An Act relative to reserving beds in nursing homes during certain leaves of absence

This bill amends Massachusetts law to ensure nursing home beds are reserved for residents who are MassHealth recipients while they are hospitalized or taking time off. Under the new rules, the state will cover costs for up to 20 days of bed preservation if a resident is in the hospital for a medical event, including stays longer than 24 hours. Additionally, the state will pay to keep beds open for up to 10 days per year for residents who request nonmedical leaves of absence. These changes directly affect nursing facilities by requiring them to hold beds for eligible residents during these specific absences without charging the state extra fees.