Section 14A of chapter 118E of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following paragraphs:

In the event that a nursing facility resident who is a MassHealth recipient enters a hospital, the division shall pay to preserve his or her bed in the nursing facility for a period of up to and including 10 calendar days per medical event. The division shall reimburse the nursing facility for the medical leave of absence, which shall include an observation stay in a hospital in excess of twenty-four hours, at the recipients pre-absence rate during the medical leave and upon the residents return. In the event that a nursing facility resident who is a MassHealth recipient leaves the nursing facility for non-medical reasons, the division shall pay to preserve his or her bed in the facility for a period of up to and including 15 days per year. The division shall reimburse the nursing facility for the non-medical leave of absence at the recipients pre-absence rate during the non-medical leave and upon the residents return.