Mass. committee hears broad support for allowing family members, including spouses and guardians, to be paid MassHealth caregivers

The Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing convened a public hearing July 4 at the State House to hear testimony on legislation that would permit legally responsible family members, including spouses and guardians, to serve as paid caregivers under MassHealth home- and community-based programs (House Bill 1394 / Senate Bill 886 and related proposals).

Why the bills matter: supporters said the change would recognize care family members already provide, reduce financial hardship, and help keep people at home instead of in institutional settings. Christine Stanton, director of the Milton Council on Aging and a parent and guardian, told the committee: “This is an injustice.”

Advocates and providers offered three principal arguments. First, many families cannot hire outside staff because of wages, training needs, or geographic isolation; paying a family member can fill gaps that otherwise leave people without care. Lorena Silva, CEO of Vitra…