Proposed
Bill · 119th Congress · HR 9641
Essential Caregivers Act of 2026
Refreshed 1 h ago
Introduced 2026-07-13Topic: health careSummary
Summary by the Congressional Research ServiceEssential Caregivers Act of 2026 This bill requires certain nursing and long-term care facilities to ensure residents have access to their designated essential caregivers during periods of restricted visitation. Specifically, the bill requires Medicare skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, as well as Medicaid nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, to allow residents to designate two essential caregivers and to allow these caregivers in-person access to residents even when visitation is otherwise restricted. Facilities may limit access of essential caregivers only in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as specified. Essential caregivers must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the facility, which may be no more restrictive than the protocols for staff.
Sponsors
- Claudia Tenney Republican sponsor
- 88 cosponsors
Action history
| Date | Chamber | Action | Status effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | House | Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0. | refer |
| 2026-07-15 | House | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held | refer |
| 2026-07-13 | House | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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. | refer |
| 2026-07-13 | House | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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. | refer |
| 2026-07-13 | Introduced in House | introduce | |
| 2026-07-13 | Introduced in House | introduce |