Editorial: If family members can be paid caregivers, why not spouses?

When someone takes cares of their ailing spouse, they’re often keeping the spouse out of a nursing home and reducing demand for scarce home health aides. They deserve to be compensated. Bills sponsored by state Senator Jo Comerford, a Northampton Democrat, and Representative Adam Scanlon, a North Attleborough Democrat, would require Massachusetts to apply for permission from the federal government to let MassHealth reimburse spouses for providing home-based care. Anyone receiving or providing care from a spouse would have to go through the same eligibility checks that apply to anyone in the MassHealth program related to income and health needs. Read the full article.