Long Term Care Reform is a Step Closer to Becoming Law

AARP supports the long-term care reform package that is currently on Beacon Hill. Both the Massachusetts House and Senate passed a reform package. The House did so last year. The Senate did so last week. A conference committee is now hashing out the differences. That work needs to completed by the time the formal legislative session ends at the end of the month.

Time's Up. Tell Your Elected Leaders to Pass These Bills Before It's Too Late!

AARP Massachusetts sent members of the conference committee a letter pressing them to get the work done by the deadline. Read the letter here.

" It is critical that Massachusetts passes into law, this session, a comprehensive, commonsense bill that puts the safety and well-being of nursing home and other long-term care facility residents first. It is time to hold nursing homes and other long-term care facilities accountable for providing safe environments and high-quality care for residents" wrote AARP Massachusetts State Director Jennifer Benson and State President Sandra Harris


The reforms would strengthen regulations, require infection outbreak response plans, and address staffing issues with a career ladder and grant program. The bill would also beef up fines for abuse and neglect of patients. Read the bill here: House Bill No. 4178 - An Act To Improve Quality And Oversight Of Long-Term Care.

After the Massachusetts House passed the bill, AARP Massachusetts sent a letter to representatives thanking them for their work. Then AARP Massachusetts State Director Mike Festa and AARP State President Sandra Harris wrote: “We laud you for delivering a comprehensive, commonsense bill that puts the safety and well-being of nursing home and other long-term care facility residents first. AARP will continue to fight to make sure nursing home residents receive safe, high-quality, care and if passed into law, this bill would help address the known shortfalls in the system.” Read the letter here.

AARP believes the pandemic highlighted the need for reform in nursing homes. In testimony supporting the bill, AARP wrote “COVID-19 exposed the chronic, ongoing issues in the Commonwealth’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, emphasizing the urgent need for reform. Nursing homes continue to face underlying problems, like infection control, understaffing, and overcrowding that leave residents vulnerable. What happened in the Bay State’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities through the pandemic is an unacceptable tragedy.”


If you would like to join in the fight, let us know. Send us an email to ma@aarp.org. AARP advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. Join us in the fight. AARP advocacy volunteers partner with staff at the state and federal levels to influence important legislative issues. You can sign up to be an E-advocate at www.aarp.org/getinvolved.