Massachusetts moves towards choice in long term care for seniors
Efforts to give thousands of Massachusetts senior citizens and disabled adults a greater voice in how they receive long term care services took a major step forward today as the Committee on Elder Affairs approved a bill to revamp the delivery of long term care across the state. Senator Resor was a co-sponsor of the bill, titled An Act Regarding Choice of Long Term Care Setting, and originally filed by Senator Sue Tucker, the Senate Chair of Elder Affairs. The bill was redrafted to create a long term care legislative package and was acted upon favorably by the Committee.
“Long term care is one of the most serious issues senior citizens and their families face,” said Senator Resor. “This bill allows them to choose their setting of long term care, including the option of staying at home. Our seniors deserve this choice.” In addition to satisfying public demand, the bill will help save taxpayers dollars and ease already strained state Medicaid budgets. MassHealth presently pays roughly $51,720 per member annually to house long-term care clients in nursing homes. This legislation would allow the same clients to remain at home for approximately half the cost.