,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #cfdd  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #g1       
#bjbj,mr4 ,booker 7for himself and ,mr4 
,blumenthal7 introduced the following   
bill2 which was read twice and referred 
to the ,committee on ,finance  ,a ,,bill
  ,to amend titles ,,xviii and ,,xix of 
the ,social ,security ,act to improve   
the quality of care in skilled nursing  
facilities under the ,medicare program  
and nursing facilities under the        
,medicare program during the ,,covid-#ai
 emergency period1 and for other        
purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,quality ,care for  
,nursing ,home ,residents and ,workers  
,during ,,covid-#ai ,act of #bjbj4  #b4 
,improving quality of care in skilled   
nursing facilities and nursing          
facilities during ,,covid-#ai emergency 
period  7a7 ,medicare ,section #ahai of 
the ,social ,security ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #acie;i-#c7 is amended by     
adding at the end the following new     

subsection3  7k7 ,additional            
requirements during certain public      
health emergency  7#a7 ,skilled nursing 
facilities  7,a7 ,in general ,during the
 portion of the emergency period defined
 in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 of section      
#aace7;g7 beginning on or after the date
 of the enactment of this subsection1 a 
skilled nursing facility shall comply   
with the quality of care requirements   
described in subparagraph 7,b71 the     
worker safety requirements described in 
subparagraph 7,c71 and the transparency 
requirements described in subparagraph  
7,d74  7,b7 ,quality of care            
requirements ,the quality of care       
requirements described in this          
subparagraph are each of the following3 
7i7 ,employ1 on a full-time basis1 an   
infection preventionist who-- 7,i7 has  
primary professional training in        
nursing1 medical technology1            
microbiology1 epidemiology1 or other    
related field2  7,,ii7 is qualified by  
education1 training1 experience or      

certification2 and  7,,iii7 has         
completed specialized training in       
infection prevention and control4  7ii7 
,in the case of a resident who elects to
 reside with a family member of such    
resident for any portion of the         
emergency period described in           
subparagraph 7,a71 guarantee the right  
of such resident to resume residency in 
the facility at any time during the     
#ahj-;day period immediately following  
the end of such emergency period4  7iii7
 ,notwithstanding subparagraphs 7,a7 and
 7,b7 of subsection 7c77#b71 permit a   
resident to remain in the facility and  
not discharge or transfer the resident  
from the facility unless-- 7,i7 the     
,state survey agency approves the       
discharge or transfer2  7,,ii7 in the   
case of a transfer1 the transfer is to a
 facility dedicated to the care of      
residents who have been diagnosed with  
,,covid-#ai if the resident has been    
diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai1 or a        
facility dedicated to the care of       

residents who have not been diagnosed   
with ,,covid-#ai if the resident has not
 been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai2       
7,,iii7 before effecting the discharge  
or transfer1 the facility records the   
reasons in the resident's clinical      
record2  7,,iv7 at least #gb hours in   
advance of the discharge or transfer1   
the facility provides a notice of the   
discharge or transfer to the resident   
7or legal representative of the         
resident1 if applicable71 including the 
reasons therefor and the items described
 in clause 7iii7 of subsection          
7c77#b77;,b72 and  7,v7 the resident 7or
 legal representative of the resident1  
if applicable7 acknowledges receipt of  
the notice described in subclause 7,,iv7
 and provides written consent to the    
discharge or transfer4  7iv7 ,test 7on a
 weekly basis7 each resident for        
,,covid-#ai1 or1 in the case that the   
facility does not have a sufficient     
number of testing kits for ,,covid-#ai1 
screen each resident for symptoms of    

,,covid-#ai and report 7on a daily basis
 until the facility has a sufficient    
number of such testing kits7 to the     
,state survey agency that the facility  
does not have a sufficient number of    
such testing kits and what steps the    
facility is taking to procure a         
sufficient number of such testing kits4 
7v7 ,ensure there is an adequate number 
of employees to assist residents in     
communicating with family members and   
friends through phone calls1 email1 and 
virtual communications on at least a    
weekly basis1 without regard to whether 
a resident has been diagnosed with      
,,covid-#ai4  7,c7 ,worker safety       
requirements ,the worker safety         
requirements described in this          
subparagraph are each of the following3 
7i7 ,in the case the facility is not    
otherwise subject to the ,occupational  
,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7or a 
,state occupational safety and health   
plan that is approved under section     
#ah7;c7 of such ,act71 comply with the  

