JUlrich

At the State Capitol: Nursing Home Reform

All state nursing home reform bills in the PROTECT package have passed their house of origin, including AARP’s priority bill, SB 650, which requires nursing homes to be transparent regarding how they spend state funds intended to support patient care.  SB 650 and the rest of the bills in the PROTECT package now move on to the next chamber of the Legislature, where they will be heard in committee, and where AARP will continue to advocate for their passage.  By the time you read this, SB 650 will have been heard in the next chamber.

In Washington DC: The (Ambitious) American Jobs Plan

President Biden believes that we must invest in our country and in our people, creating good-paying union jobs, tackling the climate crisis, and growing the economy sustainably, and equitably for decades to come. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework is a critical step in accomplishing these objectives.

Everything, from clean driving cars and buses to reduce emissions and clean drinking water by getting rid of lead pipes completely, to connecting everyone to reliable high-speed internet and upgrading our power infrastructure will create lots of good-paying union jobs and advance environmental justice. There’s more: Roads, bridges and public transportation, airports, ports and waterways — the list goes on.

So far, the Republicans and Democrats have agreed on a framework for this $973 billion infrastructure bill, and President Biden has given it his support. While the American Rescue Plan (all those stimulus payments) is changing the course of the pandemic and delivering relief for working families, President Biden believes this is no time to build back to the way things were. This is the moment to reimagine and rebuild a new economy. The American Jobs Plan is an investment in America that will create millions of good jobs, rebuild our country’s infrastructure, and position the United States to out-compete China. Public domestic investment as a share of the economy has fallen by more than 40 percent since the 1960s. The American Jobs Plan will invest in America in a way we have not invested since we built the interstate highways and won the Space Race.

The question is:  Who will pay for all this?  The rich?  The corporations?  The idea here is to equalize everything and everyone by reducing the IRS tax gap, redirecting unused unemployment insurance relief funds, repurposing unused relief funds from 2020 emergency relief legislation, allowing state and local investment in broadband infrastructure, and allowing states to sell or purchase unused toll credits for infrastructure.

Reinstating Superfund fees for chemicals and 5G spectrum auction proceeds as well as strategic petroleum reserve sales are slated to pay for this…  And don’t forget public-private partnerships, private activity bonds, direct pay bonds, and asset recycling for infrastructure investment.

The California Legislature is in session, and AARP is still backing the following bills.  (Let your Representatives and Senators know you want them to back them, too.)

AB 458 – CA Affordable Drug Importation Act – Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop and implement a prescription drug wholesale importation program to allow for the importation of safe, affordable drugs from Canada.

Allows for the expansion of the Canadian drug importation program to include prescription drug suppliers from other major nations upon the enactment of federal legislation authorizing such practice.  Many of the manufacturers producing these drugs have already been approved by the FDA to sell pharmaceuticals on the U.S. market; and currently, at least 40% of the prescription drugs used in the U.S. are manufactured abroad.

DHHS will establish eligibility criteria for the types of drugs that may be imported.  Eligible drugs are those that will result in the greatest cost savings, such as expensive specialty and rare-disease drugs.

In addition to lowering costs, this bill protects patients who are currently forced to mail-order unregulated drugs by making sure that imported drugs are safe and effective.  Safety standards regulated by Health Canada and the European Union are as tough as FDA standards.

AB 911 / SB 515 – Long-Term Services & Support – Creates the framework & governance structure for a future Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) benefit.  Established the California LTSS Board. 

Requires the LTSS Board to manage and invest revenue deposited in the California Long-Term Services & Supports Benefits Trust Fund.  Would, upon appropriation, finance long-term services and support for eligible individuals.

AB 84 – Emergency Paid Sick Leave – Extends paid sick leave up to 80 hours for most California employees who do not receive PSL through their job for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.  They must work for an employer with 25 or more employees for this to apply.

Allows individuals to take Paid Sick Leave to care for someone diagnosed with COVID-19.  Allows individuals to take Paid Sick Leave to care for a loved one whose place of care, such as adult day care, is closed due to COVID-19.

SB 650 – Nursing Home Reform: Financial Transparency – Requires an organization that operates, conducts, owns, manages, or maintains a skilled nursing facility, or facilities, to prepare and file an annual consolidated financial report. The report must include data from all operating entities, license holders, and related parties in which the organization has an ownership or control interest of 5% or more and that provides any service, facility, or supply to the skilled nursing facility.

Requires management companies and property companies that are not related by ownership or control to one of organizations, but that contract with or have entered into leases with one of those organizations, to file an annual consolidated financial report.  The bill would require the office to post those reports and related documents to its internet website.