Bucks County Lawmaker Celebrates Passage of Nursing Home Bill

HARRISBURG, PA — State Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) and State Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester) are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1853 with a bipartisan vote of 124-77.

Specifically, House Bill 1853 would require that the Department of Health’s Nursing Care Field Officers hold annual meetings with staff from the licensed nursing facilities under their jurisdiction. The goal of these meetings is to discuss and share information on survey results, patterns, trends and best practices to improve quality of care across the Commonwealth.

“We’re always looking to improve the lives of seniors in Pennsylvania,” Shusterman said. “By encouraging communication between the Department of Health and nursing home staff, we hope that the exchange of ideas and information between these two groups will lead to a unified effort to provide the best senior care possible. I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation, including my fellow state representative, Kristin Marcell, for her co-sponsorship and effort in delivering this legislation.”

"I am pleased to see the passage of House Bill 1853, because we are helping to foster collaboration between the Department of Health and our nursing homes," Marcell said. "This collaboration is more than a bureaucratic formality; it is the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure we’ve put in place to protect the lives of our most vulnerable citizens. Through today’s action, we are helping to support a more transparent, effective relationship that puts the well-being of over 60,000 Pennsylvania residents first."

“It takes collaboration from all of us to ensure the care of our older loved ones and neighbors is available and meets the standards we all should expect,” said Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association. “House Bill 1853 will expand that collaboration by bringing surveyors and providers together in an effort to enhance care outcomes. The legislation is another step in the forward progress Pennsylvania continues to make for the care
of our state’s elderly and adults with disabilities.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Kristin Marcell represents the 178th legislative district which includes parts of Northampton Township and all of Wrightstown, Upper Southampton and Warwick townships.