,bloodborne ,pathogens standard under   
section #aiaj4ajcj of title #bi1 ,code  
of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor
 regulation74  7ii7 ,in the case of a   
predicted shortage of personal          
protective equipment1 report such       
predicted shortage to the ,state health 
department of the ,state in which the   
facility is located at least #bd hours  
in advance of when such predicted       
shortage is expected to occur4  7iii7   
,educate each employee on the           
transmission of ,,covid-#ai4  7iv7      
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 provide at least two weeks of paid 
sick leave to each employee4  7v7       
,before each employee's shift1 test the 
employee for ,,covid-#ai1 or1 in the    
case that the facility does not have a  
sufficient number of testing kits for   
,,covid-#ai1 screen each employee for   
symptoms of ,,covid-#ai and report 7on a
 daily basis until the facility has a   
sufficient number of such testing kits7 
to the ,state survey agency that the    

facility does not have a sufficient     
number of such testing kits and what    
steps the facility is taking to procure 
a sufficient number of such testing     
kits4  7,d7 ,transparency requirements  
,the transparency requirements described
 in this subparagraph are each of the   
following3 7i7 ,report 7on a daily      
basis7 to the ,state survey agency1 the 
,centers for ,medicare  ,medicaid       
,services1 and the ,centers for ,disease
 ,control and ,prevention each of the   
following3 7,i7 ,the number of confirmed
 and suspected cases ,,covid-#ai among  
residents and staff1 including the age  
and race or ethnicity of such residents 
and staff4  7,,ii7 ,the number of deaths
 related to ,,covid-#ai among residents 
and staff1 including the age and race or
 ethnicity of such residents and staff4 
7,,iii7 ,the total number of deaths     
7without regard to whether a death is   
related to ,,covid-#ai7 among residents 
and staff4  7,,iv7 ,the amount of       
personal protective equipment available 

and any projected need regarding such   
equipment4  7,v7 ,information on        
staffing levels that would otherwise be 
required to be submitted through the    
,payroll-,based ,journal of the ,centers
 for ,medicare  ,medicaid ,services4    
7,,vi7 ,the number of residents and     
staff who have been tested for          
,,covid-#ai4  7ii7 ,in the case that a  
resident or employee is diagnosed with  
,,covid-#ai or dies as a result of      
,,covid-#ai1 notify all residents1 legal
 representatives of residents1 and      
employees not later than #ab hours after
 such diagnosis is made or such death   
occurs4  7iii7 ,at any time three or    
more residents or employees have newly  
onset ,,covid-#ai symptoms1 notify all  
residents1 legal representatives of     
residents1 and employees not later than 
#gb hours after such three or more      
residents or employees are known to the 
facility4  7iv7 ,in the case that a     
resident or employee is suspected to    
have or is diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai1  

post a notice of such suspicion or      
diagnosis at each entrance of the       
facility for the remaining portion of   
the emergency period described in       
subparagraph 7,a74  7v7 ,for each day of
 the portion of the emergency period    
described in subparagraph 7,a71 post a  
notice at each entrance of the facility 
with the information required under     
subsection 7b77#h7 for such day4  7#b7  
,states and ,federal ,government  7,a7  
,public availability of information  7i7
 ,in general ,as soon as possible1 but  
not later than #bd hours after receiving
 any information required under         
paragraph 7#a77;,d77i71 the             
,administrator of the ,centers for      
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services1 in      
coordination with the ,director of the  
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention1 shall make such information
 publicly available on the ,nursing     
,home ,compare website of the ,centers  
for ,medicare  ,medicaid ,services and  
the ,c,o,v,i,d,view website of the      

,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention4  7ii7 ,,hipaa compliant    
information only ,information may only  
be made publicly available under clause 
7i7 if the disclosure of such           
information would otherwise be permitted
 under the ,federal regulations         
7concerning the privacy of individually 
identifiable health information7        
promulgated under section #bfd7;c7 of   
the ,health ,insurance ,portability and 
,accountability ,act of #aiif 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d-#b note74  7,b7       
,designation of ,,covid-#ai facilities  
,for purposes of paragraph              
7#a77;,b77iii77,,ii7-- 7i7 the          
,administrator of the ,centers for      
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services shall    
specify criteria 7which shall include   
the provision of the services of a      
registered nurse on a #bd-;hours basis7 
for each ,state survey agency to carry  
out the designation requirement         
described in clause 7ii7 with respect to
 skilled nursing facilities2 and  7ii7  

