SECTION 1. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new section: - 

Section 78. for the purpose of determining the annual inflation factor for nursing home allowable costs, the executive office of health and human services shall apply the annual unadjusted Skilled Nursing Facility Market Basket Update as established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility prospective payment system rule.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, effective July 1, 2017 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, the executive office of health and human services shall use calendar year 2014 costs as the base year for the purpose of setting MassHealth nursing facility rates.

SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services in setting Medicaid nursing facility rates shall not impose any so-called  ‘utilization occupancy penalty’ efficiency standard that is in excess of the actual median occupancy for nursing homes in the base year. 

SECTION 4. Chapter 23 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after section 9U the following new section:

Section 9V. The Commonwealth Corporation shall, subject to appropriation, establish an extended care career ladder grant program, consistent with section 410 of chapter 159 of the Acts of 2000.  Grants shall be available for certified nurses’ aides, home health aides, homemakers and other entry level workers in long-term care.  The grants may include training for English for speakers of other languages and other language and adult basic education programs to improve quality of care and improve direct care worker access to and participation in career ladder training.  The length of such grants shall not exceed a period of 3 years.  The Commonwealth Corporation shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means on said grant program including, but not limited to, the number of grants awarded, the amount of each grant, a description of the career ladder programs, changes in care-giving and workplace practices that have occurred and their impact on quality of care and worker retention and the certificates, degrees or professional status attained by each participating employee.  The administrative and program management costs for the implementation of said grant program shall not exceed 4 per cent of the amount of the grant program.  Each grant may include funding for technical assistance and evaluation.

SECTION 5. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4O the following new section:-

Section 4P. The Department shall, subject to appropriation, establish a scholarship program for certified nurses’ aide and direct care worker training.  The department shall establish appropriate guidelines and application criteria for the administration of the program.  The scholarships shall cover the full cost of tuition to an approved certified nurses’ aide or long-term care direct worker training program, including approved programs providing for cross-training.  Funds may also be available to provide adult basic education and English as a second language training for applicants otherwise meeting criteria for the scholarships, as well as pilot training programs using enhanced curricula designed to support increased retention.  The department shall, in consultation with the nursing home industry, consumer groups, the department of labor and workforce development, the Commonwealth Corporation, training providers and other appropriate state and local agencies, conduct outreach regarding the availability of such scholarships.  The department shall consult with the scholarship program advisory council to review and recommend new training requirements for certified nurses’ aides, home health aides and home care workers to improve the quality of the direct care workforce and the quality of care provided in all long-term care settings by developing skill standards, supporting the transition from training to work, improving retention, promoting portability, recognizing career advancement curricula and addressing language and education barriers.  The costs for outreach activities shall not exceed 3 per cent of the amount of the program and administrative costs of the program shall not exceed 3 per cent of the amount of the program.