Press Release

Washington, DC—The following is a statement from American Association for Justice (AAJ) CEO Linda Lipsen in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today releasing a proposed rule to repeal its celebrated regulatory prohibition on the use of forced arbitration clauses in long-term care facility admissions contracts, which was finalized by the Obama Administration in September 2016.

“Today’s disappointing announcement signals to our nation’s seniors that their government is no longer working to protect them from abuse, fraud, and neglect. New agency leadership has instead chosen to sacrifice the well-being of the most vulnerable citizens to protect nursing home corporations from ever being held publicly accountable for wrongdoing, no matter how egregious.”

“There is no justification for the new administration’s proposal to strip away the rights of seniors and encourage nursing home facilities to once again prioritize profit over care. The safety of our parents and grandparents is at stake. AAJ will continue to stand with America’s seniors in their fight to access justice through the courts.”