By Bob Katzen
The Senate 39-0, approved a bill making changes to the state’s long term care and assisted living industry which supporters said will take “a powerful step towards delivering the high quality and safe care that Massachusetts seniors deserve by substantially strengthening oversight and enforcement while also requiring facilities to create outbreak plans should a health issue arise.”
Provisions include allowing assisted living residences to offer basic health services such as helping a resident administer drops, manage their oxygen or take a home diagnostic test; requiring long-term care facilities to produce infection outbreak response plans; requiring the Department of Public Health (DPH) to inspect facilities every nine to 15 months and authorizing it to restrict or revoke licenses when facilities are failing to provide adequate care or not complying with regulations; allowing for a temporary manager to be appointed to bring floundering facilities into compliance; raising penalties that the attorney general can impose for the abuse and neglect of patients; and creating an LGBTQ+ bill of rights for aging residents to prohibit discrimination based on their LGBTQ+ identity or HIV status.
“Today the Senate took an important step forward to ensure that our aging residents have safe, equitable and high quality care,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “It is far too common—and unacceptable—for residents in assisted living facilities to receive subpar care. By boosting transparency and accountability, the Senate is continuing to create a compassionate commonwealth where all residents can age with dignity.”
Sen. Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville), Senate Chair of the Committee on Elder Affairs, said the bill will improve care and stability in nursing homes and assisted living residences. “The pandemic revealed starkly the lack of nursing home preparedness for the spread of fatal diseases,” said Jehlen. “Many of us knew someone or relatives of someone who passed during that disaster.”
“Even homes with consistently high ratings lost many residents,” continued Jehlen. “This bill offers measures to address issues in nursing homes and assisted living facilities; issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community when looking for care; bariatric care; and pooled trusts. It also ensures facilities that are not compliant with safe standards face consequences and are held responsible.”
The House has already approved a different version of the bill and a conference committee will attempt to hammer out a compromise version.
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes