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Currently, Medicare and Medicaid providers, including home health providers and nursing homes, cannot easily access the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) to conduct employee background checks. The NPDB is a federal database that provides important information about an employee’s history of malpractice or formal disciplinary action. This lack of access creates the potential for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that serve senior citizens to hire employees with a history of elder abuse. Our nation’s seniors deserve dedicated and qualified caregivers that are thoroughly vetted. 

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) reintroduced the Promote Responsible Oversight and Targeted Employee Background Check Transparency for Seniors (PROTECTS) Act to protect seniors by ensuring that organizations that serve senior citizens like nursing homes or home health agencies avoid hiring practitioners with a history of elder abuse.

• “We must do all we can to protect our nation’s senior citizens, especially those who rely on long-term care services. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill that would allow senior care providers access to the National Practitioner Data Bank in order to screen potential hires and avoid hiring individuals with a known record of abuse to care for senior citizens.” – Senator Rubio

• “Nevada’s seniors deserve to be able to retire with dignity and respect, and we must do everything we can to prevent any and all abuse of seniors at long-term care facilities. This bipartisan bill takes an important step to protect seniors and help make sure nursing homes and other senior care facilities have the most qualified staff possible.” – Senator Rosen

Want more information? 

• June, 2021: Rubio, Rosen Introduce Bill to Promote Responsible Hiring Practices and Prevent Elder Abuse