Amendment #161 to H3400

Private-Pay Home Care Oversight Study Commission

Mr. Cusack of Braintree moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

“Section XXXX. For purposes of consumer protection and in keeping with the Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering high-quality and cost-effective healthcare services, the Commonwealth shall adopt regulations by December 31, 2015, to establish minimum criteria for licensure of private pay home care agencies and standards of quality measures for services provided to consumers as a condition of home care licensure; and provided further, that the Commonwealth shall adopt regulations establishing a process for the periodic inspection of home care providers by the appropriate state agency to ensure compliance with those standards. Said regulations shall be based on the analysis and recommendations of a Special Commission on Home Care Services that shall be formed and be chaired by the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure or their designees. Other members of the commission shall be the House and Senate Chairs of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs or their designees, a representative of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, a representative of the Home Care Aide Council, the Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs or their designee, a representative of a long-term care insurance company operating in the Commonwealth, a consumer or consumer representative, and four providers of private pay home care services, at least one of which shall be a registered nurse and one of which shall also represent an agency that operates as both a private pay and Medicare-certified home health care agency; provided further that the regulations shall be the subject of at least 1 public hearing prior to their adoption; provided further, that the special commission shall file a report with the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives relative to the impact of the recommendations”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #161 to H3400

Private-Pay Home Care Oversight Study Commission