Doctor and senior woman wearing facemasks during coronavirus and flu outbreak. Virus protection. COVID-2019..

A major nursing home organization criticized legislation that would scale back a regulation known as the so-called “75% Rule,” which helps to determine where rehabilitation patients go for services.

“We want lawmakers to understand that objective analysis finds preserving current law is the best way to protect seniors’ care quality, and promote the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars,” said Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of American Health Care Association.

The legislation would contain the rule to 60% instead of raising it to 65% on July 1 and eventually to 75%. The percentage refers to the percentage of patients who must have a qualifying condition for an inpatient rehabilitation facility to maintain IRF status and, therefore, be eligible for higher Medicare funding. Nursing homes benefit from a higher IRF status threshold. Nine senators introduced the Preserving Patient Access to Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals Act on Monday, S. 543, on Monday.