Equal Choice Bill Signed
Seniors citizens and the disabled who quality for long term care services under the MassHealth program will have an “equal choice” of care at home, or care in a nursing home, under legislation signed into law.
Chapter 211 of the Acts of 2006 will do the following:
- Modernizes the MassHealth program from one which has historically been institutionally oriented, to one which focuses on care “in the least restrictive setting appropriate” to an individual’s needs.
- Will save state taxpayers $134 million in the first five years after implementation.
- Establishes a more focused “pre-admission counseling” program for people who are being referred to a nursing home, to ensure that they are aware of community alternatives.
- Calls for the state to submit a “waiver” to the federal government which will raise the income and asset levels for the MassHealth long term care program, thus allowing the Commonwealth to capture 50% federal match for some elders who are not fully supported with state funding.
