WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton welcomed the approval by a key Senate committee of legislation she cosponsored to protect elderly patients from abuse. The Senate Finance Committee passed the Patient Safety and Abuse Prevention Act, which establishes a nationwide system of background checks to stop criminals from working in nursing homes and other long-term care settings. The bill now goes before the full Senate.
“Elderly patients and nursing home residents deserve the best possible care and the assurance that they will not be exposed to abuse and exploitation. This legislation takes important steps to safeguard our most vulnerable citizens and give peace of mind to their families, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to approve it as quickly as possible,” Senator Clinton said.
The legislation puts in place a system of background checks and encourages federal and state coordination, including utilizing the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s national database and state police records, in order to effectively screen potential care-givers for criminal history.
The legislation is supporting by many State Attorneys General, the Elder Justice Coalition, the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), AARP, the American Health Care Association, NCCNHR, and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
