SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1926        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 828

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Thomas P. Kennedy

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote urinary incontinence health management..

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1926        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 828

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to promote urinary incontinence health management..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 111 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following new section: -  CHAPTER 111. Public Health 

Chapter 111: Section 4M. Urinary incontinence health management pilot program

There shall be a pilot program, overseen  by the Department of Public Health and administered at two of Massachusetts’ 480 licensed long-term health care facilities; one facility located in the western region of Massachusetts and the other in the southeastern region, to develop and implement a comprehensive urinary incontinence health management program.  The Massachusetts health care facility that will manage the two long-term health care facilities’ pilot programs shall be designated as New England Sinai Hospital. This pilot program will bring Massachusetts in line with the federal TAG F315 guidelines that require training, assessment, monitoring, and treatment of urinary incontinence of long-term health care facility patients.

Said pilot program will be managed by appropriately licensed medical professionals, and demonstrate efficacy, effectiveness, and improvement in the health and quality of life for participants. Success will be measured by a reduction of incontinent episodes, reduction of use of pads, and improvement in the health and quality of participants’ lives. All medications used in this program shall be approved by the Federal Drug Administration, and must be non-experimental.  The long-term health care facilities and medical professionals participating in this pilot program will operate with full cooperation with the Department of Public Health and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. 

The Department of Public Health and participating health care facilities shall issue a report to the Massachusetts Legislature as to the status and effectiveness of said pilot program, no later than January 4, 2010.