AUGUSTA - In initial votes, a bill sponsored by Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, to improve the pay of long-term care workers was unanimously supported by both the Maine House and Senate on Monday.
The bill, LD 1573, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues, calls for increasing the reimbursement rates for wages of frontline long-term care workers to 125% of the minimum wage and ties the new rates to any future increases in the minimum wage. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to review the rates every 5 years, and report back to the Health and Human Services Committee on an annual basis on the progress being made to retain long-term care workers. The bill also redefines "direct care worker" as "essential support worker" and includes behavioral health workers who provide daily living support in order to better define the work done across many different care settings, including home care and supportive living.
The bill grew out of the work of the Commission to Study Long-term Care Workforce Issues. It was established by the 129th Legislature to look at ways to alleviate a chronic shortage and high turnover of workers caring for older adults and those with disabilities. Fay was the House Chairperson of the Commission.
"People who require the kind of care that is provided by this workforce have also traditionally been those who aren't always visible," said Fay. "Older people, people with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities and folks with mental health issues are often not considered or are considered a burden. When we have undervalued workers caring for undervalued members of society, we have a system that works for neither. I am heartened that the House has taken this long-overdue step towards repairing this system."
The bill faces further votes in House and Senate in the coming days.
Fay is serving her third term in the Maine House and represents part of Casco, part of Poland and part of Raymond. She serves on the Appropriations and Financial and Affairs Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Fay], c .812-1111