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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1962 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 476
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
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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 establishing a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit
program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1962 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 476
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 476) of Patricia D. Jehlen for
legislation to establish a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports
benefit program. Elder Affairs.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act establishing a special commission on a statewide long-term services and supports benefit
program.
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. There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations to
2establish a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program in the commonwealth. The
3commission shall study: (i) whether and how a long-term serves and supports benefit program
4could be included as a benefit in the state disability insurance program structure, including but
5not limited to a nominal increase in the payroll tax; (ii) allowances for enrollment in the program
6of working adults who would make voluntary premium contributions either directly or through
7payroll deductions through their employer; (iii) requiring a mandatory enrollment with a
8voluntary opt-out option; (iv) giving adults the opportunity to plan for future long-term services
9and supports needs by providing a basic insurance benefit to those who meet requirements and
10have developed functional or equivalent cognitive limitations; (v) helping individuals with
11functional or cognitive limitations remain in their communities by purchasing nonmedical 2 of 3
12services and supports, including home health care and adult daycare; (vi) helping offset the costs
13incurred by adults with chronic and disabling conditions both for a defined period or until death.
14 SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the following 16 members: the secretary
15of health and human services or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of aging
16and independence or their designee; the commissioner of public health or their designee; the
17assistant secretary for MassHealth or their designee; the chairs of the joint committee on elder
18affairs or their designees; and 10 persons to be appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be a
19representative of the Home Care Aide Council, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Home
20Care Alliance of Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Mass Aging Access,
211 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Inc., 1 of
22whom shall be a representative of LeadingAge Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a
23representative of the Massachusetts chapter of AARP, 1 of whom shall be a representative of
24Local 1199 Service Employee International Union, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the
25National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be
26a representative of a long-term care insurance provider; and 1 of whom shall be an expert on
27long-term care and aging policy.
28 SECTION 3. The commission shall review the independent actuarial study of financial
29options for modeling public, private and public-private hybrid long-term care services and
30supports authorized in item 4000-0300 Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2024 and conducted by
31Milliman, Inc.; and provided further shall utilize the findings of said actuarial study to make
32recommendations on: (i) how a statewide long-term services and supports benefit program could
33be designed and implemented to expand the options for people who are interested in insuring
34themselves against the risk of costs associated with functional or cognitive disability, and require 3 of 3
35long-term services and supports; (ii) options for the design of the program, including eligibility,
36enrollment, benefits, financing, administration, and interaction with MassHealth program and
37other publicly funded resources; (iii) how benefits under the program would be coordinated with
38existing private health care coverage benefits; (iv) the demands on the long-term care workforce
39as the need for long-term services and supports in Massachusetts grows, and how the long-term
40care workforce can be prepared to meet those demands; (v) the viability of a joint public and
41private system to make long-term services and supports accessible to as many individuals within
42Massachusetts as possible.
43 SECTION 4. The commission shall submit a report containing its findings and
44recommendations, including drafts of proposed legislation to carry out its recommendations, by
45filing the same with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on
46elder affairs and the joint committee on health care financing no later than one year after the
47effective date of this act.