SEC. 1415. STANDARDIZED COMPLAINT FORM.

[a] Skilled Nursing Facilities-

[1] DEVELOPMENT BY THE SECRETARY- Section- 1819[f] of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395i-3[f]], as amended by section 1413[a][3], is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

'[9] STANDARDIZED COMPLAINT FORM- The Secretary shall develop a standardized complaint form for use by a resident [or a person acting on the resident's behalf] in filing a complaint with a State survey and certification agency and a State long-term care ombudsman program with respect to a skilled nursing facility.'.

[2] STATE REQUIREMENTS- Section- 1819[e] of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395i-3[e]] is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

'[6] COMPLAINT PROCESSES AND WHISTLE-BLOWER PROTECTION-

'[A] COMPLAINT FORMS- The State must make the standardized complaint form developed under subsection [f][9] available upon request to--

'[i] a resident of a skilled nursing facility;

'[ii] any person acting on the resident's behalf; and

'[iii] any person who works at a skilled nursing facility or is a representative of such a worker.

'[B] COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS- The State must establish a complaint resolution process in order to ensure that a resident, the legal representative of a resident of a skilled nursing facility, or other responsible party is not retaliated against if the resident, legal representative, or responsible party has complained, in good faith, about the quality of care or other issues relating to the skilled nursing facility, that the legal representative of a resident of a skilled nursing facility or other responsible party is not denied access to such resident or otherwise retaliated against if such representative party has complained, in good faith, about the quality of care provided by the facility or other issues relating to the facility, and that a person who works at a skilled nursing facility is not retaliated against if the worker has complained, in good faith, about quality of care or services or an issue relating to the quality of care or services provided at the facility, whether the resident, legal representative, other responsible party, or worker used the form developed under subsection [f][9] or some other method for submitting the complaint. Such complaint resolution process shall include--

'[i] procedures to assure accurate tracking of complaints received, including notification to the complainant that a complaint has been received;

'[ii] procedures to determine the likely severity of a complaint and for the investigation of the complaint;

'[iii] deadlines for responding to a complaint and for notifying the complainant of the outcome of the investigation; and

'[iv] procedures to ensure that the identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.

'[C] WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION-

'[i] PROHIBITION AGAINST RETALIATION- No person who works at a skilled nursing facility may be penalized, discriminated, or retaliated against with respect to any aspect of employment, including discharge, promotion, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or have a contract for services terminated, because the person [or anyone acting at the person's request] complained, in good faith, about the quality of care or services provided by a nursing facility or about other issues relating to quality of care or services, whether using the form developed under subsection [f][9] or some other method for submitting the complaint.

'[ii] RETALIATORY REPORTING- A skilled nursing facility may not file a complaint or a report against a person who works [or has worked at the facility with the appropriate State professional disciplinary agency because the person [or anyone acting at the person's request] complained in good faith, as described in clause [i].

'[iii] COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION- Any person who believes the person has been penalized, discriminated, or retaliated against or had a contract for services terminated in violation of clause [i] or against whom a complaint has been filed in violation of clause [ii] may bring an action at law or equity in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such action without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, and which shall have jurisdiction to grant complete relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief [such as reinstatement, compensatory damages [which may include reimbursement of lost wages, compensation, and benefits], costs of litigation [including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees], exemplary damages where appropriate, and such other relief as the court deems just and proper.

'[iv] RIGHTS NOT WAIVABLE- The rights protected by this paragraph may not be diminished by contract or other agreement, and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to diminish any greater or additional protection provided by Federal or State law or by contract or other agreement.

'[v] REQUIREMENT TO POST NOTICE OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS- Each skilled nursing facility shall post conspicuously in an appropriate location a sign [in a form specified by the Secretary] specifying the rights of persons under this paragraph and including a statement that an employee may file a complaint with the Secretary against a skilled nursing facility that violates the provisions of this paragraph and information with respect to the manner of filing such a complaint.

'[D] RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as preventing a resident of a skilled nursing facility [or a person acting on the resident's behalf] from submitting a complaint in a manner or format other than by using the standardized complaint form developed under subsection [f][9] [including submitting a complaint orally].

'[E] GOOD FAITH DEFINED- For purposes of this paragraph, an individual shall be deemed to be acting in good faith with respect to the filing of a complaint if the individual reasonably believes--

'[i] the information reported or disclosed in the complaint is true; and

'[ii] the violation of this title has occurred or may occur in relation to such information.'.

