US Senate Takes Up Supporting Our Seniors Act

U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) have introduced a bill that would establish a national committee to study long-term care in the United States.

While private residences are the most frequently occurring location of care for hospice patients, long-term care facilities come in second, followed by assisted living facilities, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). Patients in nursing homes on average were in hospice for 109 days of care in 2019, compared to 95 days among those receiving services in a private residence and 161 days in assisted living.

“Like so many Americans who have cared for loved ones, I know the importance of ensuring that our seniors have access to the care and support services they need to live their day-to-day lives,” Rosen said in a statement. “This bipartisan legislation will create a commission to further examine challenges and needs in long-term care services, as well as provide specific recommendations so that Congress can make informed decisions on behalf of our seniors and others in need of quality, affordable long-term support and care.”

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The bill, called the Supporting Our Seniors Act, would create a national advisory commission that would study the state of long term care and regularly report its findings to Congress. The commission would examine factors such as service delivery, financing, and workforce adequacy, among other concerns.

This commission would include government and private-sector stakeholders, as well as family caregivers, home health care workforce representatives, and long-term care service recipients, according to Rosen.

A number of health care industry organizations have endorsed the bill, including NHPCO, the Hospice Action Network (HAN), the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC), the National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care, the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), and the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC), among others. 

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“NHPCO and HAN are proud to endorse the Supporting Our Seniors Act which will establish a committee to foster bipartisan, transformative changes to better provide individuals with disabilities and seniors access to comprehensive, person-centered care,” Ben Marcantonio, COO and interim CEO of NHPCO and HAN, said in a press release.

The bill was spurred by a 2013 recommendation from a previous government body — the Commission on Long Term Care — for Congress to convene another group to carry on its work after its term expired.

The proposed commission could help providers to better understand the palliative and end-of-life care needs of long-term care residents, according to Dr. Tara C. Friedman, president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

“A growing number of older Americans are living with serious or complex chronic illnesses, creating significant caregiving responsibilities for families,” Friedman said in a statement. “Understanding and addressing their palliative care needs is critical to ensure that older adults and those with serious illness receive the care they want where they want to receive it.”

Both Boozeman and Rosen serve on the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.

Rosen in 2019 co-founded the bipartisan Comprehensive Care Caucus with Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). The caucus is a group of lawmakers working to support the seriously ill and enhance the availability of community-based palliative care.

“As our population ages, the need for long-term care assistance will increase,” Boozman said. “Establishing a national advisory commission will help us better prepare for future challenges including coordinating services, training a workforce to meet seniors’ and individuals’ with disabilities needs and providing information and options to empower them and their caregivers with the resources available.”

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