July 24, 2006

House Passes Equal Choice Bill

“Under legislation adopted today by the House of Representatives, senior citizens and the disabled who quality for long term care services under MassHealth will have an equal choice of care at home or care in a nursing home,” announced Don Humason, Westfield’s State Representative.

House Bill 5203, the “Equal Choice” bill, 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.

“Westfield has three fine nursing homes, but many of the elderly and the disabled want to stay in their homes and receive care in a familiar, comfortable surrounding,” explained Representative Humason. “This legislation gives them the choice to live independently in the community instead of having to go into a nursing home.”

Several recent studies of the state’s long term care system have noted the Commonwealth’s over-reliance on institutional care. Today, approximately 75% of the MassHealth funding for long term care goes to nursing homes. Massachusetts ranks 25th in the nation for the percentage of MassHealth funding spent in the community. The equal choice bill will save state taxpayers $134 million in the first five years after implementation.

 “This bill is a win-win,” Humason said. “It keeps elders living in the community, and it saves tax dollars as well.”

The equal choice bill 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. Everyone about to enter a nursing home regardless of whether they are paying privately, or seeking MassHealth support, will have the opportunity to explore options in the community first.

The equal choice bill 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.

The equal choice legislation has been endorsed by the major elderly and disabled rights groups in the state including Mass Home Care, AARP, the Statewide Independent Living Council, MAOA, Mass Senior Action, and Mass Councils on Aging.

The Senate engrossed a similar version of the equal choice bill on a unanimous vote.  The bill will now go to the Senate for a final enactment vote followed by enactment in the House.  Then it goes to the Governor for his consideration.