[b] Nursing Facilities-

[1] DEVELOPMENT BY THE SECRETARY- Section- 1919[f] of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395i-3[f]], as amended by section 1413[b], is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

'[11] STANDARDIZED COMPLAINT FORM- The Secretary shall develop a standardized complaint form for use by a resident [or a person acting on the resident's behalf] in filing a complaint with a State survey and certification agency and a State long-term care ombudsman program with respect to a nursing facility.'.

[2] STATE REQUIREMENTS- Section- 1919[e] of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395i-3[e]] is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

'[8] COMPLAINT PROCESSES AND WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION-

'[A] COMPLAINT FORMS- The State must make the standardized complaint form developed under subsection [f][11] available upon request to--

'[i] a resident of a nursing facility;

'[ii] any person acting on the resident's behalf; and

'[iii] any person who works at a nursing facility or a representative of such a worker.

'[B] COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCESS- The State must establish a complaint resolution process in order to ensure that a resident, the legal representative of a resident of a nursing facility, or other responsible party is not retaliated against if the resident, legal representative, or responsible party has complained, in good faith, about the quality of care or other issues relating to the nursing facility, that the legal representative of a resident of a nursing facility or other responsible party is not denied access to such resident or otherwise retaliated against if such representative party has complained, in good faith, about the quality of care provided by the facility or other issues relating to the facility, and that a person who works at a nursing facility is not retaliated against if the worker has complained, in good faith, about quality of care or services or an issue relating to the quality of care or services provided at the facility, whether the resident, legal representative, other responsible party, or worker used the form developed under subsection [f][11] or some other method for submitting the complaint. Such complaint resolution process shall include--

'[i] procedures to assure accurate tracking of complaints received, including notification to the complainant that a complaint has been received;

'[ii] procedures to determine the likely severity of a complaint and for the investigation of the complaint;

'[iii] deadlines for responding to a complaint and for notifying the complainant of the outcome of the investigation; and

'[iv] procedures to ensure that the identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.

'[C] WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION-

'[i] PROHIBITION AGAINST RETALIATION- No person who works at a nursing facility may be penalized, discriminated, or retaliated against with respect to any aspect of employment, including discharge, promotion, compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or have a contract for services terminated, because the person [or anyone acting at the person's request] complained, in good faith, about the quality of care or services provided by a nursing facility or about other issues relating to quality of care or services, whether using the form developed under subsection [f][11] or some other method for submitting the complaint.

'[ii] RETALIATORY REPORTING- A nursing facility may not file a complaint or a report against a person who works [or has worked at the facility with the appropriate State professional disciplinary agency because the person [or anyone acting at the person's request] complained in good faith, as described in clause [i].

'[iii] COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION- Any person who believes the person has been penalized, discriminated, or retaliated against or had a contract for services terminated in violation of clause [i] or against whom a complaint has been filed in violation of clause [ii] may bring an action at law or equity in the appropriate district court of the United States, which shall have jurisdiction over such action without regard to the amount in controversy or the citizenship of the parties, and which shall have jurisdiction to grant complete relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief [such as reinstatement, compensatory damages [which may include reimbursement of lost wages, compensation, and benefits], costs of litigation [including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees], exemplary damages where appropriate, and such other relief as the court deems just and proper.

'[iv] RIGHTS NOT WAIVABLE- The rights protected by this paragraph may not be diminished by contract or other agreement, and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to diminish any greater or additional protection provided by Federal or State law or by contract or other agreement.

'[v] REQUIREMENT TO POST NOTICE OF EMPLOYEE RIGHTS- Each nursing facility shall post conspicuously in an appropriate location a sign [in a form specified by the Secretary] specifying the rights of persons under this paragraph and including a statement that an employee may file a complaint with the Secretary against a nursing facility that violates the provisions of this paragraph and information with respect to the manner of filing such a complaint.

'[D] RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as preventing a resident of a nursing facility [or a person acting on the resident's behalf] from submitting a complaint in a manner or format other than by using the standardized complaint form developed under subsection [f][11] [including submitting a complaint orally].

'[E] GOOD FAITH DEFINED- For purposes of this paragraph, an individual shall be deemed to be acting in good faith with respect to the filing of a complaint if the individual reasonably believes--

'[i] the information reported or disclosed in the complaint is true; and

'[ii] the violation of this title has occurred or may occur in relation to such information.'.

[c] Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall take effect 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.