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Advocacy Facilities News Testimony Worker Support

DignityMA Supports Minimum Staffing Standard

6/10/22 DignityMA response to CMS Request for Information (RFI) to support National Minimum Staffing Standard. Inadequate staffing is the primary driver of poor health outcomes in nursing homes, and CMS has promised to propose a minimum staffing standard within one year.  The RFI follows the Biden Administration’s February 28, 2022 proposal of significant nursing home […]

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Advocacy Covid-19 Facilities News Worker Support

The Legislature’s Missed Opportunity – Failure to Reform Nursing Homes in Massachusetts

August 4, 2022 Op-Ed in CommonWealth Magazine by Senator Richard Moore Download Senator Moore’s Op-Ed on Failure to Reform (docx) Much has been written about the legalization of Sports Betting in the Commonwealth.  The introduction of this much-debated and formerly illegal past-time is a tribute to the power of the gambling industry in Massachusetts! With […]

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Facilities News Worker Support

National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality

A major, comprehensive report on nursing home care was released on April 6, 2022, by the Committee on the Quality of Care in Nursing Homes under the jurisdiction of the National Academies of Sciences (NASEM), Engineering, and Medicine, The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring Our Commitment to Residents, Families, and Staff. With […]

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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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Facilities Federal Legislation News Worker Support

Support for White House’s Proposed Nursing Home Reforms

March 1, 2022 Dignity Alliance released a statement applauding the White House’s proposed nursing home reforms(pdf). The release highlights DignityMA priorities. The Release and White House Proposal are copied in full below. Media Release on White House’s Proposed Nursing Home Reforms March 1, 2022— (Boston, MA)–The COVID-19 pandemic exposed longstanding problems in nursing homes that […]

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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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Facilities Federal Legislation News Worker Support

S2694 / HR 5169 – Nursing Home Improvement and Accountability Act of 2021

Federal Bills S 2694 and HR 5169 support 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 COVID-19 pandemic has taken an enormous toll on nursing home residents and staff, who represent more than one-third […]

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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 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 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 […]