Argentum is pleased to share that Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have introduced the SENIOR Act (Safeguarding Elderly Needs for Infrastructure and Occupational Resources). The legislation came at Argentum’s request and addresses the imminent need for investing in human infrastructure to support America’s rapidly aging population.

Earlier today, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard Burr (R-NC), the respective chair and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a discussion draft of new legislation to address the federal response of the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics.

OSHA announced today that it plans to withdraw its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), effective upon its publication in the Federal Register tomorrow. The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month to block enforcement of the OSHA ETS and signaled that if it were to come before the Court again it was likely to be overturned.

Argentum sent a letter to President Biden yesterday, reiterating the urgent needs of senior living facilities as additional COVID-19 response measures are considered in the wake of the Omicron variant.

The federal public health emergency (PHE) was renewed today by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, extending the PHE for an additional 90-days. Without today's action, the PHE would have expired on January 16. This is the fourth extension of the PHE since it was first ordered by then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar in January 2020.

The Supreme Court issued rulings today in both the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and the CMS Interim Final Rule (IFR) vaccine mandates.

Argentum sent a letter to President Biden and HHS Secretary Becerra today, imploring the administration to directly supply senior living facilities with COVID-19 testing supplies, resuming a federal program for vaccine and booster administration, and reiterating the need for targeted federal financial relief.

Argentum issued the following press release in response to yesterday's announcement by HHS and HRSA on the Phase 4 Provider Relief Fund allocations.

Argentum Calls Out Biden Administration for Indefensibly Low COVID Relief Payments for Senior Living Caregivers

One day after HHS/HRSA said it is releasing $9 billion in Provider Relief Funds, a closer look at the methodology used to determine payments for assisted living providers is severely lacking.

Later this week, HHS and HRSA are expected to begin distributing approximately $9 billion from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) to eligible health care providers. These funds are part of the $17 billion allocated in Phase 4 of the PRF, which was made possible in part due to Argentum's  advocacy efforts to save the PRF from a near-certain elimination and then to release the funds to providers.

Attention Argentum Advocates: Mark your calendars for this coming March 7-9 for the annual Argentum Public Policy Institute. This event is the premier senior living advocacy event in the nation, bringing together key policymakers from Capitol Hill and the White House and offering you a chance to guide the future of senior living. It will be held in-person for the first time since 2019!