Sen. Franken Blasts Reckless Trump Administration Plan to Overturn Ban on Nursing Home Forced Arbitration Agreements

Press Release

Senator Al Franken released the following statement after the Trump Administration revealed a proposal to scrap protections that prevent nursing homes and long-term care facilities from locking residents into forced arbitration agreements--agreements that keep residents and their families from seeking justice in the courts for claims related to negligence, serious personal injury, and even wrongful death.

"Admitting yourself or a loved one to a nursing home is one of the most difficult life decisions you can make, and it shouldn't be any harder than it already is," said Sen. Franken, author of the comprehensive Arbitration Fairness Act. "And until last year, many long-term care contracts were riddled with fine print that prevented residents and families who were wronged from seeking justice in court. These pre-dispute, forced arbitration clauses are something I've been fighting to rein in for a long time, and when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid heeded my call and outlawed them at long-term care facilities, it meant a huge victory for Minnesotans.

"But now the Trump Administration is planning to lift the ban on nursing home arbitration clauses, which would be terrible for consumers. I'm going to fight back against this misguided decision, because Minnesota seniors and families deserve better."

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