SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2535        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Paul R. Feeney

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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 resolve:

Resolve addressing EMS and health care services shortfalls in southeastern Massachusetts.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2535        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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

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Resolve addressing EMS and health care services shortfalls in southeastern Massachusetts.

Resolved, Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, the department of public health in concert with the executive office of health and human services shall assess emergency medical services and health care service vulnerabilities in southeastern Massachusetts, comprised of the counties of Plymouth, Bristol, and Norfolk.

The department shall produce a report to the legislature regarding

1)a list of health care services in southeastern Massachusetts that have been eliminated or closed since January 1, 2015, including acute care, behavioral health care, community-based care, long-term care, maternal health care, post-acute care, primary care, or other health care services, including the number of individuals served and the payer mix of the patients affected;

2)a list of existing health care services in southeastern Massachusetts currently permitted by the department, including acute care, behavioral health care, community-based care, long-term care, maternal health care, post-acute care, primary care, and other health care services, including the number of and payer mix of the individuals served;

3)the needed level of health care service capacity, including acute care, behavioral health care, community-based care, long-term care, maternal health care, post-acute care, and primary care, based on the total current population and the level of services currently online, including an estimation of necessary additional health care resources, including acute care, behavioral health care, community-based care, maternal health care, primary care, or other health care needs to serve the population;

The department of public health shall work with local emergency medical services, including hospital-based, municipal, and private emergency medical services providers, to determine the average length transportation between the time of a 911 call and arrival at a receiving facility, per municipality. The department shall collect data from each emergency medical services provider to determine the average length transportation between the time of a 911 call and arrival at a receiving facility, per municipality.

The department shall submit a report of findings together with relevant data to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate by no later than December 31, 2026.