older Americans Act Reauthorization

April 08, 2016

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act!  House-amended S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, will now be sent to President Obama to sign.

Action Update

Older Americans Act Passes in the House

March 22, 2016

The House passed the Older Americans Act! The Reauthorization bill will help older adults age with independence and dignity in their homes and communities, and protect elders in long-term care facilities and other settings.

Action Update

Additional Federal Funding Secured for Certain Aging Programs in 2016

December 22, 2015

On December 18th, 2015, the U.S. Congress approved the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, legislation that will continue the funding of federal programs through Fiscal Year 2016. This bill, which has since been signed into law, will increase funding for elder justice programs as well as Alzheimer’s research in the coming year.

Action Update

Consumer Voice & Network Submit Comments on Proposed Changes to the Federal Nursing Home Regulations

October 16, 2015

On Wednesday, October 14th, Consumer Voice and members of the Consumer Voice network submitted final comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on proposed changes to the federal nursing home regulations. Click below to learn more & read our final comments.

Action Update

Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015 Passes in the Senate

July 21, 2015

Exciting news! The Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, S. 192 passed out of the U.S. Senate on on July 16th, 2015! Thanks to all of you who contacted your Senators asking them to support the bill - you helped make this success happen! Click above to learn more.

Action Update

Legislation to Require Round-the-Clock Registered Nurse Coverage in Nursing Homes Reintroduced in Congress

February 19, 2015

Consumer Voice is pleased to share that Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) has reintroduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to require round-the-clock registered nurse (RN) coverage in nursing homes. H.R. 952, the Put a Registered Nurse in the Nursing Home Act, was reintroduced by Congresswoman Schakowsky in the 114th Congress last Thursday, February 12th, and we need your help again in advocating for its passage! Click above to learn more.

Action Update

Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize Older Americans Act Introduced in the U.S. Senate

January 26, 2015

Great news! Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Older Americans Act has already been introduced in the new 114th Congress. S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, was introduced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT). This bill would update and strengthen the current Older Americans Act (OAA) law and includes provisions that would aid long-term care consumers. We need your help in moving it forward!

Action Update

Congress Passes Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Including Funding for Elder Justice, State Survey Activities

December 16, 2014

Congress has passed a Fiscal Year 2015 budget that includes important funding for an Elder Justice Initiative as well as an increase in funding for state survey activities at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Click above to learn more.