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Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocates
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Specialized Information for:
Long-Term Care ConsumersFamily MembersAdvocates
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
March 12, 2020
HR 4334 passed the House and will now go to the President to sign.
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.
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.
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.
September 20, 2019
This bill would end forced pre-dispute arbitration in contracts between consumers and corporations, including nursing homes and assisted living communities.
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.
February 28, 2019
Two bills have been introduced to extend the Money Follows the Person Program for five years.
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.
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.
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.
December 10, 2018
Consumer Voice submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security expressing strong opposition to the changes regarding “public charge.”
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.
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.”
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.
August 20, 2018
Consumer Voice sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to oppose the Kentucky HEALTH proposal.
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.
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.
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.
June 04, 2018
Consumer Voice has sent a letter to CMS opposing Florida’s proposal to waive retroactive Medicaid coverage.
May 22, 2018
Consumer Voice has sent a letter to CMS opposing Arizona’s proposal to waive retroactive Medicaid coverage.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.