HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2088        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 607

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sean Garballey

_________________

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 increasing the personal needs allowance for residents of long term care facilities.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

1/17/2019

David Allen Robertson

19th Middlesex

1/24/2019

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

1/26/2019

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/30/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Angelo M. Scaccia

14th Suffolk

1/30/2019

Steven Ultrino

33rd Middlesex

1/30/2019

Danielle W. Gregoire

4th Middlesex

1/31/2019

Denise C. Garlick

13th Norfolk

1/31/2019

Louis L. Kafka

8th Norfolk

1/31/2019

John H. Rogers

12th Norfolk

1/31/2019

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

1/31/2019

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2088        FILED ON: 1/17/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 607

By Mr. Garballey of Arlington, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 607) of Sean Garballey and others for legislation to increase the personal needs allowance for certain elderly and disabled residents residing in licensed medical facilities.  Elder Affairs.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act increasing the personal needs allowance for residents of long term care facilities.

 

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 1 of chapter 117A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Any person eligible for assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is receiving care in or residing in a licensed nursing facility, licensed chronic hospital, licensed rest home, or an approved public medical institution as defined in section 8 of chapter 118E, shall retain the first $100.00 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100.00, such a person  shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.

SECTION 2. Chapter 118A of General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 7A the following new section:--

Section 7B. Any person eligible for financial assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his home and is in a licensed medical facility which is eligible for medical assistance payments pursuant to chapter 118E or is residing in a licensed rest home to which such person pays a fixed rate, shall retain the first $100.00 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100.00, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who maintains his own home and receives state supplementary payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of this chapter.

SECTION 3. Section 15 of chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking the fourth paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

A person eligible for medical assistance under this chapter who is not maintaining his own home and is receiving care in a licensed nursing facility, a licensed chronic hospital, a licensed rest home, an approved public medical institution, or a public psychiatric institution shall retain the first $100.00 of his monthly income for clothing, personal needs, and leisure time activities. If there is no such income or if it is less than the amount of $100.00, such a person shall be paid monthly in advance the difference between such income and said amount. Said amount shall be increased annually each fiscal year at the same time and at the same percentage rate as increases payable to an individual who is maintaining his own home and who is receiving supplemental payments pursuant to sections 1 and 2 of chapter 118A.