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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 945 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 383
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jason M. Lewis
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to improve Alzheimer's and dementia care in Senior Care Options programs.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jason M. LewisFifth MiddlesexMichael J. BarrettThird Middlesex1/30/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/7/2023Brian M. Ashe2nd Hampden2/10/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/10/2023Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/10/2023Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/10/2023Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk2/13/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/13/2023Susan Williams Gifford2nd Plymouth2/14/2023Michael O. MooreSecond Worcester2/15/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/17/2023Danillo A. Sena37th Middlesex2/21/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 945 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 383
By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 383) of Jason M. Lewis, Michael J.
Barrett, Vanna Howard, Brian M. Ashe and other members of the General Court for legislationt
to improve Alzheimer's and dementia care in Senior Care Options program. Elder Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 415 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to improve Alzheimer's and dementia care in Senior Care Options programs.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 118E of the general laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following new section:
3 Section 78. (a) Definition: “Dementia Care Coordination”, a proactive care consultation
4service.
5 (b) To ensure that members of Senior Care Options (SCOs) plans receive cost effective,
6quality dementia care, MassHealth shall require that all Massachusetts Senior Care Options plans
7provide Dementia Care Coordination (DCC) to SCO members that have been diagnosed with
8Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. 2 of 2
9 Upon a referral from a clinician, a patient with dementia and their care consultant will
10receive an outgoing call from a trained clinician, who shall provide care consultation services to
11the family, resulting in an individualized family care plan and a companion summary to the
12referring clinician for inclusion in the permanent medical record.
13 The Care Plan shall provide guidance in dementia caregiving strategies, including
14symptom management strategies, communication techniques, legal and financial issues, safety
15recommendations, and referrals to appropriate community support services.
16 (c ) In order to meet the requirements of this Section, SCO plans may contract with
17community partners, or directly provide DCC services to their members.