Booker bill will will enhance nursing home safety during pandemic

Legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Cory Booker is aimed at protecting the health of nursing home residents and employees hit hard by COVID-19 through increased testing, more personal protection equipment, and enhanced oversight.

“Our bill will help enable nursing home facilities to do everything in their power to keep residents and staff safe from COVID-19, improve quality of care for nursing home residents and ensure they can remain connected to their families, empower nursing home workers with the training, tools, and resources they need, and ensure greater transparency and oversight,” Booker said.  “Nursing home residents and their families deserve to have the peace of mind knowing that they are safe and cared for.”

Booker’s Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents and Workers During COVID-19 ACT concentrates on worker safety, infection control, resident rights, improved congregate living and transparency.

The plan requires facilities to report COVID-19 cases, fatalities, PPE inventory levels and projected needs, staffing and testing data every 24 hours.  It also mandates nursing home facilities to notify residents and worker within 12 hours of a COVID-related death.

The Booker bill would also authorize $500 million for states to create a strike team for resident and worker safety that would be deployed within 72 hours of three of or more COVID-19 cases at a facility.