Senate Passes Supplemental Budget

Senate Protects Adult Day Health Programs and Other Priorities in Supplemental Budget

On January 19, Senator Patricia Jehlen joined with her colleagues in the Massachusetts Senate to pass a supplemental budget that includes $35 million for the MassHealth Senior Care Adult Day Health program. Adult Day Health centers are assistance centers that provide care for seniors during the day when other family members or caregivers may have to work or handle other responsibilities. This funding will extend adult day health services until July 1, 2012.

“This funding was essential to keeping these services available through the current fiscal year,” said Sen. Jehlen. “Adult day health programs allow seniors to get the treatment they need while continuing to live independently as part of the community.”

Another important provision will help Massachusetts residents heat their homes. $21.2 million was directed to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. During the cold of winter, this funding will help heat the homes of low-income elders, working families, and many other households.

Furthermore, the legislation froze the scheduled increase in the unemployment insurance assessment paid by all employers. The unemployment system run by the commonwealth is primarily funded by the state’s employers. By law, as the funds in the unemployment system become depleted, employers’ contributions would increase. Freezing the rate at Schedule E will save the average employer $141 per employee and workers would continue to receive the same benefits under this rate freeze.

– Information from State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford)