Bill > S358

This bill establishes an advisory committee on residential care facilities, also known as rest homes, which are defined by state law as places providing lodging and board to individuals who may need some assistance. The committee's main purpose is to examine the current state of these facilities in the Commonwealth, looking at who lives in them, how they fit into the broader healthcare and housing systems, and any regulations or payment issues that might hinder them from serving elders and people with disabilities. The committee will then suggest changes to regulations and funding, including exploring how to get more federal money, potentially by including residential care under a specific federal program (section 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services waiver) or by making it a service that the state pays for. They will also assess the physical condition of these facilities and ways to fund necessary upgrades to improve care and residents' quality of life, possibly by using state housing funds. The committee, which will include various state officials like the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Elder Affairs, along with representatives from relevant departments and legislative appointees, and providers, is expected to present its recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 90 days of the bill becoming law, and the Secretary will then take steps to implement these recommendations.