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Home and Community Based News Worker Support

2023-04-24 Spotlight: Historic Exec Actions to Improve Care

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Most Sweeping Set of Executive Actions to Improve Care in History Scroll down to see the reactions Disability Scoop, the AARP and the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD). The White House, April 18, 2023 Today, President Biden will announce the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever […]

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Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Updates from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs (EOEA)

AARP Quarterly, Stakeholders Meeting, 16 February 2023 Download the Updates from EOEA (pdf). Topics include: PHCAST (Personal and Home Care Aid Skills Training) Expanded Training PHCAST New Website at MAHomeCareTraining.org PHCAST Marketing Campaign EOEA Branding and Promotion Project Information on End of Federal Extra SNAP Information on MassHealth Redetermination MassHealth Update on Medicare Savings Program

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News Resolution

Healey should settle, not litigate, disability lawsuit

Avoid unnecessary institutionalization in nursing homes. January 27, 2023 by Alex Green and Bill Henning EVERY DAY, thousands of Massachusetts residents with disabilities are admitted to segregated nursing facilities, be it to recover from medical procedures, to receive respite and care because they’re homeless, or because of a lack supportive services that are needed to […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Worker Support

Healey vows to address shortage of PCAs

by Henry Kuczinski Daily Hampshire Gazette, December 26, 2022 BOSTON — Governor-elect Maura Healey said she will “absolutely” work with advocates and labor representatives to strengthen Massachusetts’ Personal Care Attendant Program by addressing a “crisis-level” workforce shortage. The MassHealth program provides funds for individuals with chronic disabilities to hire attendants for in-home care. This allows […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News

How to better care for our elderly and frail

Crisis of Care for Older Adults should be a Call to Action, not a Plea for More Tax Dollars. By Paul Lanzikos, Arlene Germain, Richard Moore, Lachlan Forrow. MD Boston Globe, December 23, 2022 The seriousness of our nursing home crisis, especially the severe shortages of available nursing and other support staff, is undeniable (“At a […]

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Actions Advocacy Home and Community Based News Resolution

DignityMA supports Class Action re: Violations of the ADA and Medicaid Act

Statement of Support Dignity Alliance Massachusetts and Its Partners Support Resolution of the Complaint Underlying the Class Action Suit filed by the Center for Public Representation Charging Massachusetts with Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Medicaid Act WHEREAS, Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, written by the […]

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Actions Home and Community Based Worker Support

Advocate to Pay to Spouses as Caregivers

S89 / H1305 An Act allowing spouses as caregivers Referred to Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Contact Senator Adam Gomez (Adam.Gomez@masenate.gov, (617) 722-1660) and Representative Michael Finn (Michael.Finn@mahouse.gov, (617) 722-2676) to urge favorable action. Sponsors – Senator Joanne Comerford and Representative Norman Orrall Read the full DignityMA Endorsement for S89 and […]

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Advocacy Facilities Home and Community Based News

Alarm Sounded over Nursing Home Care Gaps

December 6, 2021 – Boston Globe Letter – Alarm sounded over continual gaps in care at nursing homes Is there no dignity among owners and operators of nursing homes that so many fail their most basic responsibility to protect the lives of the residents and staff? No one should be surprised by the article in […]

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Facilities Federal Legislation Home and Community Based News Worker Support

The Budget Reconciliation Legislation which includes nursing home reform, HCBS funding, workforce enhancements and elder justice provisions

The nursing home provisions will promote DAM Goal 1 – Nursing Home Reform that is person-centered and respectful of human dignity with oversight, accountability and transparency Improved accuracy and reliability of data submitted to CMS through the payroll-based journal and quality measures or resident assessment data.  This is important for obtaining accurate data on staffing levels […]

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Federal Legislation Home and Community Based News Worker Support

S 2210 – Better Care Better Jobs Act

Federal Bill S 2210 supports the Dignity Alliance MA Goal 3 – Home and Community-Based Supports and Services improvement and expansion of opportunities. DAM has endorsed this legislation. The bill would make an historic investment in the Care Economy. This vital legislation will strengthen and expand Home and Community-Based Supports and Services that are urgently […]