Amendment ID: S2025-31-R1

Redraft Amendment 31

Observation Days

Mr. Tarr and Ms. Creem move to amend the bill inserting after section 57 the following section:-

Section 57A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the secretary of health and human services shall provide a report on the compliance with section 245 of chapter 224 of the acts of 2012 that the executive office of health and human services seek from the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services an exemption or waiver from the Medicare requirement set forth in 42 U.S.C. §1395x(i) that an admission to a skilled nursing facility be preceded by a 3-day hospital stay. The report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a timeline of the date the initial request for the exemption or waiver was provided to the United States Department of Health and Human Services and any subsequent follow up requests; (ii) next steps the secretary plans to take to secure the exemption or waiver; (iii) any limitations or restrictions that the secretary has encountered in the attempt to secure the exemption or waiver; and (iv) any recommended legislative actions that may assist to facilitate an exemption or waiver. The secretary shall provide the report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on healthcare financing and the house and senate chairs of the committees on ways and means not later than March 1, 2016.”