Consolidated Amendment #B to H.4700

Consolidated Amendment "B" to H4700

Health and Human Services and Elder Affairs

Fiscal Note: $46,407,000

Amendments from Health and Human Services: 102, 112, 169, 181, 209, 219, 251, 328, 362, 365, 369, 419, 430, 432, 443, 445, 457, 487, 494, 500, 508, 531, 537, 585, 592, 606, 625, 650, 655, 659, 678, 685, 708, 730, 733, 734, 788, 801, 826, 830, 843, 875, 879, 891, 901, 964, 1022, 1090, 1128, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1216, 1225, 1249, 1263, 1301, 1310, 1324, 1326, 1341, 1350, 1353, 1415, 1421, 1427, 1437, 1463, 1469, 1471, 1497, 1502, 1503, 1505

Amendments from Elder Affairs: 60, 64, 74, 118, 132, 162, 188, 200, 203, 256, 337, 367, 368, 372, 373, 374, 376, 407, 429, 504, 530, 600, 629, 657, 674, 844, 848, 898, 908, 911, 969, 976, 1118, 1127, 1166, 1349, 1361, 1436

Mr. Michlewitz of Boston and others move to amend H.4700 in Section 2, in line item 4000-0005, by inserting after the words “these programs” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Awake Youth Violence Prevention

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,600,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $12,650,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0009, by inserting after the words “obligations of the office” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for the Greater Boston Sickle Cell Disease Association

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$100,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $350,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0300, by inserting after the words “high-complexity pediatric care” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Fishing Partnership Support Services for behavioral and mental health initiatives in coastal communities; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Catholic Charities in the city of Leominster for the purposes of expanding the diaper bank for the region; provided further, that not less than $550,000 shall be expended for the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, Inc. for the purpose of managing the Network of Care, as the singular place where all mental health, substance use and related social services programs and organizations are curated into a state-wide online, searchable tool; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the critical care operations of New England Life Flight, Inc.; provided further, that not less than $125,000 shall be expended for the Brookline Community Mental Health Center, Inc. to expand the healthy lives program; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services for the purpose of increasing access to health and human services on Martha’s Vineyard; provided further, that not less than $90,000 shall be expended for Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham for behavioral health services; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended for a voluntary nonemergency ambulance transportation regional pilot program to aggregate and coordinate ambulance service resources to more efficiently meet health facility demand

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$123,444,597” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $124,579,597

And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0500, by inserting after the words “January 3, 2023” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended for Community Care Cooperative, a 501(c)(3) MassHealth Accountable Care Organization solely governed by Federally Qualified Health Centers to assist with the start-up of their efforts with shared services that enhance access and quality of care, administrative efficiency, reduce health disparities and promote health care cost containment

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$5,530,060,744” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,532,060,744

And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0641, by inserting after the words “transferred to the executive office” the following:- ; provided further, that not later than July 1, 2022, pursuant to the executive office of health and human services’ Administrative Bulletin 22-02 entitled 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payments to Nursing Facilities and effective January 25, 2022, the executive office shall provide a Medicaid supplemental payment to nursing homes consistent with said bulletin and 101 CMR 206.00 to offset increased costs of providing care not accounted for in the nursing facility’s prospective payment system rates during the COVID-19 pandemic; provided further, that not less than $40,000,000 shall be expended for payments consistent with that the executive office of health and human services’ Administrative Bulletin 22-02 entitled 101 CMR 206.00: Standard Payment to Nursing Facilities and effective January 15, 2022; provided further, that payments shall be distributed to nursing facilities based on their proportion of the total Medicaid Days reported by all nursing facility providers and used to pay for direct-care staffing costs

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$395,400,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $435,400,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4003-0122, by inserting after the words “and childcare” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Casa Dominicana, Inc. 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 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 $25,000 shall be expended for the Immigrants’ Assistance Center, Inc. of New Bedford to provide citizenship education, citizenship application assistance, and an English language learners workforce readiness program for low-income adult immigrants in the city of New Bedford

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$1,033,019” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $1,158,019

And further amend said section 2, in item 4120-4000, by inserting after the words “acts of 2018” the following:- ; provided, that not less than $37,000 shall be expended for the Wernick Adult Day Health Care Center in Longmeadow for repairs and enhancements to the interior and exterior of the facility to ensure the health and safety of elderly participants, including replacing the uneven floor in the greenhouse picnic area, replacing patio furniture, purchase of a medication cart, the building of 2 raised gardening beds so individuals in wheelchairs and walking aids can participate and updating kitchen appliances

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,980,158” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $13,017,158

And further amend said section 2, in item 4400-1000, by inserting after the words “any transfer” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for supporting transition-aged youth through the Friends of Children, Inc.’s FOCUS Program

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$72,461,201” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $72,536,201

And further amend said section 2, in item 4400-1004, by inserting after the words “knowledge of, the program” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for Growing Places for the purpose of expanding equitable access to healthy food and environmental sustainability through education, collaboration and advocacy

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$10,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $10,050,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4400-1020, by inserting after the words “regional partnerships” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for Main South Community Development Corporation's efforts to promote the safety and security of University Park

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$5,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $5,025,000

And further amend said section 2, in item 4401-1000, by inserting after the words “client self-sufficiency” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the town of Hudson for the Fresh Start Furniture Bank, Inc.

