NEW YORK STATE (WSYR-TV) — New bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that aims to protect older adults in nursing facilities.
The Promote Responsible Oversight & Targeted Employee Background Check Transparency for Seniors, or PROTECTS Act, would expand access to the national practitioner data bank for Medicaid and Medicare, which allows providers to conduct background checks on potential workers.
The data bank is used to ensure workers don’t have a history of malpractice. That’s something Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is concerned about.
“The PROTECTS Act would help improve the standards of care at long term care facilities by bringing more transparency, workforce quality and protecting our seniors and long term care patients,” said Senator Gillibrand.
The PROTECTS Act has already been endorsed by the American Health Care Association and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice.
More from NewsChannel 9:
- Crowd attacks Democratic Party HQ in Portland, 8 arrested
- DHS: Biden administration will pause some US deportations for 100 days
- Local boy receives award for saving his mother’s life
- Concern over COVID-19 vaccine allotment in Central New York
- Gov. Cuomo directs flags lowered to half-staff in honor of soldiers killed in military helicopter crash
For more local news, follow NewsChannel 9 on Twitter @NewsChannel9
NewsChannel 9 iPhone App
NewsChannel 9 Android App
NewsChannel 9 on Facebook
NewsChannel 9 on Twitter
Storm Team Weather iPhone App
Storm Team Weather Android App