Massachusetts Lawmakers Move to Tighten Oversight of Nursing Homes

Massachusetts legislators moved Thursday to significantly tighten oversight of the state’s nursing homes, with senators voting to raise maximum fines on troubled facilities from $50 a day to $10,000 and to require regulators to scour the homes’ finances. Governor Charlie Baker’s office appeared to signal his support for the measure, which won approval in the Senate on Thursday. “It is consistent with our ongoing efforts to improve nursing home quality and oversight to keep our elders safe and thriving in every community across the Commonwealth,” Baker said. The push to bolster the regulation of nursing homes comes amid revelations about the arrival in Massachusetts of an out-of-state chain beset by reports of substandard care and short-staffing. State Senator Mark C. Montigny, who has long backed tougher nursing home rules, said he sponsored the overhaul because he is fed up.

Source/more: Boston Globe

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.