October 30, 2023

Bolinsky, Aging Committee Receive Legislators of the Year

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Bolinsky, Aging Committee Receive Legislators of the Year

HARTFORD – As a leader, and Ranking Member of the Legislature’s Aging Committee, State Representative Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), together with his fellow committee members, were honored as Legislators of the Year by the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home during the association’s annual meeting at the Hartford Marriott Downtown on Oct. 25.

Bolinsky, Reps. Jane Garibay, Mary Fortier, Marty Foncello, and Senator Lisa Seminara appeared at the event, as did State Senator Eric Berthel.

“I’m honored to be recognized by this important association, made up of our state’s licensed and certified home healthcare and hospice providers, as well as its non-medical home care agency (HCA) providers,” said Bolinsky. “As our population changes, we see the care needs changing for our mature residents, and the overall trend moving to our mature residents wanting to “age in place”, as well as assurances that we’re serious about needed advancements in residential care options. Folks are much more active than past generations and need more choices to support their lifestyles and well-being.”

Rep. Bolinsky and members of the Aging Committee spent the 2023 session working with state agencies, the governor’s staff, Home and Community-Based Service providers, Long-Term Care providers (LTCs), family caregivers and other stakeholders on a wide range of care issues like addressing gaps in care, quality standards of care, Patients’ Rights, reporting, transparency and oversight, in addition to acute problems like a widespread workforce shortage, rising costs of care, Medicaid reimbursement rates not keeping up with inflation, agencies and facilities refusing referrals, involuntary referrals and more.

Bolinsky concluded: “I’ve been an Aging Committee member for five-terms, and am excited to say that the very collegial, bipartisan work that went into crafting Public Act 23-48 this year created, the most far-ranging, substantive Connecticut eldercare initiative in many, many years. I’m grateful to everyone who played a part in this good work!”

Public Act No. 23-48, AN ACT CONCERNING NOTICE OF A PROPOSED INVOLUNTARY TRANSFER OR DISCHARGE OF A NURSING FACILITY RESIDENT, FAMILY COUNCILS IN MANAGED RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES, COORDINATION OF DEMENTIA SERVICES, NURSING HOME TRANSPARENCY AND HOMEMAKER-COMPANION AGENCIES” passed the House and Senate unanimously and is in the process of implementation.