Reference no: EM133816997 , Length: 7 pages

Assignment:

Bill S367 Identify a current bill in the Massachusetts legislature that affects older adults in some way. You will overview the problem the bill is attempting to address, detail the bill (and related bills, as needed), and discuss how the bill intends to solve the problem. The paper should reflect critical reading and analysis skills. You should expect to use outside sources to help you understand the context, problem, and proposed policy solution. This means finding evidence to support the need for or effectiveness of the bill's solution to the problem, using appropriate citations. You may also find it helpful to reach out to the bill's sponsor to understand the context of the bill/problem. Include the following in your paper:

• Title and number of the bill, when filed, and by whom. If it is a re-filed bill, when was it first filed? Where in the legislative process is the bill? If this bill amends an existing law, please provide an overview of that law, along with the title and number. Identify sponsors of the bill.
• Identify the problem the bill is trying to address -- what is its goal? What is the context that makes the actions proposed in the bill meaningful? Connect this policy back to some of the larger policies that affect us as we age. For example, does this bill relate to healthcare for older adults, home care/long term care, caregiving, or housing?
• Describe exactly how the bill addresses the problem -- what does the bill do?. What are the mechanisms it uses to solve the problem? Who or what does the bill target? Do you think the bill will solve the problem?
• Describe the potential impact of this bill. How would this bill affect older people? Why should older people be concerned about the bill? What are the impacts of the bill, not only on older people, but on other things we care about, such as government spending, healthcare costs, or other services?
• What community groups/agencies, lobbyists, advocates, etc. support and oppose this bill? Why? How might the way various stakeholders are affected by this bill affect their support for or opposition to it?
• Do you support this bill? Why?
• Attach a copy of the bill in its current or final form. This text does not count toward the page limit.

Summarize this information in 5 to 7 type written pages. Use headings and sub-headings to provide a "road map" for your paper. Be sure to cite sources properly. Guidance on how to cite properly can be found here:

Bill

An Act to increase awareness of community based PACE programs for older adults.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 4 of chapter 19A of the general laws is hereby amended by adding in subsection (d) after the word "persons", the following:-

"including, but not limited to, providing information about the Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) pursuant to 42 CFR Part 460.60";

SECTION 2. Section 4B of chapter 19A of the general laws is hereby amended by adding in the fourth paragraph after the words "referral services to elders" in subsection (1) the following:-

"provided, that said information and referral services shall include, but not be limited to, information about the Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) pursuant to 42 CFR Part 460.60;"

SECTION 3. Section 9 of chapter 118E of the general laws is hereby amended by striking paragraph four and adding in place there of the following:-

"A person seeking admission to a long-term care facility paid for by MassHealth shall receive pre-admission counseling for long-term care services, which shall include an assessment of community-based service options including but not limited to the Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE) pursuant to CFR Part 460.60. A person seeking care in a long-term care facility on a private pay basis shall be offered pre-admission counseling.

For the purposes of this section, pre-admission counseling shall be conducted by the executive office of health and human services or the executive office of elder affairs or their subcontractors. The executive office of elder affairs shall, in consultation with the office of acute and ambulatory care in the executive office of health and human services, study the advisability and feasibility of using certain Medicaid providers to provide pre-admission counseling. The division shall report to the general court on an annual basis the number of individuals who received pre-admission counseling under this section and the number of diversions to the community generated by the pre-admission counseling program."