Cramer Receives Distinguished Service Award From North Dakota Long Term Care Association

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BISMARCK, N.D. - U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined the North Dakota Long Term Care Association (NDLTCA) for its 49^th Annual Convention and Expo this evening, where he received the Distinguished Service Award. In a letter notifying Cramer of the honor, the association said it is one of its highest distinctions and "recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, leadership, and service in support of long term care and the residents, tenants, families, and professionals we serve across North Dakota." Since 1977, only 38 individuals have received the award.

Today's event brought together providers, caregivers, and healthcare leaders in Bismarck to highlight the evolving landscape of long-term care in the state. Centered on the theme "The Magic of Caring…Celebrating the Everyday Moments that Matter Most," this year's gathering emphasized the compassion, innovation, and day-to-day dedication defining long-term care across North Dakota.

"In North Dakota, we prioritize compassion and I see this compassion in action every time I visit facilities and work with caretakers and leaders," said Cramer. "Caregiving is a privilege and compassion is the North Dakota way. Such compassionate caregiving should not be subject to bureaucratic bullies. I am grateful for this recognition and will continue to fight the bullies, so our caregivers can do what they do best, provide compassionate care to our fellow North Dakotans."

NDLTCA President Nikki Wegner said Cramer's "leadership and partnership have made a lasting impact on long-term care in our state, and we are sincerely grateful for his continued support and advocacy."

"On behalf of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association and long-term care providers across our state, I want to congratulate Senator Kevin Cramer on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his steadfast leadership and advocacy on behalf of North Dakota's seniors, caregivers, and rural health care providers," said Wegner. "For years, Senator Cramer has been a strong and consistent voice for long-term care at a time when providers are facing extraordinary workforce challenges, growing regulatory complexity, and increasing pressure on access to care in rural communities. He understands that the ability to provide quality care depends not only on dedicated staff and strong facilities, but also on policies that are practical, sustainable, and grounded in the realities providers face every day. Senator Cramer is always willing to engage directly on difficult and often highly complex issues. He asks thoughtful questions, takes the time to understand the full picture, and remains committed to advancing meaningful solutions-not just for providers, but for the residents and families who depend on long-term care services every day."

"His leadership has helped elevate critical conversations around workforce shortages, rural access to care, and the growing challenges facing long-term care providers nationwide," continued Wegner. "More importantly, he has consistently recognized that behind these issues are real people-residents who deserve stability and dignity, families who want their loved ones cared for close to home, and caregivers who dedicate their lives to serving others."

Cramer is a vocal opponent of the Biden-era federal nursing home staffing requirements and led efforts to repeal them. These standards exacerbated workforce shortages and reduced access to care, particularly in rural areas and for veterans. He amplified the concerns of long-term care facilities facing cumbersome Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations and penalties, meeting with CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz to discuss how increasingly burdensome regulations have exacerbated staffing and access challenges for nursing home facilities. Cramer highlighted the rule's flaws in a speech on the Senate floor. Since then, he has met with multiple senior CMS officials, while cosponsoring legislation to repeal the minimum staffing mandate and leading a measure to assess its impact on veterans' access to care. Cramer is actively working with the Trump administration to address outstanding issues with excessive fines, strict liability for facilities, outdated reporting requirements, and to enhance flexibility for state surveyors.

He has supported initiatives to address workforce shortages, a persistent challenge in long-term care, through measures such as the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act and expanded training and recruitment programs. Cramer also advocated for greater regulatory flexibility, arguing overly prescriptive federal mandates can strain already limited staffing capacity. Additionally, he co-signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requesting an exemption from the $100,000 fee for H-1B visas for healthcare workers.

Cramer is a leading voice on long-term care issues, prioritizing practical reforms aimed at ensuring quality, accessible care regardless of zip codes. His work has placed particular attention on protecting seniors' Medicare benefits while advancing reforms designed to improve outcomes without increasing burdens on providers. As a strong advocate for rural health systems, he has pushed policies aimed at stabilizing and strengthening facilities which often operate with limited resources and workforce constraints.