SENATE DOCKET, NO. 704        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 357

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting the development of small house nursing homes in Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 704        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 357

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 293 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act promoting 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 including residential kitchen and living areas which house no more than fourteen 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.  

SECTION 2. There is hereby established a task force on the Development of Small House Nursing Homes.  The task force is charged with studying and recommending strategies to promote the development of small house nursing homes in Massachusetts which include but shall not be limited to:

• the establishment of  an add-on to rates of  reimbursement for nursing facilities by the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy that develop and operate small house nursing homes to reflect the additional capital costs required in the construction of a small house nursing home.

• The establishment of no or low-cost loans to develop small house nursing homes

• Identification of other regulatory barriers that impede the ability to develop and operate small house nursing homes

The task force shall be chaired by the Director of the Division of Health Care Safety and Quality at the Department of Public Health, the commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy or a designee, the Director of MassHealth or a designee, the Secretary of Elder Affairs, or a designee, the House and Senate chairs of the Committee on Elder Affairs, at least one architect that has been involved with the development of a small house nursing home, at least two providers that have developed or in the process of developing/operating small house nursing homes, and the president of LeadingAge Massachusetts or a designee. 

The Task Force shall make a report with its recommendations to the Chairs of Ways and Means and to the Secretary of Health and Human Services no later than 120 days following the effective date of this act.