Committe hears calls for home‑health safety measures and oversight of temporary nurse staffing agencies

Two related topics received testimony before the Joint Committee on Public Health: House Bill 2364/Senate Bill 1632 (safeguards for home health care workers) and House Bill 2408/Senate Bill 1633 (authority for the Department of Public Health to address temporary nurse staffing agency contracts in home health and hospice).

Gina Ferragamo, a registered nurse with Mass General Brigham Home Care, described safety risks faced by clinicians who enter patients’ homes alone, including encounters with unmanaged mental health crises, threats, and weapons. Testimony asked that agencies be required to perform safety assessments before providing services, to communicate patient violence histories to clinicians, to require annual de‑escalation training, and to allow workers to leave dangerous situations without loss of pay or discipline.

Jake Kulevich, executive director of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, told the committee H2408/S1633 would extend DPH authority to cover home health and hospice agencies under an existing statute to regulate excessive temporary‑nurse‑staffing (TNS) contracting. He said TNS agencies that offer substantially higher pay rates are pulling staff out of home care agencies and offering contracts that providers cannot match, threatening access and creating an uneven playing field.

Witnesses urged clear safety protocols and regulatory authority so that home health clinicians are informed about risk factors before entering homes and so providers are not undercut by unregulated temporary staffing contracts. No formal votes were taken at the hearing.

Ending: The committee will consider statutory drafting and implementation mechanisms, including how DPH would exercise oversight and whether funding or transitional rules are required.