HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1897        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3393

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the status of Massachusetts veterans long term care services.

Resolved, There is hereby established a special commission to

evaluate the status of Massachusetts’ veterans long term care services,

the need of such veterans for long term care services, and the

feasibility of establishing comprehensive long term care services

for such veterans. Said study shall include, but not be limited to,

an examination of the following factors: (1) an exhaustive

analysis of the number of veteran’s who may need institutional

care and community-based long term care services in the Commonwealth;

(2) the extent and nature of long term care services

currently available to such veterans; (3) an itemized list by location

and size of any and all federally owned facilities or spaces

that may serve as long term care facilities that may provide such

services to such veterans, including the number of empty beds, so-called,

per facility that may be available for the provision of such

services; (5) a cost-benefit analysis of the number of beds

required to serve any and all veterans that may not currently have

access to such long term care services; (6) the commonwealth’s

liability for subsidizing any and all long term care services that

the commission deems necessary to provide quality care to such

veterans; (7) a detailed and actuarially-sound assessment of the

costs associated with establishing an independent program of long

term care for such veterans who may be in need of long term care

in Massachusetts; and (8) the availability of federal financial participation

in establishing or expanding long term care services to

such veterans.

Said commission shall consist of the secretary of administration

and finance, the commissioner of the division of medical assistance,

the commissioner of the division of health care finance and

policy, the commissioner of the department of public health, the

secretary of elder affairs, the commissioner of the department of

veterans services, and the commandants of the Chelsea and

Holyoke soldier’s homes and four persons to be appointed by the

governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the extended

care federation, one of whom shall be a representative of health

care for all, and two of whom shall be citizens who shall represent

the interests of such veterans: and two members of the house and

one member of the senate.

Said commission shall file a report on the results of its study,

together with recommendations and any legislation necessary to

carry its recommendations into effect with the clerks of the house

of representatives and the senate, and the house and senate committees

on ways and means, no later than March 25, 2010.