The Governor of Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, has announced a plan that will grant nursing homes $30 million in funds. Many unions in the state are hoping that the money will go towards a “livable wage” for nursing home workers.
McKnight’s covers the story in more detail.
Under the group’s “Quality Jobs for Quality Care” plan, nursing homes would receive $18 million of the extra funding to boost wages, Tara Gregorio, senior vice president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, told the Boston Globe. The remaining funds would be used to reimburse facilities owed money by the state.
“We are very appreciative of the governor in taking this critical first step in recognizing the need to invest in nursing home workers and quality care,” Gregorio said.
The “Quality Jobs” initiative calls for the state to designate $90 million per year from the state budget to fund benefits for LTC employees, instead of going towards non-nursing home health programs. It also requests that the state Department of Health and Human Services monitor the wage initiative to ensure the extra funds go to increased wages and benefits.
Baker’s proposed budget plan does not include a specific requirement mandating that the extra funds go towards higher wages for nursing home workers, a fact that’s causing concern among consumer advocacy groups and the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union.
This announcement comes in the wake of many movements in Massachusetts bent on raising the wage for nursing home workers.
Photo by Laura Gilmore via Flickr CC License
