Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act of 2024”.
Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act of 2024
A BILL
To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make certain information available on a public website relating to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities certified for participation under the Medicaid program, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make certain information available on a public website relating to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities certified for participation under the medicaid program
In general— Section 1910 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396i) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(c) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall, in order to increase transparency, include on the official internet website of the Federal Government for Medicaid beneficiaries, with respect to each intermediate care facility described in subsection (b) eligible to participate in the program established under this title, the following information in a manner that is posted in a prominent location, updated on a timely basis, easily accessible, readily understandable to consumers of services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and searchable:
“(1) Information regarding the performance of such facility, including—
“(A) results from the 3 most recent surveys conducted with respect to such facility under the State survey and certification process, including any standard or condition-level deficiencies identified during such surveys and any administrative actions or citations taken as a result of such surveys;
“(B) any finding, with respect to any such deficiencies identified during such surveys, that such a deficiency immediately jeopardized the health or safety of residents of such facility;
“(C) the 3 most recent Form 2567 (or a successor form) State inspection reports and a description of how an individual may interpret such reports; and
“(D) any plan of correction or other response of such facility to such reports.
“(2) The standardized complaint form developed under section 1128I(f), including explanatory material on what complaint forms are, how they are used, and how to file a complaint with the State survey and certification program, the State long-term care ombudsman program, and the State Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities program.
“(3) Summary information on the number of substantiated complaints, including the type and level of citation and any immediate jeopardy citations.”
Establishment of standardized complaint form— Section 1128I of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a–7j) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(i) Application of certain provisions to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities—In applying subsection (f), beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, each reference to a “facility” shall be deemed to include an intermediate care facility described in section 1905(d).”
Sec. 3 Advisory council on intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities
Establishment— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall establish the Advisory Council on Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (in this section, referred to as the Advisory Council).
Membership—
In general— The Advisory Council shall consist of such members as appointed by the Secretary. In making such appointments, the Secretary shall ensure that the Advisory Council includes the following:
Individuals with disabilities, including but not limited to individuals who have resided in an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Family members or guardians, excluding cases where an employee of an intermediate care facility serves as the legal guardian, of individuals with disabilities who reside in such a facility.
Representatives of State agencies that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Representatives of intermediate care facility providers.
Advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Representatives of States, including State survey agencies.
Representatives from health care quality standards-setting organizations.
Staff who provide direct care to individuals residing at such facilities.
Representatives of workers at intermediate care facilities.
Representatives of State Protection and Advocacy Systems.
Representatives of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Chair— The Chair of the Advisory Council shall be appointed by the Secretary from among the members selected under paragraph (1) and described in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of such paragraph.
Duties—
In general— The Advisory Council shall develop recommendations on steps that intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, States, or the Federal Government may take to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation, which may include recommendations relating to the following:
Improving staffing levels and staff training.
Creating pamphlets or other materials to share with families to help them identify potential warning signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Creating materials to share with families on the process of how to file a complaint when abuse, neglect, or exploitation is suspected.
Addressing staff retention, workplace safety, and staff burnout.
Improving the adequacy, efficiency, and coordination of preemployment background checks, and compliance with such checks, for individuals providing direct care to residents of such facilities, including with respect to State rap back systems and the National Background Check Program.
Considerations— In the development of recommendations under paragraph (1), the Advisory Council shall take into account data and practices related to intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, which may include the following:
Survey data related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation citations.
Current programs being utilized by intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation prevention.
Current practices for providing transparency to consumers of intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities services and their families when incidents occur.
State requirements for providers of intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities services related to abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including—
reporting requirements;
data tracking; and
resolution of reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, including those reports that were not substantiated.
Authority to collect information and request technical assistance— The Advisory Council may secure directly from the Secretary upon request such information or technical assistance as the Advisory Council considers necessary to carry out this section.
Report—
In general— Not later than 18 months after the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Council, the Advisory Council shall submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Finance and the Special Committee on Aging of the Senate, and the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report containing any recommendations developed under subsection (c)(1), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Advisory Council determines appropriate.
Public availability— Upon receiving the report described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall make such report public.
Termination— The Advisory Council shall terminate upon the submission of the report to the Secretary under subsection (d)(1).
Sec. 4 Permitting medicare and medicaid providers to access the national practitioner data bank to conduct employee background checks
Section 1921(b)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r–2(b)(6)) is amended—
by striking “and other health care entities (as defined in section 431 of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986)” and inserting “, other health care entities (as defined in section 431 of the Health Care Quality Improvement Act of 1986), providers of services (as defined in section 1861(u)), suppliers (as defined in section 1861(d)), and providers of items or services under a State plan under this title (or a waiver of such a plan)”; and
by striking “such hospitals or other health care entities” and inserting “such hospitals, health care entities, providers, or suppliers”.