HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1991        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2147

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to Promote the Development Of Small house Nursing Homes In Massachusetts..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1.  For the purposes of this act, “small house nursing home” means a nursing home licensed under Section 72 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws, that 1) consists of one or more units designed and modeled as a private home which house no more than ten individuals in each unit, 2) includes only private rooms and bathrooms, 3) establishes a self-directed model of care for residents that incorporates collaborative decision making by residents and staff, 4) provide for a universal worker approach to resident care that is organized to support and empower all staff to respond to the needs and desires of residents; and 6) provides for consistent staff assignments.  

The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy shall promulgate regulations to establish a special add-on to rates of  reimbursement for nursing facilities that develop and operate small house nursing homes.  The add-on will be established to reflect the additional capital costs required in the construction of a small house nursing home. 

In developing the small house add-on, The Division shall consult with the following organizations and individuals in developing the methodology for determining the small house add-on and in determining the requirements for facilities to receive the add-on:

Director of the Division of Health Care Quality at the Department of Public Health or a designee,

Secretary of Elder Affairs, or a designee

At least one architect that has been involved with the development of a small house nursing home

At least one small house nursing home provider/operator

At least two representatives from the Massachusetts Culture Change Coalition including a representative from MassAging