Amendment #16, as changed to H4178

Commission for Rest Homes

Mr. O'Day of West Boylston moves to amend the amendment by inserting after section 13 the following section:-

SECTION 13A. (a) There shall be a task force to evaluate the governance and regulatory structure of rest homes in the commonwealth. The task force shall include, but shall not be limited to, an examination of the following: (i) the licensing, regulatory, and reporting structure for rest homes; (ii) an inventory of licensed rest homes and licensed rest home beds; (iii) the location and service areas of existing rest homes; (iv) a review of rest home closures since 2015; (v) a review of the recommendations implemented from the nursing facility task force report issued pursuant to section 91 of chapter 41 of the acts of 2019; (vi) the feasibility of receiving federal reimbursement for rest home expenses; and (vii) a review of the current rate structure for rest homes compared to the actual cost of care to residents.

(b) The task force shall consist of the secretary of health and human services, or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of elder affairs, or their designee; the commissioner of public health, or their designee; the assistant secretary for MassHealth, or their designee; the commissioner of the department of mental health, or their designee; the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance, or their designee; the chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs, or their designees; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 person to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 5 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative from the Massachusetts Association of Residential Care Homes, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of LeadingAge Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Massachusetts Senior Action Council, Inc., 1 of whom shall have direct care giver experience, and 1 of whom shall have experience in health care administration and finance.

(c) The task force shall submit a report of its findings, including any recommendations or proposed legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate and to the house and senate committees on ways and means, not later than April 1, 2025.