Amendment #64 to H4617

ICU Patient Limit

Representatives Garlick of Needham, Koczera of New Bedford, Provost of Somerville, Garry of Dracut, Whelan of Brewster, Higgins of Leominster, Ashe of Longmeadow, Gentile of Sudbury, Decker of Cambridge, Murray of Milford, Mark of Peru and Meschino of Hull move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. (a) Within 45 days after the effective date of this act, the health policy commission shall conduct a public hearing on adherence to patient limits set forth in section 231 of chapter 111 of the General Laws. The commission shall issue a report which shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) recommendations to measure adherence to patient limits; (ii) recommendations for methods to report potential violations of patient limits; and (iii) recommendations for measures to ensure adherence to patient limits. The commission shall issue their report to the joint committee on health care financing, the clerks of the senate and House of Representatives and the commissioner of public health.

(b) The health policy commission, in consultation with the department of public health,
shall adopt regulations to ensure adherence to patient limits set forth in section 231 of chapter 111 of the General Laws. The regulations shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) a reporting process for violations of said section 231 of said chapter 111; (ii) a process for investigating reported violations; and (iii) appropriate sanctions, which shall include fines of not more than 
$25,000 for each separate and distinct violation of patient limits set forth in said section 231 of said chapter 111 not later than 90 days after the effective date of this act.