Long-term care bill that features infection control plans on Gov.’s desk

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Late last week, almost a month after the end of formal sessions, state lawmakers reached a compromise on a long-term industry reform bill and sent it to Governor Healey’s desk.

A prominent feature of this bill is increasing scrutiny of the role of private equity in long-term care–especially relevant in the aftermath of Steward Healthcare’s bankruptcy and the hospital closures and sales that have followed.

Other main aspects of this bill include infection control plans, uniform patient transfer forms, the creation of a workforce training fund, and training programs.

Senator Michael Rodrigues was the main negotiator on the Senate side and released a statement saying that the legislation will “substantially increase the penalties for bad actors in the industry, and protect LGBTQ+ seniors from discrimination. [It] protects and empowers seniors all across the Commonwealth.”

House Speaker Ron Mariano named long-term care reform a priority over eighteen months ago and explained the bill’s impact.

“This legislation will not only improve the quality of care that residents receive, said Mariano. “It will increase capacity and help acute care hospitals more efficiently discharge patients.”

One aspect of this bill–infection control plans– is especially important to western Massachusetts in the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak that killed over 70 residents of a long-term care facility for veterans in Holyoke in 2020.

Governor Healey has until September 8th to sign or veto this bill.

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