Bill > S77

This bill establishes a task force to examine the direct-care workforce in the Commonwealth, which refers to individuals who provide essential services and support to the growing elderly and disabled population needing long-term care. The task force, convened by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, will include representatives from relevant government agencies and organizations representing direct-care workers. Its primary responsibilities include assessing current workforce data, identifying gaps, and developing a plan for regular data collection and reporting, with a focus on worker numbers, stability, and compensation. The task force will also evaluate the infrastructure for delivering long-term services and supports (LTSS), analyzing workforce capacity in relation to consumer needs and projected demand, considering factors like the "care gap" where increased need for workers coincides with a shrinking labor pool. Furthermore, it will assess and recommend improvements to training, credentialing, consumer support as employers, and systems for connecting consumers with workers, with a report due within one year of the bill's enactment.