The Joint Committee on Elder Affairs yesterday held a public hearing on 18 bills related to long term care facilities, many of which proposed higher minimum staffing requirements, care team planning requirements, new technology standard to foster communication between residents and their loved ones, new square footage requirements, and changes in suitability requirements for ownership changes, and a workforce survey.
The Committee heard passionate personal testimony from individuals who had concerns about the care their family members received at facilities during the pandemic. Committee co-chair Senator Pat Jehlen commented that the personal anecdotes created a sense of urgency to enact legislation this year. One of the primary bills discussed at the hearing was an AARP-sponsored bill filed by Senator Jehlen. The omnibus bill would require increasing the minimum hours per patient day from 3.58 to 4.1 with a subminimum of .75 for Registered Nursing, as well requiring all facilities to meet higher square footage and spacing requirements and prohibit resident bedrooms with more than two beds.
Tara Gregorio, President of Mass Senior Care, in verbal testimony and subsequent written testimony to the Committee noted that “while we agree in concept with many of the ideas contained in proposals before the Committee, some of which are already in place in nursing facilities across the Commonwealth, we do, however, have a strong objection to and concern that combined these bills, as drafted, would impose over $1 billion in unfunded mandates on a sector that is teetering on the verge of financial collapse.”
Gregorio also emphasized that core to ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents is a strong, well-trained, appreciated and compensated workforce. This critical goal can only be achieved through a strong partnership with the legislature, administration, nursing facilities and stakeholder partners to develop and fund a “quality job” that includes a competitive living wage and promotes career ladders.
Gregorio further requested that the Committee vote favorably on two important bills HB738/SB425, Acts relative to promoting innovation in eldercare services filed by Representative Thomas Golden and Senator Michael Moore and HB736/SB400, Acts relative to promoting the betterment of resident health and safety in long term care facilities filed by Representative Denise Garlick and Senator Julian Cyr. These bills would (1) promote nursing home innovation projects including de-densification projects and conversion to alternative services and (2) require the Department of Public Health to develop and implement mutual interactive training and education for nursing facility clinical and frontline staff that have proven successful during the COVID pandemic and are worthy of further implementation.