Home Care Bill Summary

On Nov. 5, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed two important pieces of legislation. The second bill is an Archaic Law bill that you can read about here.

The first bill passed was to establish a licensure process for home care agencies. The licensure process for home care agencies ensures that consumers receive quality non-medical services, and to protect home care workers. The bill tasks the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) with implementing the licensure process, and grants the secretariat the authority to approve licenses, survey and investigate home care agencies, and impose fines when appropriate. Under the bill, home care agencies would be required to disclose anyone with a 5 percent ownership interest in the agency, carry workers compensation and liability insurance, and provide appropriate levels of training for their employees.

The bill also creates two advisory councils: the Home Care Oversight Advisory Council to help guide the development and implementation of the home care licensure process, and the Home Care Worker and Consumer Abuse Stakeholder Advisory Committee to make recommendations on standards and procedures to address the abusive treatment of home care workers, personal care attendants (PCAs), and home care consumers. The bill also grants additional anti-discrimination protections for PCAs. Having passed the House of Representatives 153-1, the bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.