THE REVERE ADVOCATE – WEDnEsDAy, DECEmbER 24, 2025 Kelly Dooner (R-Taunton) By Bob Katzen If you have any questions about this week’s report, e-mail us at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com or call us at (617) 720-1562 THE HOUSE AND SENATE: There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week. This week, Beacon Hill Roll Call reports on the percentage of times local senators voted with their party’s leadership in the 2025 session through December 19. Beacon Hill Roll Call uses 113 of the 116 votes from the 2025 Senate session as the basis for this report. This includes all roll calls except three that were on local issues. The votes of 32 Democrats were compared to Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Creem (D-Newton), second-in-command in the Senate. We could not compare the Democrats’ votes to those of Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland) because, by tradition, the Senate president rarely votes. Sixteen (50 percent) of the 32 Democrats voted with Creem 100 percent of the time. Not counting the senators who voted 100 percent of the time with Creem, another 15 (46.8 percent) of Democrats voted with Creem at least 90 percent of the time (from 90 percent of the time to 99.9 percent of the time.) Only one Democrat, Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy), voted with Creem less than 90 percent of the time. He voted with Creem only 88.3 percent of the time (99 times.) Rounding out the list of the top five senators who voted with Creem the least percentage of times are Sens. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) 104 times (92.0 percent); Michael Moore (D-Millbury) 105 times (92.9 percent); and both Michael Brady (D-Brockton) and Nick Collins (D-Boston) 108 times (95.5 percent). Beacon Hill Roll Call contacted all five senators and asked them why they voted among the least percentage of times with Sen. Creem. Only Sens. Keenan and Moore responded: “I have great respect and admiration for my Senate colleagues and appreciate that we represent unique districts and at times have different opinions on issues,” said Keenan. “In the final determination, I will always vote in the way, that in my judgment, best serves my constituents in the Norfolk and Plymouth District and the commonwealth as a whole.” “The people of the Second Worcester District sent me to the Massachusetts Senate to address the challenges affecting their daily lives and to amplify their voices on Beacon Hill,” said Moore. “My ultimate responsibility is to do what is right for my constituents and my voting record reflects that.” Three senators did not respond to repeated requests asking them to comment. They are Sens. Brady, Montigny and Collins. Beacon Hill Roll Call also contacted all 16 senators who voted with Creem 100 percent of the time and asked them to comment and to cite any issues, beyond the ones that came to a roll call vote, on which they disagree with Creem. None of the 16 responded. They are Sens. Mike Barrett (D-Lexington); Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont); Jo Comerford (D-Northampton); Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn); Julian Cyr (D-Truro); Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett); Lydia Edwards (D-Boston); Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington); Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville); Robyn Kennedy (D-Worcester); Joan Lovely (D-Salem); Paul Mark (D-Becket); Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow); Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence); Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Mike Rush (D-West Roxbury). The votes of four Republican senators were compared with those of GOP Senate Minority Leader Sen. Bruce Tarr (RGloucester). None of the four voted with Tarr 100 percent of the time. Sen, Ryan Fattman (R-Sutton) voted with Tarr the least percentage of times — only 88.4 percent of the time (100 times.) voted 102 times with Tarr (90.2 percent); Peter Durant (R-Spencer) 106 times with Tarr (93.8 percent); and Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth) 109 times with Tarr (96.4 percent.) SENATORS’ SUPPORT OF THEIR PARTY’S LEADERSHIP IN 2025 THROUGH DECEMBER 19 The percentage next to the senator’s name represents Page 15 the percentage of times the senator supported his or her party’s leadership in 2025 through December 19. The number in parentheses represents the number of times the senator opposed his or her party’s leadership. Some senators voted on all 113 roll call votes. Others missed one or more roll calls. The percentage for each senator is calculated based on the number of roll calls on which he or she voted. Sen. Lydia Edwards 100 percent (0) ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL KEEP DARK MONEY OUT OF TOWN MEETING (H 806) — The House gave initial approval to a bill that would apply the BHRC | SEE Page 16 PACE PROGRAM RECENT CHANGES P ACE (Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), is a national comprehensive health program created to help elders remain at home as long as possible. While PACE is a valuable resource for many elders, not many family advisors are familiar with the program. There are presently 8 PACE programs in Massachusetts, each covering a different geographic area. The contact person for any of the programs will direct you appropriately based upon your address. You can also find additional information by going to the National PACE Association’s website at www.npaonline.org. In order to be eligible for PACE, applicants must be 55 years of age or more, live in a PACE service area and must be certified by the state as eligible for nursing home care but able to safely remain in the community with the additional supports PACE offers. Members must also agree to receive all health services exclusively through the Elder Service Plan. While many elders are initially hesitant to give up their primary care physicians or other medical professionals, it is the interdisciplinary team model of PACE that allows each member to maximize his or her potential to remain in the community and ensures that no one falls through the cracks. PACE is jointly funded by Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid and Medicare each pay a set rate per member per month. The Medicare rate is dependent on the diagnosis codes of each member. Each PACE program must offer a number of “core” services and may offer elective services based on the various needs of their members. This flexibility allows each program to customize individualized care plans designed to help each member maximize his or her potential. Interdisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, nutritionists, and other medical staff work together to provide primary medical care, home health, adult day recreation, rehabilitation services, transportation, medications, podiatry, optometry, dental, and social services. While the majority of PACE services are provided at an adult day center to encourage socialization and activity, services are provided in the home when appropriate. Some PACE programs, such as Harbor Health, offer residence in certain assisted living facilities. In these cases, the member pays a certain portion and PACE pays the difference. PACE members never pay more than their income to live in assisted living. If nursing home care becomes necessary, it is paid for by PACE and PACE continues to coordinate the member’s care, so long as the member resides in a PACE facility. MassHealth’s December, 2025 Eligibility Operations Memo 25-17 states that effective January 15, 2026, it will now follow Federal law which requires MassHealth to consider the income and assets of both spouses when determining eligibility of individuals applying for PACE. Married couples will now be subject to the current asset limit as is the case with nursing home eligibility. As of January 1, 2026, the community spouse can keep up to $162,660 in countable assets while the applicant can only keep $2,000 in countable assets. The most significant reason that PACE is appealing is that its primary goal is to provide each member with the individual supports needed to remain in the community as long as possible. With PACE, there is no 6 month deductible spenddown on medical expenses when monthly income for a single person is over $2,982 (300% of the federal benefit rate), unlike in the Frail Elder Waiver Program. PACE may not be for everybody but its benefits should at least be explored. Joseph D. Cataldo is an Estate Planning/Elder Law Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a Master’s Degree in Taxation.
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