each ,state survey agency shall         
designate a skilled nursing facility in 
the ,state as a facility dedicated to   
the care of residents who have been     
diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai if such      
facility meets the criteria specified by
 the ,administrator under clause 7i74   
7,c7 ,remote monitoring and surveys ,a  
,state survey agency shall-- 7i7        
remotely monitor all skilled nursing    
facilities with at least one resident or
 employee who has been diagnosed with   
,,covid-#ai2  7ii7 in addition to       
surveys required under subsection 7g71  
conduct a survey of a skilled nursing   
facility1 in the same manner and subject
 to the same requirements applicable to 
standard surveys conducted under        
subsection 7g71 if the facility has a   
ratio of the number of deaths resulting 
from ,,covid-#ai to the number of       
,,covid-#ai diagnoses that exceeds #e   
percent1 or the ,state survey agency    
receives a ,,covid-#ai or staffing      
related immediate jeopardy complaint    

regarding the facility2 and  7iii7      
ensure that each survey team that       
conducts a survey under clause 7ii7 has 
adequate personal protective equipment  
while conducting such survey4  7#c7     
,civil money penalties ,the ,secretary  
shall impose a civil money penalty      
against the operators of a skilled      
nursing facility in an amount equal to  
#aj1jjj per day for each violation of a 
requirement described in subparagraph   
7,b71 7,c71 or 7,d7 of paragraph 7#a7 or
 the reporting of false information     
under clause 7i7 of such subparagraph   
7,d74 ,the provisions of section        
#aabh;,a 7other than subsections 7a7 and
 7b77 shall apply to a civil money      
penalty under the previous sentence in  
the same manner as such provisions apply
 to a penalty or proceeding under       
section #aabh;,a7a74  4  7b7 ,medicaid  
,section #aiai of the ,social ,security 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acifr7 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
subsection3  7k7 ,additional            

requirements during certain public      
health emergency  7#a7 ,nursing         
facilities  7,a7 ,in general ,during the
 portion of the emergency period defined
 in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 of section      
#aace7;g7 beginning on or after the date
 of the enactment of this subsection1 a 
nursing facility shall comply with the  
quality of care requirements described  
in subparagraph 7,b71 the worker safety 
requirements described in subparagraph  
7,c71 and the transparency requirements 
described in subparagraph 7,d74  7,b7   
,quality of care requirements ,the      
quality of care requirements described  
in this subparagraph are each of the    
following3 7i7 ,employ1 on a full-time  
basis1 an infection preventionist who-- 
7,i7 has primary professional training  
in nursing1 medical technology1         
microbiology1 epidemiology1 or other    
related field2  7,,ii7 is qualified by  
education1 training1 experience or      
certification2 and  7,,iii7 has         
completed specialized training in       

infection prevention and control4  7ii7 
,in the case of a resident who elects to
 reside with a family member of such    
resident for any portion of the         
emergency period described in           
subparagraph 7,a71 guarantee the right  
of such resident to resume residency in 
the facility at any time during the     
#ahj-;day period immediately following  
the end of such emergency period4  7iii7
 ,notwithstanding subparagraphs 7,a7 and
 7,b7 of subsection 7c77#b71 permit a   
resident to remain in the facility and  
not discharge or transfer the resident  
from the facility unless-- 7,i7 the     
,state survey agency approves the       
discharge or transfer2  7,,ii7 in the   
case of a transfer1 the transfer is to a
 facility dedicated to the care of      
residents who have been diagnosed with  
,,covid-#ai if the resident has been    
diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai1 or a        
facility dedicated to the care of       
residents who have not been diagnosed   
with ,,covid-#ai if the resident has not

 been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai2       
7,,iii7 before effecting the discharge  
or transfer1 the facility records the   
reasons in the resident's clinical      
record2  7,,iv7 at least #gb hours in   
advance of the discharge or transfer1   
the facility provides a notice of the   
discharge or transfer to the resident   
7or legal representative of the         
resident1 if applicable71 including the 
reasons therefor and the items described
 in clause 7iii7 of subsection          
7c77#b77;,b72 and  7,v7 the resident 7or
 legal representative of the resident1  
if applicable7 acknowledges receipt of  
the notice described in subclause 7,,iv7
 and provides written consent to the    
discharge or transfer4  7iv7 ,test 7on a
 weekly basis7 each resident for        
,,covid-#ai1 or1 in the case that the   
facility does not have a sufficient     
number of testing kits for ,,covid-#ai1 
screen each resident for symptoms of    
,,covid-#ai and report 7on a daily basis
 until the facility has a sufficient    

