Massachusetts Bill S.886 Requires MassHealth to Pay Legally Liable Family Members as Caregivers

Original title: An Act relative to family members serving as caregivers

Last action · January 29, 2026: Accompanied a study order, see S2931Sponsors: Joan Lovely and 19 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Would Do

State law is amended to require home and community-based service programs to include , such as parents and legal guardians, within the definition of paid family caregivers. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is directed to file a or waiver application to allow these payments.

Why it matters

Expands eligibility so that legally responsible relatives who provide home care can receive compensation through programs, pending federal approval.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Legally liable family members

Legally liable family members are explicitly included within the definition of family members permitted to serve as paid caregivers under MassHealth programs.

Directly affected

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

The agency is required to file a state plan amendment or waiver application to implement the caregiver policy.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is newly defined as an eligible family caregiver under this bill?

including biological, adoptive, foster or step parents, legal guardians, powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, and adult children of the care recipient.

What action must state agencies take to implement this change?

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services must file a or waiver application to allow to serve as caregivers paid by .

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 29, 2026Senate
Accompanied a study order, see S2931
Jun 24, 2025Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/01/2025 from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM in Gardner Auditorium
Feb 27, 2025House
House concurred
Feb 27, 2025SenateCommittee
Referred to the committee on Health Care Financing

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →