Bill > H2498

This bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to amend regulations governing temporary nursing agencies working at skilled nursing facilities, with the primary goal of addressing potential conflicts of interest. Specifically, the bill prohibits a temporary nursing agency from providing staff to a skilled nursing facility if the agency is owned (at 5% or more) by the same individual, family member, or business entity that owns the nursing facility. The bill defines "family member" broadly to include spouse, domestic partner, parent, sibling, child, parent-in-law, grandparent, and grandchild. Before making these regulatory changes, the department must consult with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association and 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, a healthcare workers' union. The department is required to complete this regulatory amendment process and file for emergency adoption of the new regulations within 180 days of the bill's passage, aiming to prevent potential self-dealing or improper financial arrangements between nursing agency and facility ownership.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2498