Categories
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 […]

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Covid-19 Federal Legislation Home and Community Based News

S 4986 / HR 7499 Social Security Covid-19 Correction and Equity Act

Federal Bills S 4986 and HR 7499 are listed in the 116th Congress. and support Dignity Alliance MA Goal 3: Home and Community-Based Supports and Services improvement and expansion of opportunities. DAM has endorsed this legislation. Points: A precipitous drop in wages in 2020 could inadvertently lower Social Security benefits for one cohort. Whether or […]

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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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Advocacy Home and Community Based

Support Community Service Budget Items

Action Steps – Contact Mass State Senators and Reps to advocate with the conference committee to support the House version of line item 9110-1640 and the Senate version of line item 1420-1000. Budget Line item 9110 – 1640 – Department of Elder Affairs Budget Line item 9110 – 1640 (Department of Elder Affairs) For the […]

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Advocacy Home and Community Based News Testimony

Response to RFI Rescue Plan Act

Dignity Alliance Massachusetts’ Response to the Request for Information American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Community HCBS Initiatives May 2021 (See Glossary for description of abbreviations) Download the DA American Rescue Plan RFI.docx Access to Services and Supports and Community Integration Amendments to the Frail Elder Waiver to Support New Services Add Residential Services […]

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Home and Community Based Resolution

Resolution: Expand Availability of Home and Community Services

An immediate objective is the expansion of the ability of older adults and persons with disabilities to receive comprehensive services, support, and care in their own homes or other locations in the community of their choice. This can occur through changes to Medicaid waiver programs, enhancement of eligibility rules and the scope of benefits in […]