BOSTON — State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) announced Monday that the Senate voted unanimously (39-0) to pass legislation increasing public oversight over the administration of state-operated veterans’ homes in Holyoke and Chelsea.
In February, the House of Representatives passed its own oversight bill. A conference committee will attempt to create a final bill that can be approved by both chambers.
“Veterans sacrifice so much for our freedom and they deserve top-notch care at these homes,” said Crighton. “This reform bill helps ensure that these facilities are operating safely and effectively.”
This legislation, dubbed the Soldiers’ Home Reform Bill, comes on the heels of scrutiny from the House and Senate directed towards the administration at a veterans’ home in Holyoke, where 77 veterans died from COVID-19 in 2020.
The Senate’s legislation would give authority to appoint a superintendent for each of the veterans’ homes to the Executive Director of the Office of Veterans’ Homes and Housing (OVHH). Under the legislation, superintendents would be required to fulfill certain criteria, including being a licensed nursing home administrator with experience running a long-term care facility.
The executive director of OVHH would be appointed by the Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services, which would be elevated to a cabinet-level position, appointed by the governor.
The secretary would be required to promulgate regulations concerning the operations and administration of veterans’ homes. Elevating the secretary to a cabinet-level position would facilitate more timely attention to all personnel challenges.
The bill, which passed in the Senate on March 10, would also task the Department of Public Health (DPH) with regularly inspecting the homes and providing this information to the public.
Veterans’ homes would be required to be licensed as long-term care facilities by DPH and adhere to the same standards and regulations.
Additionally, the bill would also create a statewide Massachusetts Veterans’ Homes Advisory Council, tasked with recommending policies to the Secretary of Veterans Services, as well as regional councils, which would be tasked with representing the interests of the local community, residents and family members at each veterans’ home.
The legislation would also require homes to accept Medicare and Medicaid payment and would provide mental-health resources to employees of state-operated veterans’ homes who worked during the pandemic.
Crighton added an amendment to the bill to create a comprehensive infection-control program at state-operated veterans’ homes. The amendment was approved unanimously.
