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Advocacy News Study Session

DignityMA Study Session: Using Class Actions to Promote System Change

Steven Schwartz, Legal Director, Center for Public Representation, was the featured guest for a DignityMA Study Session on September 22, 2023. His topic is Using Class Actions to Promote System Change. Additional Information: Steven J. Schwartz currently is the Center’s Legal Director, after founding the Center in 1976 and then serving as its Executive Director […]

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Advocacy News

FY ’24 DIGNITY SUPPORTED BUDGET ITEMS IN THE FINAL CONFERENCE REPORT

Report of the DignityMA Legislative Work Group 7/31/2023 Download the FY 2024 DignityMA Supported Budget Items (pdf). The following items, under consideration by the Conference Committee, were all approved in the final budget that is being presented to the House and Senate today. 28 Dignity Advocates “took action” by contacting 47 legislators asking for support […]

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Advocacy News Testimony

DignityMA Testimony for Public Meeting Access

On July 26, 2023, the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disability Act, Dignity Alliance MA submitted written testimony to a public meeting of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight in support of access to public meetings by older adults and people with disabilities. Download the submitted testimony (with […]

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Advocacy Facilities News

DignityMA Concerns with H. 3929 – Comprehensive Nursing Home Legislation

Dignity Alliance MA has released a statement on “What’s Needed for Transformational Nursing Home Reform to Improve Quality and Oversight” as well as a letter to the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. You can download (the statement download contains significant footnotes not included below) these or read them below. What’s Needed […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Increase the rate of payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour

June 19, 2023 Dignity Alliance MA supports increasing the payment for PCA’s to at least $25 per hour. 45 individuals and organizations have endorsed the following letter to Governor Healey, asking her to implement this increase immediately. Letter to Governor Healey Dear Governor Healey, On behalf of the membership of the Dignity Alliance of Massachusetts, […]

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Actions Advocacy Facilities Resolution Worker Support

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Join the DignityMA Resolution for Sufficient Nursing Home Staffing Thursday, June 15, 2023 marks the annual observance of WORLD ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY,which was launched more than a decade ago by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations.  Dignity Alliance Massachusetts expresses concern that […]

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Advocacy News

How to Be a Better Advocate for Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Their Caregivers

Explore the crucial role of advocating for older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers with state and federal legislators. Dignity Alliance Massachusetts offers actionable advice and strategies for individuals to effectively engage with policymakers and drive positive changes. Effecting real change at the state and federal levels often means contacting state legislators and occasionally […]

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Advocacy Facilities News Testimony

DignityMA Testimony and Campbell Letter re: Disclosures of Ownership and Transparency of Nursing Facilities Owners and Managerment

Scroll down for Attorney General Campbell media advisory and letter, also on this topic. DignityMA submits testimony in response to Disclosures of Ownership and Additional Disclosable Parties Information for Skilled Nursing Facilities and Nursing Facilities A Proposed Rule by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Disclosures of Ownership and Additional Disclosable Parties Information […]

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Advocacy News Study Session

How Nursing Homes Funnel Billions Through Companies – Little Scrutiny from Federal Government: Report, Webinar and Study Session

Dignity Alliance Massachusetts, in a launch of the new Aging and Disabilities Study Sessions, will hosted a state level discussion of nursing home finances and the need for more financial transparency through state audits and the passage of Senate Bill 377 / House Bill 633 following the National Consumer Voice Webinar.  The Webinar and Study […]

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Advocacy Federal Legislation News

Disabled and Elderly Jurors Nondiscrimination Act

March 17, 2023. This legislation, sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senator Edward Markey, has been endorsed by 21 members of DignityMA. The bill has not yet been assigned a number. Stay tuned. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Disabled and Elderly Jurors Non-discrimination Act’’. SEC. 2. EXCLUSION FROM FEDERAL […]