On September 6, 2023, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a proposed rule, Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting (CMS–3442–P). The rule establishes minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities, which would significantly impact rural facilities and further exacerbate workforce shortages. 

Members of Congress are leading the charge to block this rule from being finalized and will soon introduce the Protecting Rural Seniors Access to Care Act. Led by U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jon Tester (D-MT), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Joe Manchin (D-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), and Kirsten Sinema (I-AZ), this bipartisan legislation prevents CMS from finalizing the proposed rule until it can prove it will not result in the closure of skilled nursing facilities, will not harm patient access, and will not make workforce shortage issues worse.

By filling out the form below, your organization will be listed as a supporter of the Support the Protecting Rural Seniors Access to Care Act!

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out to Eduardo Sacasa with Senator Fischer at eduardo_sacasa@fischer.senate.gov, Veronica Chase with Senator Tester at veronica_chase@tester.senate.gov, or Charlotte Pineda with Senator Marshall at charlotte_pineda@marshall.senate.gov.