SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1962        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

_________________

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 establishing a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program.

_______________

PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1962        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

_______________

An Act establishing a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program.

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. There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations to establish a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program in the commonwealth. The commission shall study: (i) whether and how a long-term serves and supports benefit program could be included as a benefit in the state disability insurance program structure, including but not limited to a nominal increase in the payroll tax; (ii) allowances for enrollment in the program of working adults who would make voluntary premium contributions either directly or through payroll deductions through their employer; (iii) requiring a mandatory enrollment with a voluntary opt-out option; (iv) giving adults the opportunity to plan for future long-term services and supports needs by providing a basic insurance benefit to those who meet requirements and have developed functional or equivalent cognitive limitations; (v) helping individuals with functional or cognitive limitations remain in their communities by purchasing nonmedical services and supports, including home health care and adult daycare; (vi) helping offset the costs incurred by adults with chronic and disabling conditions both for a defined period or until death.

SECTION 2.  The commission shall consist of the following 16 members: the secretary of health and human services or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of aging and independence or their designee; the commissioner of public health or their designee; the assistant secretary for MassHealth or their designee; the chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs or their designees; and 10 persons to be appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Home Care Aide Council, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Mass Aging Access, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of LeadingAge Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts chapter of AARP, 1 of whom shall be a representative of Local 1199 Service Employee International Union, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a long-term care insurance provider; and 1 of whom shall be an expert on long-term care and aging policy.              

SECTION 3.  The commission shall review the independent actuarial study of financial options for modeling public, private and public-private hybrid long-term care services and supports authorized in item 4000-0300 Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2024 and conducted by Milliman, Inc.; and provided further shall utilize the findings of said actuarial study to make recommendations on: (i) how a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program could be designed and implemented to expand the options for people who are interested in insuring themselves against the risk of costs associated with functional or cognitive disability, and require long-term services and supports; (ii) options for the design of the program, including eligibility, enrollment, benefits, financing, administration, and interaction with MassHealth program and other publicly funded resources; (iii) how benefits under the program would be coordinated with existing private health care coverage benefits; (iv) the demands on the long-term care workforce as the need for long-term services and supports in Massachusetts grows, and how the long-term care workforce can be prepared to meet those demands; (v) the viability of a joint public and private system to make long-term services and supports accessible to as many individuals within Massachusetts as possible.

SECTION 4.  The commission shall submit a report containing its findings and recommendations, including drafts of proposed legislation to carry out its recommendations, by filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on health care financing no later than one year after the effective date of this act.