Current Actions

Support Reforms Home Care Rate Setting Processes

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Currently, agencies have been heavily reliant on non-guaranteed supplemental rate add-ons that have been passed by legislators through the state budget process. The Alliance has been actively working to pass legislation that would end the need for the Legislature to fund these supplemental rate add-ons for home care and home health workers every year. The goal is to ensure the existing rate setting process works and provides consistent rates that accurately reflect the true cost of providing home care and home health services to consumers across the Commonwealth.

This legislation would clarify the rate setting processes that are already in place for both home health and home care services. It does not set the rates or dictate the amount for future rates set by Mass Health and EOHHS. It would make the rate setting process more transparent and ensure rates set by the state follow proper laws and reflect the actual operating costs incurred by home health and home care providers.

Use this action alert to write to your legislator urging them to co-sponsor S.870/H.767, An Act Clarifying Rate Setting Processes for Home Care Services.

Email your Legislator Urging Support for Rate Reform in the State Budget

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Last week, the Massachusetts State Senate Ways & Means Committee unveiled its Fiscal Year 2027 state budget. With reimbursement rates expected to be held flat for the foreseeable future, the Enough Pay to Stay Coalition's (Home Care Alliance of MA, Home Care Aide Council, Mass Aging Access) legislative champion Senator Patricia Jehlen filed the coalition's priority rate setting reform legislation as an amendment to the Senate budget.

While the legislation does not specify rate amounts, or authorize spending, it would require the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (MassHealth and Dept. of Aging and Independence) to analyze and determine reimbursement rates for home care, home health and continuous skilled nursing services in a way that better reflects the cost of delivering care. The legislation also requires EOHHS to submit a report to the legislature outlining its analysis and determination.

Under the current fiscal environment, and Federal funding pressures on the Commonwealth's finances - now is more important than ever for the care at home industry and state policymakers to more clearly understand the analysis and decisions used to determine reimbursement rates for care at home.

Use this advocacy alert to email your State Senator urging that they co-sponsor Amendment #507, filed by Senator Patricia Jehlen to reform the rate setting process for home care and home health services.

Urge Your Senator to Support Home Care Licensure

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

After the State House of Representatives vote to pass H.4306, An Act to Improve Massachusetts Home Care, which would create licensure system that would establish baseline standards for agencies, attention now turns to the Senate.

Massachusetts remains one of a handful of states without a licensure structure as a condition to provide home care services. In 2017, Governor Baker signed into law a framework for the Department of Public Health to establish a licensure structure for 'skilled' home health services. This framework did not include nonmedical personal care services.

For many years, the Home Care Alliance has supported and advocated for legislation which would establish a licensure structure in Massachusetts. It is our vision that this regulatory structure would establish a baseline set of standards for home care agencies to comply with in order to lift up the industry at large and protect consumers.

Please use this action alert to urge your state Senator to support this key piece of legislation!

Urge Your State Legislature to Support a Cap on Temporary Staffing for Home Health and Hospice Services

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In recent years, we have seen temporary nurse staffing (TNS) agencies become increasingly active in the home health and hospice care delivery arena. Historically – home health and hospice agencies have utilized TNS’ on an emergency basis. But more recently, provider agencies have faced an influx of interest in the home-based care space by these TNS’. Because these entities demand contracts that far exceed what is currently reimbursed to home health and hospice agencies, they pose a threat to providers' ability to recruit and retain its workforce. This will threaten older adults' access to available home health and hospice services. Currently, there is a Department of Public Health (DPH) regulation which sets caps on temporary nurse staffing rates. However – the underlying Massachusetts General Law (MGL) which gave DPH authority and directed them to establish this regulation, did not include home health and hospice.

Because of this, Senator John Velis and Representative Paul Donato have introduced legislation which would amend the MGL to include home health and hospice and which would give DPH the authority to set caps temporary nurse staffing rates for home health and hospice services.

Use this action alert to urge your legislator to co-sponsor H.2408/S.1633, An Act Relative to Staffing at Home Health and Hospice Agencies.