number of such testing kits7 to the     
,state survey agency that the facility  
does not have a sufficient number of    
such testing kits and what steps the    
facility is taking to procure a         
sufficient number of such testing kits4 
7v7 ,ensure there is an adequate number 
of employees to assist residents in     
communicating with family members and   
friends through phone calls1 email1 and 
virtual communications on at least a    
weekly basis1 without regard to whether 
a resident has been diagnosed with      
,,covid-#ai4  7,c7 ,worker safety       
requirements ,the worker safety         
requirements described in this          
subparagraph are each of the following3 
7i7 ,in the case the facility is not    
otherwise subject to the ,occupational  
,safety and ,health ,act of #aigj 7or a 
,state occupational safety and health   
plan that is approved under section     
#ah7;c7 of such ,act71 comply with the  
,bloodborne ,pathogens standard under   
section #aiaj4ajcj of title #bi1 ,code  

of ,federal ,regulations 7or a successor
 regulation74  7ii7 ,in the case of a   
predicted shortage of personal          
protective equipment1 report such       
predicted shortage to the ,state health 
department of the ,state in which the   
facility is located at least #bd hours  
in advance of when such predicted       
shortage is expected to occur4  7iii7   
,educate each employee on the           
transmission of ,,covid-#ai4  7iv7      
,notwithstanding any other provision of 
law1 provide at least two weeks of paid 
sick leave to each employee4  7v7       
,before each employee's shift1 test the 
employee for ,,covid-#ai1 or1 in the    
case that the facility does not have a  
sufficient number of testing kits for   
,,covid-#ai1 screen each employee for   
symptoms of ,,covid-#ai and report 7on a
 daily basis until the facility has a   
sufficient number of such testing kits7 
to the ,state survey agency that the    
facility does not have a sufficient     
number of such testing kits and what    

steps the facility is taking to procure 
a sufficient number of such testing     
kits4  7,d7 ,transparency requirements  
,the transparency requirements described
 in this subparagraph are each of the   
following3 7i7 ,report 7on a daily      
basis7 to the ,state survey agency1 the 
,centers for ,medicare  ,medicaid       
,services1 and the ,centers for ,disease
 ,control and ,prevention each of the   
following3 7,i7 ,the number of confirmed
 and suspected cases ,,covid-#ai among  
residents and staff1 including the age  
and race or ethnicity of such residents 
and staff4  7,,ii7 ,the number of deaths
 related to ,,covid-#ai among residents 
and staff1 including the age and race or
 ethnicity of such residents and staff4 
7,,iii7 ,the total number of deaths     
7without regard to whether a death is   
related to ,,covid-#ai7 among residents 
and staff4  7,,iv7 ,the amount of       
personal protective equipment available 
and any projected need regarding such   
equipment4  7,v7 ,information on        

staffing levels that would otherwise be 
required to be submitted through the    
,payroll-,based ,journal of the ,centers
 for ,medicare  ,medicaid ,services4    
7,,vi7 ,the number of residents and     
staff who have been tested for          
,,covid-#ai4  7ii7 ,in the case that a  
resident or employee is diagnosed with  
,,covid-#ai or dies as a result of      
,,covid-#ai1 notify all residents1 legal
 representatives of residents1 and      
employees not later than #ab hours after
 such diagnosis is made or such death   
occurs4  7iii7 ,at any time three or    
more residents or employees have newly  
onset ,,covid-#ai symptoms1 notify all  
residents1 legal representatives of     
residents1 and employees not later than 
#gb hours after such three or more      
residents or employees are known to the 
facility4  7iv7 ,in the case that a     
resident or employee is suspected to    
have or is diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai1  
post a notice of such suspicion or      
diagnosis at each entrance of the       

facility for the remaining portion of   
the emergency period described in       
subparagraph 7,a74  7v7 ,for each day of
 the portion of the emergency period    
described in subparagraph 7,a71 post a  
notice at each entrance of the facility 
with the information required under     
subsection 7b77#h7 for such day4  7#b7  
,states and ,federal ,government  7,a7  
,public availability of information  7i7
 ,in general ,as soon as possible1 but  
not later than #bd hours after receiving
 any information required under         
paragraph 7#a77;,d77i71 the             
,administrator of the ,centers for      
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services1 in      
coordination with the ,director of the  
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention1 shall make such information
 publicly available on the ,nursing     
,home ,compare website of the ,centers  
for ,medicare  ,medicaid ,services and  
the ,c,o,v,i,d,view website of the      
,centers for ,disease ,control and      
,prevention4  7ii7 ,,hipaa compliant    

