summary
Introduced
01/20/2015
01/20/2015
In Committee
01/20/2015
01/20/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016
07/31/2016
Introduced Session
189th General Court
Bill Summary
Relative to institutional long term care. Elder Affairs.
AI Summary
This bill establishes a Special Commission on Institutional Long Term Care to address issues within the Commonwealth's skilled nursing home system. The commission will evaluate options and propose policy recommendations to manage an excess of skilled nursing home beds, reform the processes for licensing and de-licensing these facilities, and create more logical procedures for their closure. Key areas of focus for the commission's recommendations include identifying potential cost savings and care improvements from reducing bed capacity, establishing criteria for de-licensing beds based on quality and regional need, exploring incentives for nursing homes to reduce bed numbers or repurpose them, improving the MassHealth reimbursement system for these facilities, and strengthening public hearings for nursing home closures and sales, with the ultimate goal of more effectively utilizing institutional long-term care facilities. The commission will be composed of 15 members, including state officials like the secretaries of Health and Human Services and Elder Affairs, the director of Medicaid, and the Attorney General, along with legislative chairs from relevant committees, and seven appointees by the governor representing various organizations such as the Department of Public Health, healthcare worker unions (1199SEIU), nursing home associations (Massachusetts Senior Care Association), patient advocacy groups (Long-Term Care Ombudsman, AARP, Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Association). This commission is mandated to meet within 90 days of the bill's passage and at least quarterly thereafter, with final recommendations due within one year.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (62)
Jonathan Hecht (D)*,
Bruce Ayers (D),
Jennifer Benson (D),
Michael Brady (D),
Will Brownsberger (D),
Tony Cabral (D),
Thomas Calter (D),
James Cantwell (D),
Harriette Chandler (D),
Claire Cronin (D),
Josh Cutler (D),
Marjorie Decker (D),
Marcos Devers (D),
Dan Donahue (D),
Paul Donato (D),
Michelle DuBois (D),
Carolyn Dykema (D),
Jamie Eldridge (D),
Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),
Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),
Michael Finn (D),
Sean Garballey (D),
Thomas Golden (D),
Carlos González (D),
Ken Gordon (D),
Pat Haddad (D),
Paul Heroux (D),
Russell Holmes (D),
Kevin Honan (D),
Louis Kafka (D),
Mary Keefe (D),
Kay Khan (D),
Barbara L'Italien (D),
Jason Lewis (D),
Timothy Madden (D),
John Mahoney (D),
Christopher Markey (D),
Joe McGonagle (D),
James Miceli (D),
Frank Moran (D),
Matt Muratore (R),
Harold Naughton (D),
Jim O'Day (D),
Sarah Peake (D),
Denise Provost (D),
Angelo Puppolo (D),
Dave Rogers (D),
Jeff Roy (D),
Byron Rushing (D),
Danny Ryan (D),
Tom Sannicandro (D),
Paul Schmid (D),
Alan Silvia (D),
Tom Stanley (D),
Benjamin Swan (D),
Bruce Tarr (R),
Walter Timilty (D),
Timothy Toomey (D),
José Tosado (D),
Steve Ultrino (D),
John Velis (D),
Chris Walsh (D),
Last Action
Accompanied a new draft, see H4155 (on 04/04/2016)
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/189/H521 |
| Bill | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H521.pdf |
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