Mass. hearing presses for higher personal needs allowance for nursing and rest home residents

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 impact. Lovering Hayward, a Hale House resident, said the $72.80 "is inadequate to meet my personal needs," adding that the allowance is consumed by toothpaste, Kleenex, shampoo and dental floss. Reverend Elizabeth Levitt said the allowance must rise so seniors can "feel well groomed" and avoid painful feet without being forced to choose between essentials.

Carolyn Fillers, executive director of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, and other members of the group described the expansion of the Medicare Savings Program but argued the PNA and related MassHealth asset rules still create a "health care cliff" for people turning 65. Professor Paul Schafer of Boston University—s Medicaid Policy Lab estimated that raising and indexing the PNA would cost MassHealth roughly $10 million to $12 million annually—"a tiny fraction" of the state budget—while improving quality of life for tens of thousands of residents.

Nursing home administrators supported the increase as well. Jill Gammeli, administrator at Hale House, said residents regularly lack funds to buy new shoes, gifts or even a coffee and that staff rely on small, informal measures to meet needs. Former state officials also testified: Richard Moore and Paul Lanzikos appealed for adjusting the PNA for inflation and adding an automatic cost-of-living adjustment.

What the bills would do: Sponsors filed House Bill 14 11 and companion Senate bills (including S.482 and S.887) to raise the PNA—witnesses repeatedly referenced a figure of $113.42 as the inflation-adjusted equivalent of the current allowance—and to index future increases to inflation. Testimony also noted related bills addressing temporary nursing staffing and other long-term care matters.

Committee process and next steps: Committee chairs reminded the public that written testimony would remain open through specified deadlines and that hearings are recorded and posted on the committee webpage. No vote was taken during the hearing; the committee accepted testimony and will consider the bills in subsequent work sessions.

Ending: Witnesses framed the requested increase as modest but consequential, saying it would allow residents to buy basic personal items and preserve independence. "This modest increase in the personal needs allowance, letting residents keep a bit more of their own money will make a big difference in helping residents age with dignity," said Carolyn Fenn, the state long-term care ombudsman.