Bill > H727

This bill aims to ensure the quality of care in nursing homes in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Establishing a minimum of 4.1 hours of care per resident per day, with at least 0.75 hours provided by a registered nurse, to meet resident nursing care needs based on acuity, assessments, and other relevant factors. 2. Requiring long-term care facilities to develop outbreak response plans that include protocols for isolating and cohorting infected and at-risk patients, policies for notifying residents and staff, and procedures for implementing evidence-based outbreak response measures. Facilities must also employ or contract with individuals certified in infection control or an infectious disease specialist. 3. Mandating that long-term care facilities adopt policies and provide technology to prevent the social isolation of residents, including enabling residents to engage in in-person and virtual communication, religious, and recreational activities with other residents, family, and friends. 4. Establishing minimum size and layout requirements for resident bedrooms, including floor area, bed spacing, and storage space. 5. Creating a grant program to develop career ladder programs in long-term care facilities to upgrade skills and improve retention of certified nurse aides and entry-level workers.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H727