Mass. lawmakers hear broad support for letting family members be paid MassHealth caregivers

BOSTON — Legislators and advocates urged the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on Wednesday to allow legally responsible family members to serve as paid caregivers under several MassHealth home- and community-based programs, saying current rules force families into financial hardship and away from home-based care.

Supporters told the committee the change would recognize unpaid labor, expand the caregiving workforce and help keep people with disabilities and older adults in their homes. “This bill isn't just about policy, it's about people,” said Sandra Heller, a parent and member at-large of the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council. “Families are already providing the essential, loving and often exhaustive care that allows their loved ones to remain safely and comfortably in their homes rather than costly institutions.”

Why it matters: Witnesses said current rules bar parents,…