Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Wednesday, November 22, 2023 Malden State Reps. join Mass. House in passing bill filed by Rep. LipperGarabedian to improve quality and oversight of the long-term care sector Bill is the fi rst post-pandemic comprehensive skilled nursing facility reform package L ast Wednesday, Malden State Representatives Steve Ultrino (D-Malden), Paul Donato (D-Medford), and Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose), joined the Massachusetts House of Representatives in unanimously passing a long-term care bill fi led by Representative Lipper-Garabedian, who is House Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! 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Having passed the House of Representatives, 1580, “An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care” now goes to the Senate for its consideration. “As House Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, I was proud to work on this eff ort in the last legislation session and to fi le this bill this Our 51st Anniversary Chris 2023 Kate Lipper-Garabedian State Representative session with Chair Stanley,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian, who spoke on the House Chamber fl oor in support of the bill. “No group endured more loss and hardship during the pandemic than our older adults and, by extension, the workforce and families who care for and about them. This legislation will ensure our older adults are receiving the highest quality of care through increased oversight of long-term facilities, investments in workforce training, expansion of small house nursing homes, and requirements for infection outbreak response plans and anti-social isolation policies. I am grateful to Chair Stanley, Speaker Mariano, and Chairs Michlewitz and Lawn for their leadership and support of this critical legislation.” “Since even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the critical challenges facing our states nursing home facilities, residents, and workforce,” said Representative Ultrino. “This bill supplements the recent investments made by the Legislature and alleviates some of the pressures facing the longterm care industry by enhancing oversight at facilities, and expanding the workforce and access to quality care. I am excited to see this bill progress through the legislature thanks to the leadership from Speaker Mariano, Chair Stanley and Chair Lawn.” “I commend my House colleagues for taking action in addressing the staffi ng shortages and fi nancial challenges that have burdened long-term care facilities throughout the Commonwealth,” said Representative Donato. “This legislation will work to diversify and expand the workforce within these facilities, all while ensuring the highest quality of care for Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents.” This legislation responds to several of the recommendations Steven Ultrino State Representative made by the 2020 Nursing Facility Task Force report by: • Providing the Department of Public Health (DPH) with additional tools to monitor and take punitive action against facilities, including new abilities to limit, restrict, suspend or revoke a license for cause and appoint temporary managers • Strengthening DPH’s licensure suitability standards to include a more comprehensive review of the background and legal record of applicants and expanding the scope of review to include any entity with at least fi ve percent ownership interest in a nursing facility • Creating new initiatives to support and grow the workforce, such workforce training grants to develop new Certifi ed Nursing Assistants (CNAs), career ladder program grants, and leadership and supervisory training The bill also addresses workforce challenges facing longterm care facilities by authorizing direct care workers, including CNAs, to obtain a certifi cation to administer non-narcotic medications to long-term care facility residents under the supervision of a licensed nurse or physician. The training curriculum and standards for certifi ed medication aides will be established by the DPH, in consultation with the Board of Registration in Nursing, and will require at least 60 hours of training and will help long-term care facilities to satisfy proposed new federal staffi ng requirements. Major provisions of the bill include: Long-Term Care Workforce and Capital Fund • Establishes the Long-Term Care Workforce and Capital Fund to be administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation BILL | SEE PAGE 11 Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Aff airs, and House Chair Representative Thomas Stanley. The legislation takes a comprehensive approach toward reforming the long-term care industry by supporting and expanding the workforce, enhancing oversight of facilities and ensuring greater ac
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