Invest in Quality Care #BecauseCareCantWait

 

Direct care pay has historically remained low due to multiple factors, including under-investment in long-term care services and intersecting legacies of sexism and racism that undervalue caregiving work and those who provide it.

Wage Passthrough for Nursing Home Workers

A Medicaid rate reimbursement increase of 10% which goes directly towards worker's wages and benefits is the most direct way to address nursing home staff shortage and increase quality of care.

Rate Increase, Wage Increase for Homecare Workers

Home Care workers, predominantly women of color, are making the lowest wages in healthcare. This bill aims to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates and set a wage floor.

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Maryland nursing homes and assisted living facilities comprise a large industry in Maryland supported by public dollars, one that requires proper oversight and accountability to provide the best quality of patient care.

Financial Transparency in Long Term Care

The State with the Attorney General's office will collect additional information from skilled nursing facility owners including: financial background on all owners, organization structure with all entities, and an annual audit to improve financial transparency.

Bridging Ownership and Quality through State Agencies

To prevent bad actors and private equity firms in long term care, Maryland Healthcare Commission will share information on owner record of nursing home management with a recommendation to Office of Healthcare Quality to issue provisional licenses to those with record of poor quality of care.

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Between 2015 and 2030, Maryland’s 60+ population is anticipated to increase by 40%. The caregiving needs of adults are becoming more diverse as individuals with chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia are living longer.

Homecare Registry

The Department of Aging to establish and maintain a home care worker registry of all individuals currently employed by a home care agency and the training they have completed to meet the varying needs of Maryland’s aging population.

Worker Misclassification

This bill would fix the problem by providing that the Maryland Department of Health only reimburse Residential Service Agencies for in-home personal care provided under certain Medicaid waiver programs if the aides who do the work are classified as employees.

 

Ricarra Jones
1199SEIU MD/DC Political Director
ricarra.jones@1199.org