ANCOR Endorses Bill to Improve ICF Care

On Thursday, the Preventing Abuse and Neglect of Vulnerable Americans Act was introduced by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Rep. Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). The bill is aimed at aimed at improving the quality of care for residents living in Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs).

 “We’re working to prevent the abuse and neglect of our most vulnerable, improve trust, and allow family members to make better informed decisions about the care of their loved ones by increasing public transparency and accountability of intermediate care facilities,” said Sen. Sinema.

 The bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make additional complaint information available through its online database QCOR, create an Advisory Council to recommend best practices and policy changes surrounding ICFs and make it easier for employers at ICFs to conduct background checks on employees and potential employees.

 ANCOR joins the American Health Care Association, The Arc of the United States, United Cerebral Palsy, the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in endorsing the bipartisan, bicameral bill.