Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) cosponsored legislation led by Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to address critical health and economic needs for older adults, people with disabilities, front-line workers, and family caregivers. The Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act would increase funding for nursing home inspectors, waive certain Medicare costs for seniors, promote home and community-based services and protect home health workers, and increase emergency funds for nutrition programs that allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain at home.
“During this unprecedented health crisis, we need to ensure that we are putting the most robust protections in place for our most vulnerable populations, including Nevada’s seniors, people with disabilities, and people with underlying health conditions,” said the Senators. “As we continue to fight this pandemic, it’s crucial that we’re strengthening the safeguards and support systems that our seniors and disabled communities rely on so that they have peace of mind and stay healthy at this critical moment.”
Background:
Nevada’s seniors make up 14 percent of our state’s population. Nationwide, nearly 4 in 10 Americans are at heightened risk of infection from the novel coronavirus. The Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act would:
- Increase funding for nursing home state inspections to promote infection control.
- Cover the cost of treatment for low-income seniors and boost the economy. Individuals living on incomes at or below roughly $19,000 who have limited savings would be auto-enrolled in assistance to cover the cost of their Medicare Part B premiums and cost-sharing.
- Promote home- and community-based services and protect home health workers. Through Medicaid grants to States, the bill would provide funding to ensure that seniors and people with disabilities who need care at home can receive it, as well as support wage increases, overtime pay, and paid sick, medical, and family leave to home health workers.
- Make sure seniors and people with disabilities have healthy food and other services by providing increased emergency funding for programs that allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain healthy and safe at home.
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