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Covid-19 Facilities Federal Legislation News Worker Support

HR 3733 – The Essential Caregivers Act

Federal Bill HR 3733 supports the Dignity Alliance MA Goal 1 – Nursing Home Reform that is person-centered and respectful of human dignity with oversight, accountability and transparency. DAM has endorsed this legislation. The Essential Caregivers Act, which came about earlier this year, was introduced to Congress in June 2021 with bipartisan support The bill, […]

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Covid-19 Facilities News Resolution

Resolution – Mandate Vax for Nursing Homes Employees

Download the full resolution Calling on Nursing Home Providers and Caregivers to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations to Protect All In their Care.docx. The download includes extensive resource links. Resolution Dignity Alliance commends the Biden Administration for its 8/18/21 announcement that all nursing home staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of participating in […]

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Advocacy Facilities Holyoke Soldiers' Home Housing News

Advocacy Letters for Holyoke Soldiers’ Home

On May 25, 2021, Governor Baker signed legislation authorizing bond financing for the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home providing $400 million for the construction of a facility in Holyoke and an additional $200 million for establishing regional equity and ready access to community services for veterans throughout the Commonwealth who do not live proximate to the Holyoke […]

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Covid-19 Facilities News Worker Support

Biden to require COVID vaccines for nursing home staff

August 18, 2021 – WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding. Biden unveiled the new policy Wednesday afternoon in a White House address as the administration […]

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Facilities Home and Community Based Housing News Testimony

S418 and H745: Personal Care Homes

An Act relative to expanding the availability of personal care homes for older adults “Personal care home” or “home”, a premise in which food, shelter and personal assistance or supervision are provided for a period exceeding 24 hours, for no more than six adults who are not relatives of the sponsor, who do not require […]

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Facilities Home and Community Based News

Nursing Home Industry is Heavily Taxpayer-Subsidized

Special Report from the Center for Medicare Advocacy – July 2021. Download the full report: Special-Report-SNF-Subsidies.pdf Nursing Home Industry is Heavily Taxpayer-Subsidized It is well-known that Government health care programs, Medicare and Medicaid, are the primary payers for nursing home care. The two federal programs paid facilities tens of billions of dollars for providing care […]

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Facilities News Testimony

Support S406 – Small House Nursing Homes

Download Jim Lomastro’s testimony (docx): Elder Affairs S406 Small Homes DAM. Good morning.  Thank you for the opportunity to speak about Senate Bill 406, “An Act Relative to Small House Nursing Homes.”  My name is Jim Lomastro, and I am a member of Dignity Alliance Massachusetts. This bill is a strong start toward the transformation […]

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Facilities News Testimony Worker Support

Support S413, H733 – Improve Employee Standards for MA Nursing Homes

June 30, 2021 Download the pdf: Testimony on S413 and H733 An Act to Improve Employee Standards for MA Nursing Homes Senator Patricia Jehlen, Chair Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Delivered by email: Patricia.Jehlen@masenate.gov Representative Thomas M. Stanley, Chair Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Delivered by email: Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov Dignity Alliance Massachusetts (Dignity Alliance) is providing […]

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Facilities News Testimony Worker Support

Support S414, H727 – Ensure Quality of Care in Nursing Homes

June 30, 2021 Download the pdf: Testimony on S414 and H727 An Act to Ensure Quality of Care in Nursing Homes Senator Patricia Jehlen, Chair Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Delivered by email: Patricia.Jehlen@masenate.gov Representative Thomas M. Stanley, Chair Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Delivered by email: Thomas.Stanley@mahouse.gov Dear Chair Jehlen and Chair Stanley:Dignity Alliance […]

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Advocacy Facilities Holyoke Soldiers' Home News

Holyoke Soldiers’ Home bond bill S. 2439

Dear Senators, Dignity Alliance Massachusetts supports the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home bond bill S. 2439 as well as adoption of Amendment 13 proposed by Senator Lovely and Amendment 16 proposed by Senator Collins.    These amendments ensure that the construction of a replacement facility on the campus of the current Holyoke Soldiers’ Home adheres to the US […]