Bill Summary & Status for the 106th Congress

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H.R.4614
Sponsor: Rep Stark, Fortney Pete(introduced 6/8/2000)
Latest Major Action: 6/19/2000 Referred to House subcommittee. Latest Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
Title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require skilled nursing facilities furnishing services to Medicare beneficiaries to submit data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services with respect to nursing staff levels of the facility, to require posting of staffing information by facilities and the Secretary, to assess the adequacy of training requirements for certified nurse aides, and provide for grants to improve the quality of care furnished in nursing facilities.
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TITLE(S):  (italics indicate a title for a portion of a bill)
STATUS: (color indicates Senate actions)
6/8/2000:
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 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.
6/8/2000:
Referred to House Ways and Means
6/8/2000:
Referred to House Commerce
6/19/2000:
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.
COMMITTEE(S):
RELATED BILL DETAILS:

***NONE***

AMENDMENT(S):

***NONE***

COSPONSORS(16), ALPHABETICAL [followed by Cosponsors withdrawn]:     (Sort: by date)

Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. - 7/17/2000 Rep Eshoo, Anna G. - 6/8/2000
Rep Evans, Lane - 9/7/2000 Rep Filner, Bob - 9/7/2000
Rep Hoeffel, Joseph M. - 10/6/2000 Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 7/17/2000
Rep Lantos, Tom - 6/8/2000 Rep Lee, Barbara - 6/8/2000
Rep Lofgren, Zoe - 6/13/2000 Rep Miller, George - 6/8/2000
Rep Payne, Donald M. - 7/17/2000 Rep Pelosi, Nancy - 6/8/2000
Rep Thompson, Mike - 6/22/2000 Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 6/13/2000
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 7/25/2000 Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 6/8/2000

SUMMARY AS OF:
6/8/2000--Introduced.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Nursing Staff Accountability and Training Improvement Act of 2000 - Title I: Information on Nursing Staff in Nursing Facilities - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to require a skilled nursing facility (SNF) to submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services nursing staff level data for purposes of determining whether adjusted payment amounts for inadequate staffing should be made to the facility. Require SNF standard surveys to include a review of the sufficiency and distribution of staffing in the SNF to meet the needs of residents.

(Sec. 101) Require a SNF to submit to the Secretary cost reports using a standard, uniform cost reporting form developed to enable the Secretary to: (1) assess amounts of direct patient care furnished by the SNF nursing staff; and (2) determine whether payments made for such care are appropriate.

Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to require a State to carry out periodic audits of cost reports submitted by a nursing facility operating in the State.

Directs the Secretary to study the feasibility of developing and administering a standardized, uniform cost reporting form for all nursing facilities furnishing services for which Medicaid payment is made. Establishes similar survey requirements with regard to nursing staffing levels.

(Sec. 102) Amends SSA titles XVIII and XIX with regard to information on nurse staffing, requiring the Secretary to provide for Internet publication of certain survey information on nursing staff levels. Mandates penalties for failure to post required information.

(Sec. 103) Amends SSA title XVIII to direct the Secretary to pay expenses incurred in the administration of State agency determination of service provider compliance with conditions of Medicare participation from funds in the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund, in such amounts from each of such trust funds as the Secretary deems fair and equitable.

(Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to report to Congress on training of certified nurse aides.

Title II: Grants to Improve Quality of Nursing Home and Long-Term Care - Directs the Secretary to award grants to a qualified entity to establish education and training programs for individuals who furnish direct resident care services in nursing facilities, including registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides. Authorizes grants to existing training programs. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 202) Requires the Secretary to award grants to qualified entities to provide for additional or advanced education and training of certified nursing aides who furnish services in the facility.

Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to award grants to nursing facilities to establish programs to retain individuals who furnish direct resident care services in nursing facilities located in medically underserved areas, including registered professional nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nurse aides. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary to award grants to nursing facilities to establish model workplace safety programs. Authorizes appropriations.

(Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to provide for a demonstration project of grants to a limited number of States to implement innovative quality improvement models to improve the quality of care furnished to residents of nursing facilities. Authorizes appropriations.