HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 762        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

John J. Marsi

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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 require a suitable ride home from the hospital for all cognitively impaired discharges.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 762        FILED ON: 1/13/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act require a suitable ride home from the hospital for all cognitively impaired discharges.

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, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:-

Section 245. Any hospital or medical facility in the Commonwealth shall require that a patient has secured suitable transport from the hospital before discharge, provided that the patient meets the following criteria:

(a.) The patient had a surgery that required anesthesia.

(b.) The patient qualifies as a person with a developmental disability as defined in 115 CMR 2.01 or in 118 CMR 2.02.

(c.) The patient is in the hospital for substance abuse treatment.

(d.) The patient suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

This section shall not be construed to mean that a hospital and medical facility has a legal duty to provide or secure transport for patients covered by this section.