HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 98        FILED ON: 1/7/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1166

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Steven S. Howitt

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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 relative to establishing a health safety net task force.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 98        FILED ON: 1/7/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1166

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act relative to establishing a health safety net task force.

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

Section 66 of Chapter 118E of the general laws, as so appearing, is here by amended by inserting in place the following new section:

“Section XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special task force to review and report on the Health Safety Net and the financial impact of the reimbursement for basic and restorative dental care provided by Massachusetts Dental Schools to MassHealth members. The task force shall consist of 11 members: the house and senate chairs of the joint committees on health care financing or their designees, who shall serve as the co-chairs of the task force; a member of the general court appointed by the senate minority leader; a member of the general court appointed by the house minority leader; the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, or a designee; the president of Tufts Dental School, or a designee; the President of Harvard Dental School; the president of Boston University Dental school; and 5 persons to be appointed by the secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.

This task force shall: (i) identify and review all current state laws, regulations, and administrative directives that relate to health care reimbursement; (ii) identify financial and procedural steps that would best allow payment to Boston’s teaching facilities through MassHealth; (iii) submit recommendations to establish legislative procedures that provide funding, regulate, and grant reimbursement power to MassHealth for basic and restorative dental care to accredited Massachusetts Dental Schools.

The task force shall submit a report, including any draft legislation and regulations, to the clerks of the house and representatives and the senate within 12 months of the passage of this act.