Nursing home overhaul bill would boost staffing, oversight

Senior Democratic senators are introducing legislation that responds to the ravages of COVID-19 in nursing homes

WASHINGTON -- Responding to the ravages of COVID-19 in nursing homes, senior Democratic senators Tuesday introduced legislation to increase nurse staffing, improve infection control and bolster inspections. The bill, from a group led by Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, is part of a broader overhaul of long-term care just getting started. Separately, President Joe Biden is seeking $400 billion to expand home and community based care as an alternative to nursing homes in the giant domestic agenda bill Democrats are pushing in Congress. His COVID relief law already provided a down payment. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities house a tiny proportion of the U.S. population but they're estimated to account for about 3 in 10 deaths from COVID-19. Vaccines have finally brought relief, dramatically reducing cases and deaths, but concerns remain. Some of the main provisions of the Senate bill would: