Amendment #478 to H3400

Study for Recycling Durable Medical Equipment

[Sponsors] Representative O’Connell of Taunton moves to amend the bill by inserting after section XX the following new section:

"SECTION XX.  The Secretary of Administration and Finance and the Secretary of Health and Human services are hereby authorized and directed to evaluate the feasibility of contracting for recycling durable medical equipment purchased and issued by the Commonwealth through any and all of its medical assistance programs.

Said evaluation shall include but not be limited to a request for qualifications and/or proposals for entities capable of developing, implementing and operating a system of recycling whereby an inventory of such equipment is developed and managed so as to maximize the quality of service delivery to equipment recipients and to minimize costs and losses attributable to waste, fraud and/or abuse.

The Secretary of Administration and Finance shall report the findings of said evaluation, together with cost estimates for the operation of a recycling program, estimates of the savings it would generate, and legislative recommendations, no later than December 31, 2011."