New law to boost senior home care
Measure targets disabled, elderly on Medicaid
Many more low-income seniors and disabled individuals will be able to get state-funded care at home, rather than in a nursing home, under a landmark bill signed yesterday by Governor Mitt Romney.
Senior advocates had pushed for the change for five years, seeking to counter the state's historical preference for placing people in nursing homes and instead allow seniors to choose care in the ``least restrictive setting" they prefer.
``This will provide opportunities for adults who overwhelmingly want to age gracefully in settings in which they are comfortable," Romney said in a statement.
The law mainly applies to seniors who qualify for Medicaid, but it also requires that the state advise anyone seeking admission to a nursing home about other options, such as home care, adult foster care, or day care.
The law, unanimously approved by the Legislature, also requires the Romney administration to seek federal approval to expand eligibility to people with more assets and income. Under that proposal, seniors with incomes up to $1,715 per month and assets up to $10,000, excluding a house and car, would be eligible for state-funded long-term-care services.
``Under previous rules, Medicaid did not pay for community supports until a person was so fragile that a nursing facility was their only option," said Medicaid director Beth Waldman, in a statement. ``We will now have flexibility to get more services to more people before it's too late."
Medicaid officials estimate that the change will save the state $134 million over five years, because home care is often less expensive than a nursing home stay.
Last year, Medicaid spent $2.2 billion on long-term care, 72 percent of which covered nursing home stays for 32,000 seniors and disabled individuals.
The state has already begun caring for about 5,000 residents in their homes through several small programs and has cut the number of nursing home beds it funds.
Al Norman, executive director of Mass Home Care, the leading advocate for the law, called it a ``civil rights milestone." 