Bill > H1216

This bill aims to improve the wages, benefits, and working conditions of direct care staff in licensed nursing homes in Massachusetts. It proposes several key provisions: 1. MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, will annually fund a "living wage rate add-on" for direct care staff, including certified nursing assistants, housekeeping, laundry, dietary, plant operations, and clerical staff, to ensure they receive a living wage and associated payroll benefits and costs. 2. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, through the Commonwealth Corporation, will establish a grant program to cover the cost of supervisory training for nursing facility workers to improve staff satisfaction, retention, and reduce turnover. 3. The Commonwealth Corporation will also establish an "extended care career ladder grant program" to provide training and education opportunities, including English language and adult basic education programs, for entry-level long-term care workers like certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and homemakers. 4. The Department of Public Health will establish a tuition reimbursement program for certified nursing assistant training, reimbursing individuals who complete an approved program and begin employment in a licensed nursing facility within 12 months. Overall, the bill aims to address workforce challenges in the nursing home industry by improving compensation, providing training and career advancement opportunities, and encouraging the recruitment and retention of direct care staff.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1216