The following bills have been filed by the Providers’ Council for the 2009-2010 legislative session:
 
1.      An act relative to access for health insurance for human services providers and their employees – sponsored by Representative Kay Kahn.  This bill amends the legislation of the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) and will expand the eligibility requirements to “persons who are employed by private human service providers that deliver human and social services under contracts with departments within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs.”  This bill will give access to the GIC for the purchase of group health insurance and the same rates the state has negotiated for its employees.
 
2.      An act relative to tuition remission – Sponsored by Senator Karen Spilka.  This re-submission (which operates at NO expense to the Commonwealth) expands the current tuition remission program to include graduate level and continuing education courses.  Benefits would also apply to the spouses of any employee of a program funded by EOHHS. 
 
3.      An act establishing an education loan repayment program for social workers and credentialed direct care human service workers – Sponsored by Senator Marian Walsh and Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli.  This bill seeks loan forgiveness for “credentialed direct care human services workers” of up to $1,800 per year (subject to state funding) based upon continued employment at 35 hours per week.  We are filing this with the National Association of Social Workers – Massachusetts Chapter.
 
PLEASE HELP US!

Please call your legislators today – our window of opportunity is short.  Ask them to go to the respective sponsors of each bill and have their names placed as co-sponsors.  Broad support early on increases our chance for success.  And – your legislator is there to support his/her constituents.  Please afford them this great opportunity.  If you operate programs across legislative districts, please add all possible legislators. 

Questions:  Email Michael Ripple at mripple@providers.org or call 617.428.3637 x112