Long-Term Care and Prescription Drug Reforms in MA & Lawmakers Address Health Worker Licensing Backlog in IL

Bills to Overhaul Long-Term Care and Control Prescription Drug Costs on Move in MA

The Massachusetts House unanimously passed a bill (HB 4178) that would overhaul the long-term care industry, while the Senate unanimously approved a measure (SB 2492) addressing the growing costs of prescription drugs.

The House measure would expand the long-term care workforce, provide for the development of “small house” nursing homes, mandate infection outbreak response plans, and strengthen facility oversight, among other things.

The Senate bill, dubbed the PACT Act 3.0, would limit out-of-pocket spending for certain asthma, diabetes and heart disease drugs by requiring insurers to eliminate deductibles and cost-sharing for one generic drug and limit co-pays for one name-brand drug. (BOSTON HERALD, PATCH [NEW YORK CITY], WWLP [SPRINGFIELD], STATE NET)

IL Lawmakers Take Action to Speed Up Health Worker Licensing

The Illinois General Assembly unanimously approved legislation (HB 2394) that would allow the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to batch-renew licenses for health care professionals and other workers that have been backlogged for months. If signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), the agency would also have to replace its outmoded computer system within six months. (CAPITAL NEWS ILLINOIS, STATE NET)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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