SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2055 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 354
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Julian Cyr
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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 promoting affordability of home care services.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Julian Cyr | Cape and Islands |
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James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester | 1/30/2019 |
Kay Khan | 11th Middlesex | 1/30/2019 |
Bradford Hill | 4th Essex | 1/30/2019 |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk | 1/30/2019 |
Brendan P. Crighton | Third Essex | 1/31/2019 |
Patricia D. Jehlen | Second Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Todd M. Smola | 1st Hampden | 1/31/2019 |
Rebecca L. Rausch | Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex | 1/31/2019 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Mary S. Keefe | 15th Worcester | 2/1/2019 |
Anne M. Gobi | Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
Paul F. Tucker | 7th Essex | 2/1/2019 |
Daniel J. Hunt | 13th Suffolk | 2/1/2019 |
Michael J. Barrett | Third Middlesex | 2/1/2019 |
John J. Mahoney | 13th Worcester | 2/12/2019 |
David Biele | 4th Suffolk | 3/7/2019 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2055 FILED ON: 1/18/2019
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 354
By Mr. Cyr, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 354) of Julian Cyr, James B. Eldridge, Kay Khan, Bradford Hill and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote affordability of home care services. Elder Affairs. |
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 promoting affordability of home care services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 4A and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
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 1 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 per cent 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.