Budget Amendment ID: FY2022-S3-111

OTH 111

Behavioral Health Hospital at Home

Mr. Crighton, Ms. Gobi, Messrs. Lesser, O'Connor, Gomez, Velis and Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting the following new section:-

"SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the health policy commission, the division of medical assistance, four representatives from academic medical centers currently rendering inpatient services in a patient’s home, the department of public health and the department of mental health, shall conduct a study and issue a report regarding the design of a behavioral health home hospital program, herein referred to as the program. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the recommendation of patient populations who would be best served by the provision of behavioral healthcare in a home environment; (ii) the identification of healthcare providers who would make up the program care team; (iii) the projected impact of the program on the rate of psychiatric emergency department boarding statewide; (iv) the identification of safety concerns regarding the provision of behavioral healthcare in a home environment and recommendations to address said concerns; (v) the projected impact of the program on the availability of psychiatric hospital beds in the commonwealth; (vi) the projected cost estimates of the program; (vii) a comparison of cost estimates of providing behavioral healthcare in the home versus in a healthcare facility; (viii) an analysis of the quality of patient care received through the program; (ix) the identification of screening protocols before care at home begins to assess medical and non-medical factors, including working utilities, assessment of physical barriers and screenings for domestic violence concerns; (x) recommendations for minimum personnel visits, the provision of immediate, on-demand telehealth connections with program staff; and (xi) recommendations for minimum emergency response times. The report shall be submitted to the governor, the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, the chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery and the house and senate committees on ways and means no later than July 31, 2022."