SECTION 1. Chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 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, 2019 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the executive office of health and human services shall use calendar year 2017 costs as the base year for the purpose of setting MassHealth nursing facility rates and should update the base year annually in subsequent rate years.

SECTION 3. Chapter 23 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 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 4. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 4O the following new section:-

Section 4P. The Department shall, subject to appropriation, establish a tuition reimbursement program for certified nursing assistant training.  The department shall reimburse for the costs of certified nursing assistant training or competency testing subject to the following requirements, conditions and limitations:  (a) costs shall have been incurred for an approved certified nursing assistant training program;  (b) costs shall have been actually paid by the certified nursing assistant from his or her own personal funds; and (c) Individuals shall have begun employment as a certified nursing assistant in a licensed nursing facility within 12 months of completing the training program, including passing the competency testing.