Consolidated Amendment #D to H.4400

Consolidated Amendment "D" to H4400

Health and Human Services and Elder Affairs

Fiscal Note: $10,683,000

Amendments from Health and Human Services: 25, 36, 72,78, 148, 198, 211, 245, 280, 290, 291, 337, 338, 339, 447, 459, 474, 557, 579, 580, 581, 594, 605, 620, 621, 643, 727, 740, 778, 782, 831, 847, 851, 853, 927, 940, 966, 1031, 1033, 1035, 1073, 1142, 1148, 1157, 1170, 1173, 1177, 1183, 1186, 1226, 1244, 1282, 1285, 1324, 1325, 1326, 1329, 1331, 1338, 1356, 1397

Amendments from Elder Affairs: 12, 46, 73, 102, 126, 181, 236, 238, 242, 288, 330, 356, 358, 384, 423, 455, 463, 587, 612, 623, 674, 694, 747, 768, 772, 787, 808, 932, 949, 959, 1082, 1140, 1195

Mr. Sánchez of Boston and others move to amend H.4400 in section 2, in line item 4000-0005, by inserting after the words “grant awards for fiscal year 2018” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Springfield Partners, Inc. for the AWAKE program in Springfield, to provide comprehensive youth development and violence prevention services to at-risk youth; provided further, that not less than $75,000 be expended to the South End Community Center’s Community Youth Corp Program; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Merrimack Valley Public Safety Youth Center in the city of Lawrence;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “8,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $8,125,000;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4000-0300, by inserting after the words “subsequent month” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for the Brookline Community Mental Health Center to expand the Healthy Lives program; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be provided for the purposes defined in item 1599-2009 in section 2 of chapter 182 of the acts of 2008;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$103,377,269” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:-$103,877,269;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4000-0601, by inserting after the words “administration and finance” the following:- ; provided further, that MassHealth shall reimburse nursing facilities for up to 20 medical leave-of-absence days and up to 10 nonmedical leave-of-absence days; provided further, that medical leave-of-absence days shall include an observation stay in a hospital in excess of 24 hours; provided further, that no nursing home may reassign a patient's bed during a leave of absence that is eligible for reimbursement under this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary the executive office of health and human services shall establish payment rates for adult day health programs that are, in the aggregate, not less than $2,000,000 more than was paid for such programs in fiscal year 2018; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary the executive office of health and human services shall establish payment rates for the adult foster care program that are, in the aggregate, not less than $2,000,000 more than was paid for such programs in fiscal year 2018;

And further amend said line item by striking out the figure “$3,583,516,725” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $3,587,516,725;

And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0641 by striking out the figure “$324,600,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure: - $327,100,000

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$35,500,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $38,300,000;

And further amend said item by striking out the words “; provided further, that not less than $2,800,000 shall be expended as incentive payments to nursing facilities meeting the criteria determined under the MassHealth Nursing Facility Pay-for-Performance Program and that have established and participated in a cooperative effort in each qualifying nursing facility between representatives of employees and management that is focused on implementing that criteria and improving the quality of services available to MassHealth members and that shall decide jointly how to expend such incentive payments”;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “362,900,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure: - $365,400,000

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4000-0700, by inserting after the words “federal poverty level” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available to increase efficiencies and align system-wide goals within a regional hospital system located in Western Massachusetts to improve the overall sustainability of the system and to create a comprehensive approach to system-wide needs and a transition into the structure of the new 1115 Medicaid Waiver;

And further amend said line item by striking out the figure “$2,640,228,033” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,641,228,033;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4003-0122, by inserting after the words “shall be given priority for services” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be allocated to the Lawrence Family Development and Education fund to assist in citizenship education, citizenship application assistance, ESL classes and computer training for low-income adults; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Casa Dominicana in Lawrence to assist in citizenship education, citizen application assistance, ESL classes, and computer training for low-income adults;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$400,001” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $500,001;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4110-1000, by adding the following words:- ; and provided further, that no less than $40,000 shall be expended for the Lowell Association for the Blind for transportation provision expenses;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$4,221,386” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $4,261,386;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4125-0100, by inserting after the words “hard of hearing” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Willie Ross School for the Deaf, Inc. in the town of Longmeadow;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$5,732,684” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,832,684;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 9110-1630, by inserting after the words “elders and to caregivers” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $35,000 shall be expended for a 1 year pilot program for the demonstration of the community network aging in place in Brookline, Nauset, and Reading;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$175,019,124” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $175,054,124;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 9110-1660, by inserting after the words “retirement communities for the elderly” the following:- ; provided, that not less than $642,000 shall be expended for providers of naturally occurring retirement communities with whom the department of elder affairs entered into service agreements in fiscal year 2018, at proportions of total available funding equal to those provided in fiscal year 2018;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$1,421,482” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,063,482;

