Senate committee approves long-term care background checks bill

from McKnight's

The Senate Finance Committee this week passed the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act (S. 1577), which would establish a nationwide system of background checks for potential long-term care employees, by a unanimous vote.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
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Proposed Federal Background Checks on LTC Workers

On March 17, 2008, McNight's Long-Term Care News posted a news article entitled "Senate budget to include $160 million for elder abuse prevention".

It reported: "The [U.S.] Senate has set aside funding in its fiscal year 2009 budget resolution for a national system of background checks to keep those with abusive and criminal histories out of nursing homes and long-term care facilities."
The Senate approved an amendment for the funding last week, but the money, which would total $160 million, will only be available upon the Senate's passage of the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act of 2007 (S. 1577). The act would set up a comprehensive nationwide system of background checks for long-term care workers.

Both the Senate and House passed nonbinding budget resolutions late last week. The two bodies plan to reconcile their plans this spring.