Amendment ID: S2776-3

Amendment 3

Strengthen The Workforce at Skilled Nursing Facilities

Messrs. Tarr, O'Connor and Moore move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting in SECTION 2A after line item 7004-1000 the following new line item:-

"xxxx-xxxx. For a reserve account for the purpose of increasing and supplementing the rates paid by the commonwealth, through its Medicaid and other payment mechanisms, to licensed skilled nursing facilities in Massachusetts; provided further, that the executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., shall develop and administer said account; provided that such facilities shall be properly licensed and meet all current regulatory requirements, and shall apply any funds received pursuant to this section for the purpose of increasing compensation to licensed nurses, certified nurse assistants, and other essential personnel in order to recruit, maintain, and otherwise ensure adequate staffing levels for the delivery of consistent, sustainable and  quality care to meet the demands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds shall be expended for this purpose from this account for a period not to exceed 6 months following the passage of this act. Said reserve account shall be funded through general fund appropriations, gifts, grants, and the appropriation of funds made available to the commonwealth through the American Recovery Plan Act (Pub L. No. 117-2); provided further, that the executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc. and 1199SEIU, shall establish a methodology for distributing funds; provided further that, that not later than March 1, 2022, the executive office shall submit methodology criteria to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on elder affairs; and provided further, that funds shall prioritize facilities for which not less than 75 per cent of resident are enrolled in MassHealth, provided further that the executive office of health and human services shall submit on a weekly basis a reporting of the expenditures under this line item with the clerks of the house and senate...….$200,000".