The House Committee on Ways & Means released their version of the state’s fiscal year 2016 budget with most accounts important to home care level funded. Out of the $38 billion in the proposed budget, $15.3 billion is spent on MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program.
Since language proposed by the Home Care Alliance to establish a commission to study options for agency oversight was not included, the HCA will be working with state representatives to file amendments to the budget for a number of items, including establishing commissions to study and make recommendations on state oversight options for private pay agencies and certified agencies. The Alliance will also be seeking an increase of $3.1 million in payment rates for home health aides as well as a restoration of MassHealth home health nursing rates.
The Alliance will also be supporting a number of budget amendments spearheaded by other organizations to raise home care worker wages, seek relief from the impending paid sick time mandate and restore the line item funding the Nursing and Allied Health Education Workforce Development program.
Additionally, the Alliance will support efforts to increase funding for elder home care purchased services from Aging Service Access Points. The House Ways & Means budget reduced that line item from what the Governor proposed earlier this year by more than $3 million.
Stay tuned as the Alliance will be sending out advocacy alerts on how agencies and advocates can urge support of these important issues.
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