Index for HR3962: Affordable Health Care for America Act

To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.

Mr. Dingell (for himself, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr. Stark, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Andrews) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Budget, 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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

(a) Study.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a study on the content of training for certified nurse aides and supervisory staff of skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities. The study shall include an analysis of the following:

(A) Whether the number of initial training hours for certified nurse aides required under sections 1819(f)(2)(A)(i)(II) and 1919(f)(2)(A)(i)(II) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(f)(2)(A)(i)(II); 1396r(f)(2)(A)(i)(II)) should be increased from 75 and, if so, what the required number of initial training hours should be, including any recommendations for the content of such training (including training related to dementia).

(B) Whether requirements for ongoing training under such sections 1819(f)(2)(A)(i)(II) and 1919(f)(2)(A)(i)(II) should be increased from 12 hours per year, including any recommendations for the content of such training.

(2) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the analysis under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consult with States that, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, require more than 75 hours of training for certified nurse aides.

(3) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:

(A) NURSING FACILITY.—The term “nursing facility” has the meaning given such term in section 1919(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396r(a)).

(B) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

(C) SKILLED NURSING FACILITY.—The term “skilled nursing facility” has the meaning given such term in section 1819(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(a)).

(b) Report.—Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Secretary determines appropriate.