SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1816        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 752

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Anne M. Gobi

_________________

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 resolve:

Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the rate structure for rest homes or residential care homes.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester and Hampshire

 

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

1/30/2023

Patrick M. O'Connor

First Plymouth and Norfolk

2/7/2023

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

3/6/2023

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/17/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1816        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 752

By Ms. Gobi, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 752) of Anne M. Gobi, Mathew J. Muratore, Patrick M. O'Connor and Michael F. Rush that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission to evaluate the rate structure for rest homes or residential care homes.  Health Care Financing.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the rate structure for rest homes or residential care homes.

 

Resolved, there is hereby established a special commission to evaluate the rate structure for rest homes or residential care homes. Said study shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of the following: (1) a review of the current rate structure and its relation to the actual cost of care (2) an inventory of the current licensed rest home facilities, number of licensed rest home beds, and the location and service area of said facilities (3) a review of the rest homes closures since 2015 and identification of any similar causes or trends that led to closure (4) a review of the recommendations and any actions taken from the nursing facilities task force report per chapter 41 of the acts of 2019 (5) a review of the licensing, regulatory, and reporting structure for licensed rest homes (6) a determination of the eligibility and feasibility of rest home expenses being eligible for federal reimbursement.

Said commission shall consist of the two members appointed by the speaker of the house, one of which will serve as co-chair, two members appointed by the president of the senate, one of which will serve as co-chair, one member appointed by the minority leader in the house, one member appointed by the minority leader in the senate, the secretary of health and human services or a designee, the secretary of elder affairs or a designee, the commissioner of MassHealth, the commissioner of the department of mental health, the commissioner of the department of public health, the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, a representative from the Massachusetts association of residential care homes, a representative of leading age Massachusetts, a representative of Massachusetts senior action, and two persons to be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall have direct caregiver experience, and one of whom shall have experience in health care administration and finance.

Said commission shall file a report on the results of its study, together with recommendations and any legislation necessary to carry its recommendations into effect with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, and the house and senate committees on ways and means, no later than April 1, 2025.