[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2066-E2067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LONG-TERM CARE PATIENT PROTECTION ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, October 10, 1998

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, When a family makes the difficult decision to 
place an aging relative in a nursing home, they trust the institution 
to care properly for their loved one. However, over the last few years, 
numerous concerns have been raised about the quality of care and 
standards within the nursing home industry. At a time when this 
industry is experiencing explosive growth, I believe it is imperative 
that Congress institute safeguards to protect the most vulnerable 
members of our society.
  As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Human Resources, which 
has held numerous hearings examining our nation's nursing homes, I 
believe that introducing the Long-Term Care Patient Protection Act of 
1998 today will take a pivotal step in the right direction. This bill 
represents part of the Administration's efforts to improve quality of 
care within the nursing home industry, and serves as a complement to 
H.R. 4686, a bill introduced by my esteemed colleague, Mr. Joseph P. 
Kennedy, II, of Massachusetts.
  Specifically, the Long-Term Care Patient Protection Act of 1998, 
would allow qualified and trained paid staff other than nurses aides 
and licensed health professionals to provide feeding and hydration 
assistance to residents in nursing facilities participating in the 
Medicare and Medicaid programs. It would also

[[Page E2067]]

prevent a nursing facility from using any individual as a feeding and 
hydration assistant in the facility unless the individual has completed 
a training and competency evaluation approved by their respective 
state.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join my efforts to assist 
millions of families across this nation by supporting the Long-Term 
Care Patient Protection act of 1998.

                          ____________________