Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025

Key Points

• Requires certain care facilities paid by Medicare or Medicaid to let residents name “essential caregivers,” even when normal visits are restricted.
• During an emergency lockdown, facilities must allow at least 1 essential caregiver to visit every day at any time, unless a limited exception applies.
• A facility can temporarily deny access only for up to 7 days (or up to 14 days with State approval), but must still allow visits for end-of-life care or a resident in decline or distress.
• If a caregiver is blocked for breaking safety rules, the facility must warn them in writing first, explain any later denial within 24 hours, and offer an appeal path.
• Directs Health and Human Services to write rules and create a formal appeal process; changes would start 2 years after the bill becomes law.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.