Select Subcommittee Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Strengthen Nursing Home Infection Prevention and Control

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D., Ranking Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, led Select Subcommittee Democrats in introducing legislation to increase and ensure that sustainable funding will be available for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Survey and Certification activities.

"The greatest thing the Select Subcommittee can do for the American people is contribute to the forward-looking work of preventing and preparing for future pandemics. That is why I am leading Select Subcommittee Democrats in announcing the SAFER Nursing Homes Act to strengthen infection control and prevention efforts in our nation's nursing homes. In service of every senior who we lost too soon at the hands of the pandemic, it is my hope that we can advance this forward-looking legislation so that we can save future lives." said Ranking Member Ruiz.

CMS Survey and Certification funding is used to finance standard initial, recertification, and validation surveys that identify instances of poor and substandard care and treatment of skilled nursing facility and nursing facility residents, including (but not limited to) lapses in infection control and prevention efforts. Approximately 90% of Survey and Certification funds flow to State Survey Agencies that conduct direct survey work across the country.

The Sustained Allocations For Evaluations and Reviews of Nursing Homes Act (SAFER Nursing Homes Act) increases funding for CMS Survey and Certification Activities in the upcoming fiscal year to $492 million (21% above Fiscal Year 2023 funding) In subsequent fiscal years, the SAFER Nursing Homes Act reforms the CMS Survey and Certification funding stream to classify it as a mandatory funding stream, as opposed to a discretionary funding stream, meaning that comprehensive and sustained funding will be reliably available for the oversight activities going forward.

Every Select Subcommittee Democrat joined Ranking Member Ruiz in introducing the SAFER Nursing Homes Act as an original cosponsor.

Click for the bill textof the SAFER Nursing Homes Act.