HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3475        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 972

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Tackey Chan

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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 reduce liability of acute hospitals to Health Safety Net Trust Fund.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3475        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 972

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act to reduce liability of acute hospitals to Health Safety Net Trust Fund.

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

SECTION 1. Subsection (b) of section 65 of Chapter 118E, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the first clause and inserting in place thereof the following clause:--

(i) to administer the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, established under section 66, and to require payments to the fund consistent with surcharge payors’ liability to the fund, as determined under section 68, and any further regulations promulgated by the office;

SECTION 2. Subsection (b) of section 66 of said Chapter 118E, as amended by section 98 of chapter 38 of the acts of 2013, is hereby amended by striking out the firs sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:--

The fund shall consist of: (i) all amounts paid by surcharge payors under section 68; (ii) all appropriations for the purpose of payments to acute hospitals or community health centers for health services provided to uninsured and underinsured residents; (iii) any transfers from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, established under section 2OOO of chapter 29; and (iv) all property and securities acquired by and through the use of monies belonging to the fund and all interest thereon.

SECTION 3. Section 67 of said Chapter 118E, as amended by section 99 of chapter 38 of the acts of 2013, is hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. Subsection (b) of section 69 of Chapter 118 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, shall be amended by striking the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following two sentences:

If a shortfall in revenue exists in any fund fiscal year to cover projected costs for reimbursement of health services, the office shall allocate the financial responsibility for such shortfall among the surcharge payors in proportion to each surcharge payor’s required surcharge payments in that fund fiscal year. The office may promulgate regulations consistent with this provision.”