Amendment #212 to H3400

Infrastructure and Capacity Building

Mr. Walsh of Boston moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 20 the following section:

"SECTION 20A.  Chapter 29 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2GGGG the following section: 2HHHH there is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Community Health Center Infrastructure and Capacity Building Fund to be expended, without further appropriation, by the Health Policy Commission.  Expenditures from the Distressed Community Health Center Trust Fund shall be dedicated to efforts to improve and enhance the ability of community health centers to serve populations in need more efficiently and effectively, including, but not limited to, the ability to provide community-based care, clinical support and care coordination services, improve health information technology, or other efforts to create effective coordination of care.  The Commission, in consultation with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, shall develop a competitive grant process for awards to be distributed to community health centers out of said fund.  The grant process shall consider the following factors, including but not be limited to: (1) payer mix, (2) financial health, (3) geographic need, and (4) population need.  The Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services shall include a provision in the June 2013 Medicaid Waiver proposal, directing $30 million in funds to support community health center innovation and stabilization through the Community Health Center Infrastructure and Capacity Building Fund.”