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Senate approves expansion of abuse registry to cover MassHealth day habilitation programs
Summary
The Senate passed S.165 to extend Nikki’s Law protections by requiring MassHealth day habilitation providers to use the abuse registry, proponents said, closing a gap that allowed previously-registered care providers to be rehired into taxpayer-funded settings.
The Senate voted to pass S.165, an act extending the scope of Nikki’s Law to cover MassHealth-funded day habilitation programs and related providers serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Senator Moore, speaking in support, recounted the origins of Nikki’s Law and thanked advocates, families and the Arc of Massachusetts for their work. She said the original law established a registry for care providers found guilty of abuse after the case that led to Nikki's Law and that the law ‘‘was the first step’’ but left a gap: it did not apply to MassHealth day habilitation and certain supervisor and PCA program settings. ‘‘By passing S.165 today, we will better protect our autism and IDD population by allowing them to seek these dedicated services without fear,’’ Moore said on the floor.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed. Supporters said expanding the employer definition in the statute will prevent individuals placed on the abuse registry from obtaining taxpayer-funded employment in certain day habilitation settings; the transcript records speaker statements and advocates attending the session, but a roll-call tally was not recorded in the provided excerpt.
