Essential Caregivers Act of 2021
This bill requires skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, and intermediate care facilities for the intellectually disabled to establish an essential caregivers program during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Under the program, facilities must allow each resident to select up to two essential caregivers to provide daily living assistance or emotional support during the emergency. Facilities must afford such caregivers up to eight hours of access to residents each day, and caregivers must agree to follow facility safety protocols and undergo regular COVID-19 testing, as specified.