summary
Introduced
01/22/2019
01/22/2019
In Committee
01/22/2019
01/22/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
191st General Court
Bill Summary
Relative to wages, benefits and related employee costs of direct care staff of licensed nursing homes. Elder Affairs.
AI Summary
This bill proposes several key provisions to support the nursing home industry and direct care workers:
1. It requires MassHealth (the state's Medicaid program) to provide at least $90 million annually to fund a rate add-on for wages, benefits, and related costs of direct care staff at licensed nursing homes, including certified nurse aides, housekeepers, laundry, and dietary staff. The add-on will be adjusted annually based on the Massachusetts Consumer Price Index to account for inflation.
2. It establishes a scholarship program within the Department of Public Health to cover the full cost of tuition for certified nursing assistant (CNA) and direct care worker training programs, including programs that provide adult basic education and English as a second language support. The program will also fund outreach and the development of new training requirements to improve the quality of the direct care workforce.
3. It directs the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a $2.5 million annual grant program for nursing facility supervisory and leadership training, with the goal of retaining staff and reducing turnover.
The overall aim of the bill is to support higher wages and better training for nursing home direct care staff, which is intended to improve the quality of care and staffing stability in long-term care facilities.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (43)
Jim Arciero (D),
Brian Ashe (D),
John Barrett (D),
David Biele (D),
Tony Cabral (D),
Dan Cahill (D),
Daniel Cullinane (D),
Mark Cusack (D),
Marjorie Decker (D),
Marcos Devers (D),
William Driscoll (D),
Carole Fiola (D),
Sean Garballey (D),
Denise Garlick (D),
Carmine Gentile (D),
Susan Gifford (R),
Carlos González (D),
Danielle Gregoire (D),
Pat Haddad (D),
Jonathan Hecht (D),
Natalie Higgins (D),
Dan Hunt (D),
Kay Khan (D),
John Lawn (D),
Jack Lewis (D),
John Mahoney (D),
Elizabeth Malia (D),
Paul McMurtry (D),
Liz Miranda (D),
Frank Moran (D),
Matt Muratore (R),
Brian Murray (D),
Harold Naughton (D),
Sarah Peake (D),
Elizabeth Poirier (R),
Denise Provost (D),
Angelo Puppolo (D),
Dave Robertson (D),
Dave Rogers (D),
John Rogers (D),
Todd Smola (R),
Tom Stanley (D),
Steve Ultrino (D),
Last Action
Accompanied a study order, see H5135 (on 12/07/2020)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H618 |
| Bill | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H618.pdf |
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