And further amend said section 2, by striking out line item 9110-1700 and inserting in place thereof the following:-

9110-1700 For assessment, placement and homelessness prevention services for homeless and at-risk elders........$286,000;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 9110-1900, by inserting after the words “farm share program” the following:- ; and provided further, that not less than $750,000 be spent on the Meals on Wheels program;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$6,518,675” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $7,268,675;

And further amend said section 2, in line item 9110-9002, by inserting after the words “$12 per-elder” the following:- ; provided further that not less than $90,000 shall be provided for the town of Needham for senior transportation; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the Hadley Senior Center; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the South Hadley Senior Center; provided further that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the cost associated with care and services provided at Whipple Senior Center in the town of Weymouth; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Claire Teague Senior Center in Great Barrington; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Swansea for design plans to implement a new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at its Council on Aging Community Center; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Millis for the purchase of a vehicle to provide transportation for seniors in the community; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the town of Longmeadow for transportation costs at the Longmeadow Adult Center; provided further, that not less than $50,000, shall be expended for the senior center renovation and expansion in the town of Mendon; provided further, that $25,000 shall be granted to the city of Quincy’s Department of Elder Affairs; provided further that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Taunton Council on Aging for the purpose of funding the Dementia Friendly Massachusetts program in the city of Taunton; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be allocated for the operation of the South Boston Neighborhood House and its Senior Programs; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the design of an expansion to the Bellingham Senior Center; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the improvements and expansion of the Uxbridge Senior Center; provided further, that not less than $21,000 shall be expended to improve the health and safety of senior citizens in Medway; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the town of Rehoboth for repairs and upgrades at its Senior Center; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the town of Seekonk for a new generator at its Council on Aging; provided further, that not less than $15,000 shall be expended to the town of Burlington for improvement of the Burlington Council on Aging facility; provided further, that $25,000 shall be granted to the town of Randolph’s Department of Elder Affairs;

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$16,515,125” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $17,306,125.

And move to further amend the bill by inserting, after section 11, the following:-

SECTION 11A. Chapter 19A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 42 the following section:-

Section 43. The department shall develop a curriculum and training program on the prevention and elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and on improving access to services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender elders and caregivers. The training program shall be completed by all providers of services who contract with or receive funding from the department, Aging Service Access Points or the MassHealth Office of Long Term Care, or whose services are certified by the department. Within 12 months of commencing employment, providers shall complete the training program.

And move to further amend the bill by inserting, after section 23F, as inserted by Consolidated Amendment “C”, the following section:-

SECTION 23G. Chapter 305 of the acts of 2008 is hereby amended by striking out section 33 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

SECTION 33. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Massachusetts Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development Trust Fund to which shall be credited any appropriations, bond proceeds or other monies authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited thereto, and additional funds, including federal grants or loans or private donations made available to the secretary of health and human services for this purpose. The executive office of health and human services shall hold the fund in an account separate and apart from other funds or accounts. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended by the secretary of health and human services to carry out subsection (b). Any balance in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not revert to the General Fund.

(b) The fund shall be used to develop and support short-term and long-term strategies to increase the number of public higher education faculty members and students who participate in programs that support careers in fields related to nursing and allied health. The secretary of health and human services may expend such funds as necessary for the administration of the Massachusetts Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development Initiative. In furtherance of these public purposes, the secretary of health and human services shall expend funds in the Massachusetts Nursing and Allied Health Workforce Development Trust Fund for activities that are calculated to increase the number and diversity of nursing and allied health faculty and students and improve the nursing and allied health educational offerings available in public higher education institutions. Grants and other disbursements and activities may involve, without limitation, organizations that provide health care services, state and community colleges, higher education institutions, business and industry partnerships, regional alliances, workforce investment boards, organizations granted tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and other community groups which support and promote the nursing profession and the health of people living in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Grants and other disbursements and activities may support, without limitation: (i) the goal of rapidly increasing the number of nurses and allied health workers; (ii) enhancing the role of the system of public and private higher education, as institutions and in partnerships with other stakeholders, in meeting the short-term and long-term workforce challenges in the nursing and allied health professions; (iii) the development and use of innovative curricula, courses, programs and modes of delivering education in nursing and allied health professions for faculty and students in these fields; (iv) activities with the growing network of stakeholders in the nursing and allied health professions to create, implement, share and make broadly and publicly available best practices and innovative programs relative to instruction, development of partnerships and expanding and maintaining faculty and student involvement in careers in these fields; and (v) strengthening the institutional capacity to develop and implement long-term programs and policies to effectively respond to these challenges.

And move to further amend the bill by inserting, after section 45A, as inserted by Consolidated Amendment “C”, the following section:-

SECTION 45B. The training curriculum established pursuant to section 11A shall be completed within 9 months after the effective date of this act.