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119th Congress Health

H.R. 9641: Essential Caregivers Act of 2026

In CommitteeJul 15, 2026

  1. Introduced (completed)Jul 13, 2026
  2. Passed House (not reached)
  3. Passed Senate (not reached)
  4. To the President (not reached)
  5. Became law (not reached)

Summary

Introduced in House, Jul 13, 2026

This bill requires certain nursing and long-term care facilities to ensure residents have access to their designated essential caregivers during periods of restricted visitation.

Specifically, the bill requires Medicare skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals, and inpatient rehabilitation facilities, as well as Medicaid nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, to allow residents to designate two essential caregivers and to allow these caregivers in-person access to residents even when visitation is otherwise restricted.

Facilities may limit access of essential caregivers only in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as specified. Essential caregivers must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the facility, which may be no more restrictive than the protocols for staff.

Written by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Roll calls

0 votes on this bill

No roll call votes have been held on this bill.

Amendments

0 offered

No amendments were offered to this bill.

Cosponsors

84

Bipartisan support.

Who scored on this bill

30 points earned
  1. 1Claudia Tenney R-NY SponsorDrew cross-party cosponsors, introduced, marked up, reached a cosponsor milestone5 events+30
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Introductions and cosponsorships count toward weekly caps and show no points.

Other bills by Claudia Tenney

History

  1. Jul 13, 2026Introduced in the House by Claudia Tenney.
Show the full action history (4 actions)
  1. Jul 15, 2026Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  2. Jul 15, 2026Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 38 - 0.
  3. Jul 13, 2026Introduced in House
  4. Jul 13, 2026Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.