Amendment #5 to H4706

Caregiver Commission

Representatives Kushmerek of Fitchburg, Scanlon of North Attleborough and Philips of Sharon move to amend the bill by adding the following sections:

SECTION 1 . Chapter 6A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 16FF the following section:-

Section 16GG. (a) There shall be a commission on family caregiving. The commission, shall consist of the secretary of aging and independence, who will serve as chairperson; the secretary of health and human services, or a designee; the commissioner of public health, or a designee, the commissioner of the department of mental health, or a designee; the commissioner of the department of developmental services, or a designee; the secretary of veterans’ services, or a designee; the secretary of labor and workforce development, or a designee; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on aging and independence; 1 member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker, 1 member of the senate to be appointed by the senate president, 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 12 persons to be appointed, in a manner that ensures, as much as possible, geographic and demographic diversity, by the governor, including 1 family caregiver advocate, 1 family caregiver, 1 health care provider, 2 representative of state-based academic institutions, one of whom is a gerontologist, and 7 representatives from state-based advocacy or family caregiving service provider agencies, including 1 representative from the Association of Behavioral Health, 1 representative from the American Association of Retired Persons Massachusetts, 1 representative from the Massachusetts Council for Adult Foster Care, 1 representative from Mass Aging Access, 1 representative from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, 1 representative from the Seven Hills Foundation, and 1 representative from the ARC of Massachusetts.

(b) The commission shall meet at least quarterly and shall advise the executive office of health and human services and the general court on the development of family caregiving policy for the commonwealth. The advisory council shall work with the secretary of health and human services to identify resources available, and services needed for these individuals and associated costs.

(c) Annually, not later than March 1, the commission shall provide a report to the executive office of health and human services, the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on children, families, and persons with disabilities, the joint committee on elder affairs, and the joint committee on public health which shall include: (i) information and recommendations on family caregiving policy and (ii) an evaluation of all state-funded efforts in caregiving research, clinical care, institutional and home-based and community-based services and supports.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than December 1, 2026, the health policy commission shall conduct an analysis and issue a report evaluating the fiscal, access and quality impacts related to the commonwealth allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) an analysis of the anticipated costs of allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program; (ii) an analysis of potential savings from allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program including, but not limited to, savings from reductions in medical and pharmacy expenses associated with falls, hyperglycemia, and other avoidable episodes of care; (iii) an analysis of the anticipated impact of allowing spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program to access to care, quality of care, and quality of life; (iv) an analysis of the policies of other states regarding spousal and other family caregivers and the costs, savings, access, quality of care, and quality of life impacts associated with such policies; (v) an analysis of any federal approvals, statutory changes and regulatory changes necessary for the commonwealth to allow spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program; and (iv) recommendations regarding whether the commonwealth should allow spouses to serve as paid caregivers in the MassHealth program. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive director of the health policy commission may request from the division of medical assistance, the center for health information and analysis and the executive office of aging and independence, and such agency or office shall provide, information necessary to conduct the analysis required by this section. The report shall be filed with the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing, the joint committee on aging and independence, and the advisory council on family caregiving established under section 16GG of chapter 6A of the General Laws.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #5, as changed to H4706

Caregiver Commission