On Sept. 11, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced a bill to create a National Advisory Commission on long-term care services for seniors and individuals in need of support for activities of daily living, according to a news release.
The bipartisan Supporting Our Seniors Act would direct the new commission to assess and provide Congress specific recommendations on how to improve service delivery, financing, workforce adequacy and other issues related to long-term care in order to help increase seniors’ and individuals with disabilities’ access to affordable care services.
Under the proposed bill, members of the commission would be appointed by both the White House and United States Congress, serving six- and four-year terms respectively. Appointees would bring expertise in areas such as skilled nursing, senior housing, palliative and hospice care, home- and community-based services, geriatrics, long-term care insurance, and disability advocacy.
The commission would be required to meet at least once a year and would have the authority to hold hearings and request information from federal agencies as part of its work developing strategies and policy recommendations.
Key areas the advisory group would examine include:
Expanding long-term care coverage for individuals not eligible for Medicaid.
Supporting older adults who wish to age in place.
Identifying financing options for long-term care for low- and middle-income populations.
Strengthening caregiver supports and ensuring workforce readiness and stability.
Improving access to comprehensive care, including geriatric services, coordination of medical and personal care, and access to palliative and hospice care.
Addressing the affordability of long-term care services.
Reducing hospitalizations by expanding access to home-based services, including those covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
“Having cared for my aging parents, I know how important access to affordable, quality care and support services can be for families and their loved ones,” Rosen said. “I also know that with rising costs, finding these services has become even more difficult for Nevada families. I’m committed to expanding access to care for seniors— that’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to help provide valuable information to Congress so that we can ensure seniors have access to the care and support that they deserve.”
“Access to affordable and reliable resources specifically designed to empower Arkansas seniors is a critical part of effective, long-term care,” Boozman said. “I am proud to help lead a bipartisan approach to prioritize the needs of our growing aging population and empowering Americans and their trusted caregivers to better support their overall quality of life.”
“Every American deserves the opportunity to age with dignity and on their own terms,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO of the National Alliance for Care at Home. “The alliance celebrates the Supporting Our Seniors Act and commends Senators Rosen and Boozman for their leadership in advancing home and community-based care solutions. This bipartisan commission represents an important step toward building a care continuum that honors patient choice and ensures high-quality care delivery.”
“The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine is proud to offer its strong support for the Supporting Our Seniors Act, and we commend Sen. Rosen and Sen. Boozman for their leadership in recognizing the important role palliative care plays in improving the lives of people with complex care needs” said American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Chief Medical Officer Kristina Newport. “As our population ages, Seniors and their families need more support to help them live as well as possible. This act is critical to better align resources with what matters most to vulnerable people in our communities.”
As co-founder and co-chair of the Senate’s bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus, Rosen has been a leader in helping lower costs for Nevada’s seniors. Recently, she introduced a bipartisan bill to reduce prescription drug costs for seniors. This came after she already helped lower medicine costs for seniors, supporting a cap on prescription drug prices for Nevada seniors that started at the beginning of the year. Senator Rosen also created a Senior Resource Guide to help provide Nevada’s seniors with key information about federal, state, and community-based resources available to them.
