HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 681        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1204

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. 681        FILED ON: 1/16/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1204

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1277 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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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 and general healthcare provided by Massachusetts hospitals and accredited teaching institutions, including dental schools, to MassHealth members. The task force shall consist of 14 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 the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, the deans of Boston University School of Medicine and Boston University Dental School; the deans of Tufts Medical School and Tufts Dental School; the deans of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Dental School and 2 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 care from accredited Massachusetts hospitals and teaching facilities.

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.