Highlights

• Forbids discrimination and promotes inclusion of LGBTQ+ residents by requiring each long-term care facility to provide staff training on the rights and care of LGBTQ+ older adults and older adults living with HIV.
• Creates the Long Term Care Workforce and Capital Training Fund, which will be utilized for a capital loan and workforce training program to better equip and train the state’s long-term care staff.
• Limits MassHealth estate recovery to only federally mandated recovery and removes estate recovery for residents receiving assistance under CommonHealth.
• Makes it easier for assisted living residents to get timely and efficient care by permanently allowing assisted living residences to offer basic health services such as helping a resident administer drops, manage their oxygen, or take a home diagnostic test.
• Enhances state oversight and regulatory tools to ensure quality care at nursing homes.
• Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to inspect each long-term care facility every year to assess quality of services and compliance.
• Requires long-term care facilities to submit outbreak response plans to DPH with clear protocols for the isolation of residents, lab testing, visitor screening, preventing spread from staff, and the notification of residents, family, and staff in the event of a contagious disease outbreak.