Policy Impact Analysis - 117/S/4593

Bill Overview

Title: Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act of 2022

Description: 2022 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to publish specified information on its website relating to deficiencies of Medicaid intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, including information regarding inspections, complaints, and administrative actions. The CMS must also (1) develop and publish a standardized complaint form for such facilities; and (2) convene an advisory council to recommend ways to prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation in such facilities. The bill also allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information for affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.

Sponsors: Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

Target Audience

Population: Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in the US

Estimated Size: 400000

• The bill focuses on individuals with intellectual disabilities in Medicaid intermediate care facilities.
• The improvements in complaint processes and transparency will directly affect individuals residing in these facilities and their families.
• In the US, it is estimated that there are over 6 million people with intellectual disabilities, though not all reside in Medicaid intermediate care facilities.
• Not all individuals with intellectual disabilities are in care facilities covered by Medicaid, but a significant portion are, especially those requiring intensive care.
• The bill also addresses healthcare practitioners by allowing certain data access, indirectly impacting care quality.
• The American population is directly impacted since the bill affects US-based care facilities and citizens.
• Considering family members and caregivers who are involved in the care of those with intellectual disabilities, the broader community affected is larger.

Reasoning

• 1. The policy directly affects individuals residing in Medicaid intermediate care facilities for intellectual disabilities. Given the requirement for CMS to publish facility deficiencies and provide a standardized complaint form, both patients and families are anticipated to feel safer and more informed about their care environment.
• 2. The advisory council's role in preventing abuse and neglect, while indirectly benefiting residents, may have a more substantial future impact, thereby affecting longer-term wellbeing scores.
• 3. Ensuring healthcare practitioners' disciplinary information access could lead to improved care quality, indirectly boosting confidence in received care among patients and families over the years.
• 4. Estimated budget limits suggest an initially conservative implementation aligning with setting up databases and forming advisory councils, leading to gradual improvements in care quality and policy reach.
• 5. Family members, caregivers, and health workers form a broader stakeholder group that could see a slight rise in wellbeing perceptions as accountability and transparency increase within these facilities.
• 6. Awareness of policy changes and their benefits might take some time to permeate through community stakeholders, resulting in delayed wellbeing improvements.

Simulated Interviews

Cost Estimates

Key Considerations

• The bill primarily involves transparency and administrative reforms rather than direct economic or financial policies.
• The full impact on vulnerable individuals and care quality improvements may be observed more qualitively than quantatively.
• CMS's role in implementation may require precise allocation and effectively managed budgets to prevent cost overruns.