Amendment #559 to H4600

Digital Health Navigators

Miss Gregoire of Marlborough moves to amend the bill in section 2, in line item 4510-0100, in line 8, by inserting after the word “Laws;”, the following:

“provided further, that the department shall expend not more than $750,000 to establish a pilot telehealth navigator program that utilizes  community health workers, social workers and other healthcare professionals to assist patients with accessing telehealth services, including community health integration services that focus on person-centered planning, health system coordination, promoting patient self-advocacy and facilitating access to community-based resources to address unmet social needs that interfere with a practitioner’s diagnosis and treatment of the patient including digital literacy; provided, that said program and its funding shall prioritize populations who experience increased barriers in accessing healthcare and telehealth services, including communities of color, low-income communities, the elderly and those who may need assistance with telehealth services due to limited English proficiency or limited literacy with digital health tools; provided further, that entities receiving funding through this program shall provide culturally and linguistically competent hands-on support to educate patients on how to access broadband and wireless services and subsequently utilize devices and online platforms to access telehealth services; provided further, that the department shall collect information regarding the utility of said program to improve health outcomes for patients participating in said telehealth navigator pilot program”; and in line 11, by striking the figure “$47,394,484” and inserting in place thereof the figure: “$48,144,484”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #559 to H4600

Digital Health Navigators