Legis Daily

Essential Caregivers Act of 2024

USA118th CongressS-4280| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2024
Richard Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (18)
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Eric Schmitt (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Essential Caregivers Act of 2024 This bill prohibits certain health care facilities from limiting the access of essential caregivers to residents of those facilities, including during designated emergency periods. Essential caregivers are individuals who are designated by facility residents to provide them with daily living assistance or emotional support or companionship. Specifically, the bill generally prohibits Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, Medicaid intermediate care facilities, and associated inpatient rehabilitation facilities from restricting the access of essential caregivers to residents of the facilities, including during emergency periods in which visitation rights are otherwise restricted. During emergency periods, facilities may restrict access for an initial period of up to seven days and for one additional maximum seven-day period (if the additional period is approved by the state health department). Facilities may restrict access for a total of 7 days (or 14 days with the approval of the state health department) during an emergency period. Essential caregivers must agree to comply with any safety protocols set by the facility, which may be no more stringent for caregivers compared to those for staff. Caregivers who fail to comply with these requirements may be denied access, subject to an appeals process.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 8, 2024
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Dec 17, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-8331
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • May 8, 2024
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2024
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.


  • December 17, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-8331
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-8331: Essential Caregivers Act of 2024

Essential Caregivers Act of 2024

USA118th CongressS-4280| Senate 
| Updated: 5/8/2024
Essential Caregivers Act of 2024 This bill prohibits certain health care facilities from limiting the access of essential caregivers to residents of those facilities, including during designated emergency periods. Essential caregivers are individuals who are designated by facility residents to provide them with daily living assistance or emotional support or companionship. Specifically, the bill generally prohibits Medicare skilled nursing facilities, Medicaid nursing facilities, Medicaid intermediate care facilities, and associated inpatient rehabilitation facilities from restricting the access of essential caregivers to residents of the facilities, including during emergency periods in which visitation rights are otherwise restricted. During emergency periods, facilities may restrict access for an initial period of up to seven days and for one additional maximum seven-day period (if the additional period is approved by the state health department). Facilities may restrict access for a total of 7 days (or 14 days with the approval of the state health department) during an emergency period. Essential caregivers must agree to comply with any safety protocols set by the facility, which may be no more stringent for caregivers compared to those for staff. Caregivers who fail to comply with these requirements may be denied access, subject to an appeals process.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 8, 2024
Introduced in Senate
May 8, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Dec 17, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-8331
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
  • May 8, 2024
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 8, 2024
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.


  • December 17, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-8331
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Richard Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (18)
Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Eric Schmitt (Republican)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Finance Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-8331: Essential Caregivers Act of 2024
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted