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Mass. hearing presses for higher personal needs allowance for nursing and rest home residents
Summary
Advocates, residents and former officials urged the Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing to raise the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA), arguing the current $72.80 monthly amount has not kept pace with costs and undermines residents— dignity and daily needs.
Chair John Lawn and Senate Co-chair Cindy Friedman convened the Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing for an afternoon hearing focused in part on bills to raise the personal needs allowance for long-term care residents. Advocates, nursing home administrators and residents urged lawmakers to update the allowance, now $72.80 per month, which has not changed since fiscal 2008.
Why it matters: The personal needs allowance is the small monthly sum MassHealth-eligible nursing and rest home residents may keep to purchase items not covered by facilities or Medicaid, such as clothing, toiletries, phone minutes and small treats. Witnesses said the current allowance leaves residents making painful tradeoffs and erodes dignity.
Residents and advocates gave concrete examples of daily hardship and the dignity…
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