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$1,250,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $1,750,000

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$15,569,246” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $16,144,246

And further amend said section 2, in line item 4800-0038, by inserting after the words “year 2013” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for Project NESST, Fragile Beginnings and related programs addressing complex needs of vulnerable individuals within the Center for Early Relationship Support

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$317,979,977” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $318,054,977

And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-1630, by inserting after the words “extreme financial hardship” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts Chapter, to expand access to an evidence-based program, Dementia Care Coordination (DCC), in order to reduce hospitalizations, emergency department visits and delay long-term care placements

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$200,215,552” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $200,315,552

And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-1900, by striking out the words “chapter 38 of the acts of 2013” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- chapter 24 of the acts of 2021

And further amend said item by inserting after the words “senior farm share program” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $750,000 shall be expended for the Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$11,122,852” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $11,872,852

And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-9002, by inserting after the words “$12 per elder” the following:- ; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for an accessible van for the council on aging in the Town of Newbury; provided further, that not less than $30,000 shall be expended for the Hanson Senior Center for outreach services; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the construction of a new Halifax council on aging building; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the purchase of a van for a senior medical rides program operated by Deja New Leicester, Inc., and the council on aging in the town of Leicester; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Wilbraham Senior Center in the town of Wilbraham; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for repairs to the town of Nahant's council on aging facilities; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended for the Carver council on aging to install new fencing handrail along the sidewalk entrance at the council on aging facility; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended for the Wareham council on aging for improving its outreach services; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the Hubbardston senior center in the town of Hubbardston; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Woodhaven Elderly Housing Complex in Sherborn for replacement windows; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the Hudson council on aging for general improvements to the Hudson Senior Center; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the renovation of the Dartmouth council on aging kitchen; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended for the Burlington council on aging to enhance audio/visual equipment to support programming for seniors; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Brookline council on aging for programming to reduce social isolation; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Ludlow Senior Center to cover costs and related expenses in purchasing a new accessible van to provide transportation to seniors in the community; provided further, that not less than $15,000 shall be expended for the Amherst Senior Center to support community outreach and programming to reduce social isolation; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended for Parkway in Motion, Inc. to provide programming for seniors in the West Roxbury and Roslindale neighborhoods; provided further, that, subject to a local match by the town of Marion, not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the renovation of and utility tie-ins at the council on aging Cushing Community Center in the town of Marion; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the cost associated with care and services provided at Whipple Senior Center in the Town of Weymouth

And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$22,366,019” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $23,526,019

And moves to further amend the bill by inserting after section 46 the following section:-

SECTION 46A. Section 226 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2012 is hereby amended by striking out the figure “2023”, inserted by section 59 of chapter 227 of the acts of 2020, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2026.

And moves to further amend the bill by inserting after section 56B, inserted by Consolidated Amendment “A”, the following section:-

SECTION 56C. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services shall establish and implement an Incumbent Health Care Worker CNA Certification Pilot Program. The pilot shall offer paid training for incumbent health care workers with limited access to state-approved CNA certification training. The pilot shall provide flexibility to individuals who may have a difficult time attending day or evening classes while fulfilling their current work responsibilities.

(b) There is hereby established an Incumbent Health Care Worker CNA Certification Pilot Program Advisory Committee. The secretary of health and human services, or a designee, shall appoint such advisory committee to represent significant constituencies and stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the chairs of the joint committee on labor and workforce development, representatives from community-based organizations and nonprofit service providers, a representative from the Commonwealth Corporation Foundation, the SEIU 1199 Training and Upgrading Fund, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., the Massachusetts Hospital and Health Systems Association, and other such stakeholders as the secretary of health and human services shall deem necessary. The advisory committee shall advise on matters and policies affecting the Incumbent Health Care Worker CNA Certification Pilot Program. The advisory committee shall supply constituent-focused labor market information, review general programmatic parameters and guidelines and assist with the identification of any issues and barriers to the pilot’s efficiency and effectiveness. The advisory committee shall meet from time to time, but not less frequently than bi-monthly.

(c) Not later than 6 months and 1 year, respectively, after implementation of the pilot, the executive office of health and human services shall report on the results of the pilot and offer findings and recommendations for subsequent state action related to the pilot to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on labor and workforce development and the joint committee on health care financing.

And moves to further amend the bill by inserting after section 73 the following section:-

SECTION 73A. Section 56C shall take effect on January 1, 2023.