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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 5609 (96th)

Long Term Care Residents Rights Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 October 1979

Last action

16 October 1979 · Introduced

Status

Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.

Sponsors

Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [D-CA-33], Rep. Maguire, Andrew [D-NJ-7], Rep. Walgren, Doug [D-PA-18], Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Rep. Leland, Mickey [D-TX-18], Rep. Scheuer, James H. [D-NY-8], Rep. Ottinger, Richard L. [D-NY-20], Sen. Wirth, Timothy [D-CO], Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1], Rep. Moffett, Toby [D-CT-6], Rep. Addabbo, Joseph P. [D-NY-6], Rep. Barnes, Michael D. [D-MD-8], Rep. Brodhead, William [D-MI-17], Rep. Burton, Phillip [D-CA-6], Rescom. Corrada, Baltasar [I-PR-At Large], Rep. Downey, Thomas J. [D-NY-2], Rep. Drinan, Robert F. [D-MA-4], Rep. Edwards, Don [D-CA-10], Rep. Ford, Harold E. [D-TN-9], Rep. Guarini, Frank J. [D-NJ-14], Rep. Hall, Tony P. [D-OH-3], Rep. Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7], Rep. Murphy, Morgan F. [D-IL-2], Rep. Rangel, Charles B. [D-NY-15], Rep. Roe, Robert A. [D-NJ-8], Rep. Rosenthal, Benjamin S. [D-NY-8], Rep. Weaver, James H. [D-OR-4], Rep. Wolff, Lester L. [D-NY-6], Rep. Clinger, William F., Jr. [R-PA-5], Rep. McKinney, Stewart B. [R-CT-4], Rep. Mineta, Norman Y. [D-CA-15], Rep. Richmond, Frederick W. [D-NY-14], Rep. Oakar, Mary Rose [D-OH-20], Rep. Dellums, Ronald V. [D-CA-9]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

2 September 2025

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Summary

Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Act - Declares as the policy of the United States that each resident in a long-term care facility has specified basic rights, such as the right to participate in decision-making regarding his or her medical treatment to the maximum extent possible, and the right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records. Requires that each long-term care facility which participates in a health care program, receives Federal assistance, or is certified for participation in a Federal or State health care financing program secure to each resident such basic rights by meeting specified obligations, including the following: (1) establishing written policies regarding residents' rights and procedures for implementing such policies; (2) informing residents of their rights and of any changes in the policies and procedures of the facility at least 30 days before any such change becomes effective; (3) informing residents of the services and charges of the facility; (4) giving 30-day notice to a resident who is to be involuntarily transferred or discharged from the facility; (5) assisting each resident to exercise his or her rights as a resident and citizen, including filing complaints and voicing grievances; (6) protecting each resident from mental and physical abuse; and (7) permitting residents who are husband and wife to share the same room if they so choose. Prohibits any such facility from: (1) denying admission to or terminating the stay of any resident because of the source of third-party payment; or (2) interfering with the right of any resident to receive primary health care services from sources other than the facility. Amends the Older Americans Act of 1965 to require the long-term care ombudsman program to investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of a resident of a long-term care facility regarding alleged violations of rights secured by this Act. Grants to any individual whose rights under this Act have been violated a cause of action against the facility for damages and other relief in a United States district court without regard to the amount in controversy or exhaustion of remedies. Stipulates that the provisions of this Act shall not apply to any facility: (1) for the mentally ill; (2) owned and operated by the Federal Government or; (3) affiliated with a correctional institution.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 16 October 1979

    Introduced

    Referred to House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 16 October 1979

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 October 1979

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

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Documents

1 official file

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Sponsors

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Sources

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