HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3532        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 601

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul Brodeur

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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 relative to home care.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3532        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 601

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to home care.

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. Section 13D of chapter 118E is hereby amended in the second paragraph by adding after the words “as defined under section 71 of chapter 111” the following: and home health agencies pursuant to Title XVIII, Section 1891 of the Social Security Act.

SECTION 2. Section 13D of Chapter 118E is further amended by adding, after the third paragraph thereof, the following new paragraph: --

Rates for the home care program, as defined under sections 4 and 4B, of chapter 19A, shall be adjusted on a biennial prospective basis by October 1st. The executive office shall establish, in consultation with the executive office of elder affairs, a base purchase of service and a base personnel and operations per client per month capitation for the home care and enhanced community options programs, or successor programs, to be used in establishing biennial capitations pursuant to the provisions of this section and section 13C.  Said capitations shall be based on operating costs for aging services access points.  In calculating operating costs, the executive office shall consider costs associated with providing similar services in both public and private settings, including but not limited to costs associated with health insurance, employment benefits and wage required by law; provided further compensation earned by homemakers and personal care homemakers shall be no less than $15 per hour by July 1, 2020 and shall increase by $.75 an hour commensurate to the increase in the state minimum wage, to $15.75 per hour on July 1, 2020, to $16.50 on July 1, 2021, to $17.25 per hour July 1, 2022 and to $18.00 per hour on July 1, 2023;