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Governor Healy signs long-term care reform emphasizing inspections and workforce supports
Summary
Governor Healy and legislative leaders marked the passage of a long-term care reform bill that limits state estate recovery to the federal minimum, requires annual inspections of long-term care and assisted-living facilities, and funds expanded training for nurses and nursing assistants; the governor said she would sign the bill and implementation work has begun.
BOSTON — Governor Healy on Friday celebrated the passage of a wide-ranging long-term care reform bill, saying the measure will strengthen oversight of nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, expand workforce training and provide families greater financial security.
The bill, Healy said at an event with legislative leaders and industry advocates, "limits a state recovery to the federal minimum" and ends certain state recoveries for people receiving MassHealth or personal care attendant benefit access. She said the law will also require the Department of Public Health to inspect long-term care and assisted-living facilities annually and will fund training to expand the skilled nursing and nursing assistant workforce.
"No family should have to be forced to go bankrupt just to provide care to their loved one," Healy said, urging continued collaboration between the administration, the Legislature and advocates to implement the law.
Speaker Rob Mariano called the measure a "game changer," saying the law will help ensure residents in nursing homes receive medicines on time, maintain clean rooms and get "first-rate care." Senate President Spilka described the reforms as critical to the fabric of the state’s care system, highlighting workforce support and civil-rights protections for older adults and people with disabilities.
Alisa Sherman, president of LeadingAge Massachusetts, representing nonprofit providers, praised the legislation as a "historic step" toward strengthening the long-term care system and said LeadingAge will work with state agencies on implementation.
Officials named at the event who will play roles in carrying out the law included Kate Walsh, secretary of Health and Human Services; Dr. Robbie Goldstein, commissioner of public health; Mike Levine, acting secretary for elder affairs; and Robin Lipson. Healy specifically thanked the HHS team for implementation work and said she would sign the bill after the remarks.
The bill’s text, bill number and effective date were not provided at the event. Organizers and administration officials said implementation will require additional work by state agencies and partners named at the event.
Healy and legislative leaders said they will oversee implementation and ‘‘watch’’ to ensure the law’s provisions are carried out as intended.
