By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 400) of Harriette L. Chandler, Bruce E. Tarr,
Mary E. Grant, and Kay Khan for legislation to establish a
nursing facility conversion program. Elder Affairs. |
By Ms. Chandler, a petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 400) of Harriette L. Chandler, Bruce E. Tarr,
Mary E. Grant, and Kay Khan for legislation to establish a
nursing facility conversion program. Elder Affairs. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, there is hereby established a pilot demonstration program, subject to appropriation, for the purpose of converting entire or parts of licensed nursing facilities to community-based residences providing alternative services for underserved elderly and disabled populations. Nursing facilities seeking to voluntarily convert to community-based residences providing alternative services for underserved elderly and disabled populations must be currently operating licensed nursing facilities which conform with local zoning, fire safety and state and federal licensure and certification standards. Conversions shall include both the physical plant readaptation of the former nursing facility and the establishment of community-based residences providing alternative services for underserved elderly and disabled populations including, but not limited to, affordable assisted living residences, group homes for the mentally retarded and mentally ill, and outpatient medical and dental services.
A committee composed of the Secretaries of Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Department of Elder Affairs, the director of the Office of Medicaid, the Undersecretary of the Disabilities and Community Services, the Chair of the House Committee on Health Care, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Care, the Chair of House Committee on Ways and Means, the Chair of Senate Committee on Ways and Means, a representative from the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation, and a consumer representatives shall establish the selection criteria for eligibility for the pilot demonstration program, determine participants in said program and establish funding methodology, which shall include, but not be limited to: 1. recognition of capital costs for conversion of an entire or part of a nursing facility to community-based residence providing alternative services for underserved elderly and disabled populations; and 2. establishment of an ongoing operating rate that recognizes the operational costs of the new community-based residences providing alternative services for underserved elderly and disabled populations.
