The U.S. Senate narrowly approved a motion to begin debate on its version of healthcare reform. The legislation includes a significant expansion of the Elder Justice Act and other provisions affecting seniors and long-term care.
The 60-39 procedural vote fell along party lines. Full debate is expected to begin Dec. 1, 2009. The Senate's healthcare reform package includes a version of the Elder Justice Act that is much more extensive than the House's counterpart, according to California Elder Abuse Attorney Steven C. Peck. Though both would strengthen worker screening programs through a national background check database, the Senate version would include more federal aid for elder abuse identification. It also would require that long-term care providers report possible crimes and include new anti-abuse efforts coordinated through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Contact Steven Peck's Premier Legal toll free at 1.866.999.9085 to talk to an experienced california elder law attorney and visit us on-line at www.premierlegal.org.
