Pulse brief · 1 cited source · August 9, 2026
Massachusetts Enacts a Home-Care Licensure Law
The law directs EOHHS to create standards for non-medical home care, from background checks to a public agency list.
Gov. Maura Healey signed the law after House-Senate negotiations and unanimous votes. It directs EOHHS to create a licensure structure for home care workers who help the state’s aging population with non-medical care, including dressing, meal preparation, and bathing. The structure will include background checks, driving-record checks for workers who offer transportation, annual training and competency requirements, a suitability review for applicants, and a public list of licensed agencies. The training will cover reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or theft; understanding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; and handling emergencies, including safety measures and fall prevention. The law attempts to ensure safety for both home care workers and clients of home care agencies, an industry lawmakers say is underregulated. The governor’s office said EOHHS will begin working on all facets of the law in the coming months.
Evidence
Each statement shown below is a verified claim this source supports.
- Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation to impose a licensure framework on home care workers.
- Massachusetts legislation directs EOHHS to create a home care licensure structure.
- The Massachusetts licensure structure includes background checks, driving-record checks for workers offering transportation, and annual training and competency requirements.
- EOHHS must conduct a suitability review for licensure applicants and post a list of licensed agencies online.
- The law resulted from House-Senate negotiations and reached the governor's desk after unanimous votes.
- The Massachusetts licensure framework concerns home care workers providing non-medical care for the state's aging population.
- The required training covers reporting abuse, neglect, or theft; Alzheimer’s disease and dementia; and emergencies including safety and fall prevention.
- The law attempts to ensure safety for home care workers and clients of home care agencies, which lawmakers say is an underregulated industry.
- The governor's office said EOHHS will begin working on all facets of the law in the coming months.