This week, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Aging and Independence (formerly Elder Affairs), advanced one of HCA's top priorities. The legislation, An Act to Improve Massachusetts Home Care was voted favorably and will advance to the Committee on Health Care Financing. This legislation would lay the groundwork for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to implement a licensure standard for non-medical home care services. 

The Committee on Health Care Financing will now be reviewing all legislation that was sent to it, before conducting additional hearings and deliberation. Notably, under the new rules structure governing legislative work, this bill was acted on a full seven months earlier than the last legislative session. This provides additional time for our industry to educate lawmakers on its importance and advocate for it to be a priority before the session end in July 2026.