The Diet passed a bill Wednesday to curb government spending on geriatric nursing care by promoting preventive care for the elderly.

The bill to amend the nursing-care insurance law was approved at the House of Councilors with the support by the Liberal Democratic Party, its coalition partner, New Komeito, and the Democratic Party of Japan.

The amendment, to take effect next April 1, marked the first major overhaul of the nation's nursing-care insurance system since it was launched in fiscal 2000.

Under the revision, elderly people at public nursing homes will have to start paying for accommodations and meals starting in October. The payments are expected to average 30,000 yen per month.

The amendment also calls for the government to sponsor muscle training and nutritional counseling for the elderly to prevent them from needing nursing care in the future.

It also plans for municipalities to offer health-care services to elderly people, including teaching them how to keep from falling and to prepare healthy meals.

Under the revised law, municipalities will set up support centers for the elderly to offer them short-term accommodations and day-care services as well as advice on health problems.

The amendment is designed to enhance their self-reliance by encouraging them to do various chores, including house cleaning and preparing meals.

The law aims to improve the quality of care managers by having their licenses renewed regularly and requiring them to receive training. In addition, nursing-care service providers will be required to disclose information about their businesses.

The law stipulates in an addendum that the government should study the cost-cutting effects of the preventive-care measures three years after their implementation.