NE Washington News

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) criticized the Biden administration's recently announced Minimum Staffing Rule and Medicaid Access Rule, stating, "The President’s one-size-fits-all, Washington-knows-best approach to long-term care is an unfunded mandate that will drive up costs and threaten access for patients." Rodgers highlighted that the minimum staff-to-patient ratio mandated by the rules is unworkable for nearly 80 percent of nursing homes, potentially forcing facilities to raise costs or turn away new patients. She also raised concerns about the impact of the 'access rule' on home health agencies, stating that it creates standards that are difficult to meet and could result in reduced access to care for those in need.

The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health previously held a hearing following the proposal of the rules by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Witnesses, including providers and former state officials, expressed concerns about the rules jeopardizing access to care for millions of Americans. Chair Rodgers, along with House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), urged the administration to withdraw the minimum staffing rule.

In response to these concerns, Reps. Greg Pence (R-IN) and Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) introduced H.R. 7513, the Protecting America’s Seniors Access to Care Act, aimed at blocking the finalization of the Minimum Staffing Rule.

For further inquiries, the main contact number for the House Energy and Commerce Committee is (202) 225-3641, and the press office can be reached at (202) 226-4972.