Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act

This bill amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to revise the conditions under which skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities may operate nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs. The legislation aims to ensure that only facilities maintaining high standards of care are eligible to train individuals for these critical roles, thereby enhancing the quality of care provided to residents. Specifically, the bill modifies existing provisions to prohibit facilities from operating such programs if they have been assessed a civil money penalty of not less than $12,924 for a deficiency related to resident quality of care. Additionally, facilities that have been subject to certain serious enforcement remedies, as outlined in the Social Security Act, will also be deemed ineligible to conduct these training programs. These changes are intended to strengthen oversight and accountability for nursing aide training programs.