Budget Amendment ID: FY2015-S4-931-R1

Redraft EHS 931

Inpatient Hospice Programs

Mr. Richard T. Moore, Ms. Lovely, Ms. Jehlen, Mr. McGee, Ms. Creem and Mr. Barrett moved that the proposed new text be amended move to amend the bill by inserting, after section 59, the following section:-

“SECTION 59A.  Section 57D of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the third paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

The department shall issue for a term of 2 years and renew for a like term a license to maintain a hospice program to any organization it considers responsible and suitable to maintain such a program. Hospice program licensees shall be subject to suspension, revocation or refusal to renew for cause. The department shall determine the initial fee and renewal cost of the license. Prior to issuing a new license, the department  shall review: (i) the number of inpatient hospice facilities within the applying licensee’s proposed regional area operating under this section and (ii) make a determination as to whether the proposed geographic region has a demonstrated need for the inpatient hospice program proposed by the applying licensee. The department shall not approve an application for an inpatient hospice program unless the department has established that the geographical region where the proposed inpatient hospice program is located has a demonstrated need for the inpatient hospice program.”.