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HR 9641 Cleared committee

Requires nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to let each resident name two essential caregivers for in-person visits even when regular visiting is suspended.

Official title: Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced 13-JUL-2026
Referred 13-JUL-2026
Approved by committee 15-JUL-2026
Key points
  • Lets each resident elect two essential caregivers for in-person access and change that election at any time.
  • During a suspension of regular visits, facilities may deny in-person access for the first 7 days if they provide audio-visual access instead, and may limit caregivers who show symptoms of a serious infectious disease or who break safety protocols, allowing only one caregiver at a time.
  • Bars facilities from denying or shortening in-person access for residents who have elected hospice end-of-life care.
  • Requires state survey agencies to prioritize related complaints and notify complainants of the outcome within 3 days; HHS issues implementing regulations within 18 months, and the requirements apply 1 year after enactment.
AI-generated from the Introduced in House text of 13-JUL-2026 · verify · report an error
Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Introduced in House, 13-JUL-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov
Committee referrals (2) Policy area

Health

Sponsor Claudia Tenney (R-NY) Cosponsors · 75
■ 38 R■ 37 D