Protecting Rural Seniors’ Access to Care Act

This bill prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from implementing a proposed rule requiring minimum staffing levels in nursing homes, which opponents argue could accelerate closures, especially in rural areas. Instead, it creates a 17-member Advisory Panel on the Nursing Home Workforce to study staffing shortages, barriers to care access for seniors in rural and underserved areas, and regulatory impacts. The panel must submit an initial report within 60 days of its first meeting, analyzing workforce challenges and recommending solutions to strengthen staffing without imposing new mandates. The bill directly affects rural nursing homes and seniors who rely on these facilities, aiming to prevent closures by addressing systemic workforce issues through analysis rather than immediate regulatory changes.