information only ,information may only  
be made publicly available under clause 
7i7 if the disclosure of such           
information would otherwise be permitted
 under the ,federal regulations         
7concerning the privacy of individually 
identifiable health information7        
promulgated under section #bfd7;c7 of   
the ,health ,insurance ,portability and 
,accountability ,act of #aiif 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;d-#b note74  7,b7       
,designation of ,,covid-#ai facilities  
,for purposes of paragraph              
7#a77;,b77iii77,,ii7-- 7i7 the          
,administrator of the ,centers for      
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services shall    
specify criteria 7which shall include   
the provision of the services of a      
registered nurse on a #bd-;hours basis7 
for each ,state survey agency to carry  
out the designation requirement         
described in clause 7ii7 with respect to
 nursing facilities2 and  7ii7 each     
,state survey agency shall designate a  
nursing facility in the ,state as a     

facility dedicated to the care of       
residents who have been diagnosed with  
,,covid-#ai if such facility meets the  
criteria specified by the ,administrator
 under clause 7i74  7,c7 ,remote        
monitoring and surveys ,a ,state survey 
agency shall-- 7i7 remotely monitor all 
nursing facilities with at least one    
resident or employee who has been       
diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai2  7ii7 in    
addition to surveys required under      
subsection 7g71 conduct a survey of a   
nursing facility1 in the same manner and
 subject to the same requirements       
applicable to standard surveys conducted
 under subsection 7g71 if the facility  
has a ratio of the number of deaths     
resulting from ,,covid-#ai to the number
 of ,,covid-#ai diagnoses that exceeds  
#e percent1 or the ,state survey agency 
receives a ,,covid-#ai or staffing      
related immediate jeopardy complaint    
regarding the facility2 and  7iii7      
ensure that each survey team that       
conducts a survey under clause 7ii7 has 

adequate personal protective equipment  
while conducting such survey4  7#c7     
,civil money penalties ,the ,secretary  
shall impose a civil money penalty      
against the operators of a nursing      
facility in an amount equal to #aj1jjj  
per day for each violation of a         
requirement described in subparagraph   
7,b71 7,c71 or 7,d7 of paragraph 7#a7 or
 the reporting of false information     
under clause 7i7 of such subparagraph   
7,d74 ,the provisions of section        
#aabh;,a 7other than subsections 7a7 and
 7b77 shall apply to a civil money      
penalty under the previous sentence in  
the same manner as such provisions apply
 to a penalty or proceeding under       
section #aabh;,a7a74  4  #c4 ,funding   
for ,state strike teams for resident and
 employee safety in skilled nursing     
facilities and nursing facilities  7a7  
,in general ,of the amounts made        
available under subsection 7c71 the     
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services 7referred to in this section  

as the ,secretary7 shall allocate such  
amounts among the ,states1 in a manner  
that takes into account the percentage  
of skilled nursing facilities and       
nursing facilities in each ,state that  
have residents or employees who have    
been diagnosed with ,,covid-#ai1 for    
purposes of establishing and            
implementing strike teams in accordance 
with subsection 7b74  7b7 ,use of funds 
,a ,state that receives funds under this
 section shall use such funds to        
establish and implement a strike team   
that will be deployed to a skilled      
nursing facility or nursing facility in 
the ,state1 not later than #gb hours    
after three or more residents or        
employees of the facility are diagnosed 
with or suspected of having ,,covid-#ai1
 to assist the facility in separating   
residents and employees who have been   
exposed to ,,covid-#ai from those       
residents and employees who have not    
been so exposed1 supervising testing for
 ,,covid-#ai1 ensuring any applicable   

whistleblower protections are being     
enforced1 and such other needs as       
determined necessary by the strike team4
 ,such strike team shall include members
 of the ,national ,guard1 public health 
officials from ,state and local health  
departments1 experts in geriatrics and  
long-term care medicine1 representatives
 of residents or consumers1 and         
representatives of workers4  7c7        
,authorization of appropriations ,for   
purposes of carrying out this section1  
there is authorized to be appropriated  
#ejj1jjj1jjj4  7d7 ,definitions ,in this
 section3 7#a7 ,nursing facility ,the   
term nursing facility means a nursing   
facility under the ,medicaid program    
under title ,,xix of the ,social        
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et  
seq474  7#b7 ,skilled nursing facility  
,the term skilled nursing facility means
 a skilled nursing facility under the   
,medicare program under title ,,xviii of
 the ,social ,security ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #acie et seq474  #d4          

