Amendment #6 to H4706

Digital Access and Workforce Support

Mr. Hong of Lowell moves to amend the bill SECTION XX. Chapter 6A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:

Section 184 (a) The purpose of this section shall be to ensure that older adults receiving home-care services, and home-care workers supporting them, have access to reliable high-speed internet and digital tools, thereby improving care quality, workforce stability, consumer access and bridging the digital divide in low-income households.

(b) For purposes of this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly appears otherwise, have the following meanings:

“Digital inclusion subsidy”, a monthly financial assistance payment or credit to cover costs of high-speed internet service, a connected device (tablet or laptop), or training in digital literacy.

“Eligible senior consumer”, an individual aged 65 or older receiving services from a licensed home-care agency under this Act, with household income at or below 200 per cent of the Federal Poverty Level.

“Home-care worker”, an individual employed by a licensed home-care agency under this chapter or providing direct care in the home-care setting.

(c) The secretary of health and human services shall establish a statewide Senior Internet & Device Subsidy Program. The Program shall provide eligible senior consumers with:  (i) a monthly subsidy (or bill credit) for broadband internet of at least $30; (ii) the option of a connected device (tablet or laptop) at no cost or with nominal cost share;  (iii) a one-time digital literacy training session (in-person or remote) on use of video-calling, tele-health, secure portals, and care-agency communications.

(d) Licensed home-care agencies shall apply for, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall administer, a “Workforce Connectivity Grant Fund” to support home-care workers’ connectivity needs. Agencies receiving the grant shall: (i) ensure each full-time home-care worker has access to a connected device or stipend for their own device; (ii) provide quarterly training on use of digital tools for care coordination, remote supervision, and worker-consumer communications; (iii) maintain metrics on worker turnover, service-plan completion, and digital-tool usage, to be submitted annually.

(e) The home care oversight advisory council cestablished in section 16KK shall include, as part of its annual report, data on: (i) number and percentage of eligible senior consumers enrolled in the subsidy program, by zip code and income level; (ii) number of home-care workers participating in the connectivity grant program, including turnover rates by agency; (iii) digital-literacy training completion rates and correlation with service quality outcomes (consumer satisfaction, complaints, unmet need).

(f) The General Fund and federal matching funds shall be appropriated each fiscal year to carry out the Subsidy Program and Connectivity Grant Fund, with priority to communities with high concentrations of seniors, people with disabilities, low-income households, and rural/underserved areas.”

SECTION XY. The secretary of health and human services shall establish the program established in section 184 of chapter 6A of the General Laws withing in 120 days of the effective date of this act

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #6 to H4706

Digital Access and Workforce Support