Bill > S759

This bill establishes several key provisions to support the nursing home quality jobs initiative in Massachusetts: 1. It requires MassHealth to annually fund a living wage rate add-on for direct care staff in licensed nursing homes, including certified nurse aides, housekeeping, laundry, dietary, plant operations, and clerical staff. This add-on will cover a living wage and associated payroll benefits and costs, with annual adjustments for inflation. 2. It directs the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a grant program through the Commonwealth Corporation to cover the costs of supervisory training for nursing facility workers, with the goal of improving staff satisfaction, retention, and reducing turnover. 3. It establishes an extended care career ladder grant program through the Commonwealth Corporation to provide training and education opportunities for certified nursing assistants, home health aides, homemakers, and other entry-level long-term care workers, including English and adult basic education programs. 4. It creates a tuition reimbursement program within the Department of Public Health to cover the costs of certified nursing assistant training or competency testing, for individuals who begin employment at a licensed nursing facility within 12 months of completing the training.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S759