,reinstitution of requirements waived   
for skilled nursing facilities and      
nursing facilities during ,,covid-#ai   
emergency period  7a7 ,in general ,with 
respect to requirements that the        
,administrator of the ,centers for      
,medicare  ,medicaid ,services 7referred
 to in this section as the              
,administrator7 waived for skilled      
nursing facilities and nursing          
facilities under section #aace or       
#ahab7;f7 of the ,social ,security ,act 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;b-#e1 #acie;d7f77  
for the period beginning on ,march #a1  
#bjbj1 and ending on the last day of the
 emergency period defined in subsection 
7g77#a77;,b7 of such section #aace1 the 
,administrator shall terminate the      
waiver of such requirements before the  
last day of such emergency period upon  
the determination that skilled nursing  
facilities and nursing facilities have  
the capacity to comply with such        
requirements and that such waiver is no 
longer necessary4  7b7 ,plan for        

conducting waived or postponed surveys  
,with respect to any survey under       
section #ahai7;g7 or #aiai7;g7 of the   
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#acie;i-#c7;g71 #acifr7g77 that is      
waived or postponed during the period   
beginning on ,march #a1 #bjbj1 and      
ending on the last day of the emergency 
period described in subsection 7a71 the 
,administrator shall develop a plan for 
conducting such survey after such last  
day4  7c7 ,training and certification of
 nurse aides ,with respect to any nurse 
aide with respect to whom the           
,administrator waived the application of
 the requirements under section         
#dhc4ce7;d7 of title #db1 ,code of      
,federal ,regulations1 for the period   
beginning on ,march #a1 #bjbj1 and      
ending on the last day of the emergency 
period described in subsection 7a71 the 
,administrator shall prohibit the       
skilled nursing facility or nursing     
facility employing such nurse aide from 
retaining such nurse aide after such    

last day unless such nurse aide         
satisfies applicable training and       
certification requirements under such   
section not later than #ae days after   
such last day4  7d7 ,definitions ,in    
this section3 7#a7 ,nursing facility    
,the term nursing facility means a      
nursing facility under the ,medicaid    
program under title ,,xix of the ,social
 ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acif et 
seq474  7#b7 ,skilled nursing facility  
,the term skilled nursing facility means
 a skilled nursing facility under the   
,medicare program under title ,,xviii of
 the ,social ,security ,act 7#db        
,u4,s4,c4 #acie et seq474  #e4 ,guidance
 for certain residential care facilities
 during ,,covid-#ai emergency period    
,not later than #ae days after the date 
of the enactment of this ,act1 the      
,secretary of ,health and ,human        
,services 7referred to in this section  
as the ,secretary7 shall issue guidance 
for long-term health care facilities1   
including assisted living facilities1   

other residential care facilities1 and  
such facilities that are temporary      
during the emergency period defined in  
section #aace7;g77#a77;,b7 of the       
,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4   
#acbj;b-#e7;g77#a77;,b771 that are not  
subject to oversight by the ,centers for
 ,medicare  ,medicaid ,services on      
providing access to virtual visitation  
during any portion of such emergency    
period in which in-person visitation is 
restricted and ensuring appropriate     
infection control and prevention and    
employee safety during such emergency   
period4 ,such guidance shall include--  
7#a7 steps that health care facilities  
described in this subsection should take
 to provide residents with access to    
virtual visitation1 including through   
the purchase or installation of devices 
purchased for the use or benefit of     
individual or multiple residents1 that  
allows residents to communicate with    
their families during such emergency    
period2  7#b7 options for such          

facilities in notifying residents and   
resident representatives of such access 
to virtual visitation and how the       
facility is addressing any operational  
issues related to such access to virtual
 visitation2 and  7#c7 steps that health
 care facilities described in this      
subsection should take to provide       
residents and employees with appropriate
 infection control and prevention1 based
 on requirements for skilled nursing    
facilities under subsection 7k7 of      
section #ahai of the ,social ,security  
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acie;i-#c71 as     
added by section #b7;a71 and            
requirements for nursing facilities     
under subsection 7k7 of section #aiai of
 such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acifr71 as   
added by section #b7;b74