January 15, 2026
Mr. Estes (for himself and Mr. Harder of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure appropriate approval for certain skilled nursing facility and nursing facility nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs under the Medicare and Medicaid program.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act
.
Sec. 2. Ensuring appropriate approval for certain skilled nursing facility and nursing facility nursing aide training and competency evaluation programs under the Medicare and Medicaid program
(a) Medicare
Section 1819(f)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(f)(2)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B)(iii)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D)
and inserting subparagraph (C)
; and
(B)
in subclause (I)—
(i)
in item (b), by striking or
at the end;
(ii)
by amending item (c) to read as follows:
(c)
has been assessed a civil money penalty described in subsection (h)(2)(B)(ii) or section 1919(h)(2)(A)(ii) of not less than $12,924 and has been cited for a deficiency relating to the quality of care provided to residents of the facility; or; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new item:
(d)
has been subject to a remedy described in clause (i) or (iii) of subsection (h)(2)(B), subsection (h)(4), section 1919(h)(1)(B)(i), or in clause (i), (iii), or (iv) of section 1919(h)(2)(A), or; and
(2)
by striking subparagraph (D).
(b) Medicaid
Section 1919(f)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(f)(2)) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (B)(iii)—
(A)
in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D)
and inserting subparagraph (C)
; and
(B)
in subclause (I)—
(i)
in item (b), by striking or
at the end;
(ii)
by amending item (c) to read as follows:
(c)
has been assessed a civil money penalty described in subsection (h)(2)(A)(ii) or section 1819(h)(2)(B)(ii) of not less than $12,924 and has been cited for a deficiency relating to the quality of care provided to residents of the facility; or; and
(iii)
by adding at the end the following new item:
(d)
has been subject to a remedy described in subsection (h)(1)(B)(i), clauses (i), (iii), or (iv) of subsection (h)(2)(A), clauses (i) or (iii) of section 1819(h)(2)(B), or section 1819(h)(4), or; and
(2)
by striking subparagraph (D).