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Advocacy Facilities News Overview

Oversight of Nursing Homes

In addition to concerns on staffing and finances at nursing homes, which has led directly to neglect of residents, DignityMA is also perplexed at the seeming lack of oversight and enforcement from the state. Download, or scroll to read, a letter to the Commissioner of the MA Dept of Public Health, Robert Goldstein. A July […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based Long Term Services and Support News

DignityMA Comments on Real Lives Bill

Self-Determination and Self-Directed Services Download the letter on Self-Determination and Self-Directed Services (pdf) Download the Facts Sheet from MA Alliance for 21st Century Disability Policy (MA21) on Self-Directed Services (pdf) Letter to DDS June 18, 2024Department of Disability ServicesOffice of the General Counsel,1000 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118 dds.regs.comments@mass.gov.  SUBJECT: Self-Determination and Self-Directed Services Dignity Alliance Massachusetts […]

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Actions Advocacy Facilities Holyoke Soldiers' Home News

Amendment #60 to Senate Bill S.2817  An Act honoring, empowering, and recognizing our service members and veterans

Please support this amendment by contacting your Senator via the Dignity Alliance MA Take Action Page. Senator Lydia Edwards moves to amend Senate Bill 2817, by inserting after section 123, the following new section: Veterans Small Homes Plan SECTION  XX.

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Advocacy News state legislation

Priorities at End of 2023-2024 MA Legislative Session

“So Much to Do, So Little Time” Download the 2024 End of Session Legislative Priorities (pdf) or read it all below. Dignity Alliance Massachusetts has endorsed various bills during the current legislative session. As the Legislature approaches its formal conclusion on July 31, we are highlighting eighteen bills which deserve to be considered and enacted […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Study Session

Bringing People Home – On Marsters for NH Advocates and Workers

May 2024 You can read more about the settlement at the Marsters Overview post. Attorneys (Steven Schwartz and Kathy Walker from the Center for Public Representation) for the plaintiffs have prepared a webinar presentation, Bringing People Home – Understanding the Settlement Agreement in Marsters v. Healey. The presentation targets individuals who have regular communication with […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based Long Term Services and Support Overview

Independent Assessment Entity (IAE)

Update: An RFI has been posted by MassHealth (RFI info below). The deadline to Reply to the RFI is July 9. View a presentation of the issues with the state’s pursuit of an IAE (pdf) written by Jenny Kaplan and Meg Coffin. Overview Recently the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) released an […]

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Advocacy News

Letter to the General Services Administration

On February 28, DignityMA presented this year’s OutStanding Federal Legislator Award to Elizabeth Warren. Her State Director, Janice Rotenberg, accepted the award. While the meeting itself went well, the John F. Kennedy Federal Building presented major accessibility challenges. Below is our letter to the General Services Administration(pdf). April 17, 2024To: Francis A. Thomas (fran.thomas@gsa.gov), Regional […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based Long Term Services and Support News Overview

Marsters Lawsuit

Ongoing Monitoring and Discussion Coordinated by the Center for Public Representation and Greater Boston Legal Service, six groups have been created to monitor the implementation of the agreement and the transition of residents. This work will begin in September, 2024. Final order approving a landmark cross-disability Settlement Agreement in Marsters v. Healey. June 18, 2024 […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based Housing News Testimony

DignityMA TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF H. 4138 – The Affordable Homes Act

Joint Legislative Committee on Bonding, Capital Debt and State AssetsApril 2, 2024 Download (docx) Testimony in Support of H. 4138 – The Affordable Homes Act Dignity Alliance Massachusetts applauds the Healey-Driscoll Administration for their leadership in addressing the issue of housing as proposed in House Bill No. 4138 – the Affordable Homes Act.  The legislation […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based Housing Long Term Services and Support News Overview

Benjamin Healthcare Center Saga

The news below, on Benjamin Healthcare Center’s announced closing, is listed most recent first. DignityMA Offers Help to Attorney Feaster Below are excerpts from an April 5 email sent to Attorney Feaster as he begins to navigate the conditions and options at Benjamin Health Care Center. Best case is for the Center to remain open, […]