SECTION 1.  Section 4A of chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, in hereby amended striking out the text contained therein and inserting in place thereof the following:--

“Section 4A.    The department shall establish a sliding fee scale to provide home care services for certain persons whose income exceeds the limits established under Title XX of the Social Security Act. On July first of each year, the department shall increase the financial eligibility limits for home services, including the sliding fee scale, by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in federal social security benefits for that fiscal year. The department shall ensure that persons eligible for services based on established age and functional criteria shall have access to care that is sufficiently affordable to prevent institutional long-term care placements unless such placements are in the best medical interests of said eligible persons; provided further, the department shall ensure that service recipients at or below the state median income shall pay no more than 60% of the cost of applicable care plans. The department shall forward to the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before March first of each year, a full report on the status of the home care program audit.”