Bill > H2890

This bill aims to improve the quality of care in licensed nursing homes by investing in the direct care workforce. The key provisions include: 1. Requiring MassHealth (the state's Medicaid program) to provide at least $90 million annually to fund a rate add-on for wages, benefits, and related employee costs of direct care staff, such as certified nursing assistants, housekeeping, laundry, and dietary staff. This add-on will be adjusted annually for inflation. 2. Establishing a scholarship program within the Department of Public Health to cover the full cost of tuition for certified nursing assistant and other direct care worker training programs, including for adult basic education and English as a second language. The department will also consult with stakeholders to review and recommend new training requirements to improve the quality of the direct care workforce. 3. Creating a $2.5 million annual grant program through the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to provide supervisory and leadership training for nursing facility workers, with the goal of retaining staff and reducing turnover. Overall, this bill seeks to address workforce challenges and improve the quality of care in nursing homes by investing in the direct care staff through increased wages, enhanced training, and leadership development opportunities.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H2890