Why Budget Priorities Now Amplify System Fragility February 2, 2026: Commentary about the proposed FY 2027 Massachusetts State Budget (H.2) Massachusetts enters this moment with almost no margin for error. The Governor’s FY27 budget reflects a defensive posture: approximately $22.5 billion for MassHealth and another $10.8 billion for Health and Human Services, yet provider reimbursement […]
Category: Long Term Services and Support
By Richard T. Moore, February 1, 2026 A wellness check is one of the simplest tools we have to prevent harm. It is not a diagnosis, an accusation, or a solution in itself. It is a pause prompted by concern—a moment to ask whether someone is safe, supported, and able to manage under current conditions. […]
By Richard T. Moore This commentary was posted on the “Members’ Forum” of the American Geriatric Society on January 25, 2026. Not long ago, I watched a CNA gently turn an older resident to adjust her pillows. As her body shifted, a deep pressure ulcer came into view – the kind of wound that never […]
By Richard T. Moore, January 19, 2026 Executive Summary Massachusetts cannot meaningfully reduce acute care costs without confronting the systemic failures in long‑term care that drive avoidable hospitalizations, emergency department congestion, delayed discharges, and preventable complications. Chronic understaffing, inadequate clinical oversight, opaque ownership structures, and insufficient investment in public health and aging services create a […]
New Nursing Home Disclosure Requirements per Chapter 343 of the Acts of 2024 (pdf) January 2026 MassHealth’s new Disclosure Form for nursing homes is a comprehensive reporting document designed to increase transparency regarding the ownership, management, and financial structure of long-term care facilities. Based on regulatory updates and industry guidance from the Massachusetts Senior Care […]
The business of caring for older Americans is in a deepening crisis *Washington PostDecember 7, 2025By Shannon Najmabadi Workforce Crisis and Economic Pressures Impact of Federal Policy and Funding The Role of Immigration Provider Closures and Access Issues Impact on Families: The number of family caregivers has jumped 45% in the last decade to 63 […]
Australia’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs updated its Aged Care Act and has issued new supporting information. There may be some ideas we could glean and put to use in Massachusetts. Summary of The Aged Care Act 2024 from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs The Aged Care Act 2024, effective from 1 November 2025, introduces a rights-based […]
Massachusetts is on a collision course with a predictable long-term care crisis, and we are flying blind. DignityMA offers a path forward for MA officials and legislators. Download Massachusetts at a Crossroads Report (pdf). Executive Summary: Facing a Predictable Crisis Massachusetts is on a collision course with a predictable long-term care crisis, and we are […]
What Donald Trump’s Medicaid cuts mean for caregivers NPR 1A (podcast), September 30, 2025 Looking out for a family member who’s aging or disabled can take a huge toll on caregivers. And the burden just got heavier thanks to President Donald Trump’s cuts to Medicaid — the single largest source of funding for long-term care […]
By James A. Lomastro, PhDJames Lomastro is Chair of DignityMA’s Facilities Workgroup and a member of the Coordinating Committee. The senior housing and care industry is trying to reinvent itself. Leaders are moving away from “end-stage living” language and pushing “next-stage living” instead — a more aspirational model centered on engagement, autonomy, and health span. […]