Massachusetts Legislature Passes Rep. Stanley’s Bill to Transform Long-Term Care Sector

The Massachusetts Legislature passed sweeping reforms to the long-term care and assisted living sectors, taking a powerful step towards delivering high quality and safe care for older residents across the Commonwealth. An Act to improve quality and oversight of long-term care strengthens the Commonwealth’s oversight of nursing homes, provides critical anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ nursing home residents, and permanently allows assisted living residences to offer basic health services. Read the full press release here.

“This legislation couldn’t have come at a more critical time when more oversight and accountability are needed in long-term care,” said Representative Thomas M. Stanley (D-Waltham), House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs. “I’m grateful to Speaker Mariano for prioritizing long-term care at the beginning of session and to my fellow conferees for their tireless work over the last few weeks to produce such a comprehensive bill, one that marks the first major legislative reform to our long-term care and assisted living industries in over a quarter of a century. This legislation enhances both access to and quality of care in long-term care settings, tightens suitability standards for operators, strengthens supports for the long-term care workforce, and permanently allows assisted living residences to offer basic health services to their residents.”