Consolidated Amendment "B" to H5500
Health and Human Services & Aging and Independence
Fiscal Note: $12,172,500
Health and Human Services: 52, 75, 167, 168, 263, 314, 315, 359, 428, 429, 453, 480, 562, 631, 655, 713, 733, 749, 772, 803, 812, 815, 863, 871, 884, 892, 897, 969, 984, 990, 998, 1006, 1022, 1023, 1034, 1042, 1062, 1089, 1122, 1134, 1140, 1170, 1193, 1213, 1226, 1288, 1303, 1338, 1341, 1364, 1381, 1413, 1427, 1432, 1459, 1490, 1566, 1609, 1634, 1645, 1690 and 1711
Aging and Independence: 4, 135, 136, 145, 176, 178, 184, 188, 218, 246, 250, 251, 277, 304, 362, 364, 375, 384, 403, 422, 501, 525, 550, 574, 582, 609, 668, 669, 671, 672, 673, 939, 945, 970, 1030, 1033, 1041, 1072, 1073, 1074, 1075, 1138, 1168, 1195, 1274, 1275, 1277, 1278, 1355, 1434, 1463, 1507, 1508, 1612, 1639, 1657 and 1672
Mr. Michlewitz of Boston and others move to amend H.5500 in section 2, in item 4000-0005, by inserting after the word “programs” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the SISU Center in Lawrence to provide programming for at-risk youth in the Merrimack Valley; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Friendship Home, Inc. to provide programming for those with developmental disabilities and their families;
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,474,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $12,549,000
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0007, by inserting after the word “vendor” the following words:- ; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to BAY-CASH to provide direct cash assistance to unaccompanied homeless youth
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “10,439,590” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $10,539,590
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0009, by inserting after the words “obligations of the office” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association, Inc for advocacy, family support services, awareness campaigns and staff expansion
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$399,691” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $649,691
And further amend the bill, in section 2, by inserting after item 4000-0009, the following item:-
4000-0014 For the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, Inc. to train community health workers to serve as the patient link to medical and social services for the disenfranchised population throughout the Worcester and MetroWest regions…………$250,000
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0020, by inserting after the word “finance” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to Northeastern University Bouve College of Health Sciences School of Nursing for scholarships, simulation programs and clinical partnerships at its city of Fall River campus
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$625,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $825,000
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0300, by inserting after the words “across the state” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to Emerson Hospital in the town of Concord to expand its emergency behavioral health service capacity; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the Watertown Community Foundation, Inc. for support and stabilization services for vulnerable populations in the city known as the town of Watertown; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to Transhealth Inc. for infrastructure and programming; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Inc. for services and equipment related to maternal care; provided further, that not less than $2,000,000 shall be expended to Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Inc. to support continued access to sexual and reproductive health care and community needs; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to New England Life Flight, Inc., doing business as, Boston MedFlight; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Heywood Hospital for facility upgrades and the expansion of its bariatric program; provided further, that not less than $75,000 shall be expended to the Brookline Community Mental Health Center, Inc. to expand the healthy lives program; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to St. Anthony Shrine Order of Friars Minor Province of the Most Holy Name to expand the Father Mychal Judge Center for counseling and recovery; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to Harbor Health Services, Inc. for the operation of its Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) day centers; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to The Joint Committee for Children’s Health Care in Everett, Inc. for increased staffing needs
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$300,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $500,000
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$154,492,413” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $157,592,413
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0601, by inserting after the word “expansion” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $2,973,456 shall be expended for the recognition of additional allowable costs to the standard base rate for nursing facilities located within 17 miles of 71 Hospital avenue in the city of North Adams; provided further, that not less than $3,800,000 shall be expended for the recognition of additional allowable costs to the standard base rate over the base year rate established on October 1, 2024, for a nursing facility located on Martha’s Vineyard Island and within 8 miles of a hospital that has received federal government designation as a Critical Access Hospital
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0641, by striking out the figure “2026”, the first time it appears, and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 2027
And further amend said item, by striking the figure 2024, and inserting in place thereof the following:- 2025, as supplemented January 2026
And further amend said item, by striking out the figure “650,073,456” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 655,073,456
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0700, by inserting after the words “approved state plan” the following words:- ; provided further, that not less than $8,000,000 shall be expended to the non-state, government public hospital system established under chapter 147 of the acts of 1996
And further amend said section 2, in item 4000-0700, by striking out the figure “4,234,817,619” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 4,237,817,619
And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-0600, by striking out the words “; provided further, that funds shall be expended from this item to implement the pre-admission counseling and assessment program under the fourth paragraph of section 9 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, which shall be implemented on a statewide basis through the Aging and Disability Resource Consortia”
And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-1455, by inserting after the words “to eligible persons” the following words:- ; provided further, that funds shall be expended from this item to implement the pre-admission counseling and assessment program under the fourth paragraph of section 9 of chapter 118E of the General Laws, which shall be implemented on a statewide basis through the Aging and Disability Resource Consortia
And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-1604, by inserting after the word “continued” the following words:- ; and provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to Hearth, Inc. for facility upgrades and other improvements
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,382,272” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $12,582,272
And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-1900, by striking out the words “the amount appropriated in item 9110-1900 of section 2 of chapter 24 of the acts of 2021” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $100,000
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$12,635,964” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $13,410,964
And further amend said section 2, in item 9110-9002, by inserting after the words “ways and means” the following words:- ; and provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Fall River council on aging for community-based activities; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Wenham senior center for renovations and upgrades; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Chelsea senior center for their food delivery service; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended to the Milano Senior Center for exterior improvements; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to Island Elderly Housing, Inc. for emergency preparedness; provided further, that not less than $5,000 shall be expended to the town of East Brookfield for improvements to its senior center; provided further, that not less than $60,000 shall be expended to the Yarmouth senior center for a roof replacement and HVAC stabilization; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Methuen senior activity center for operational costs and event planning; provided further, that not less than $15,000 shall be expended to the town of Millis for senior center bathroom renovations; provided further, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to Parkway in Motion, Inc. for programming in Boston’s southwest neighborhoods; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Hanson council on aging for food programming and services; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Hanover council on aging for food programming and services; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Wareham council on aging’s out-of-town medical transportation programming; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the Pepperell council on aging for new furniture in the Albert Harris Center meeting spaces; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Williamstown council on aging; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Cheshire council on aging; provided further, that not less than $7,500 shall be expended to the Florida council on aging; provided further, that not less than $10,000 shall be expended to the Adams council on aging; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to the Whipple Senior Center for costs associated with care, services, programs and facilities; provided further, that not less than $20,000 shall be expended to the Westford council on aging to support van service costs; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended to the Chelmsford council on aging for nutrition services; and provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended to OutstandingLife, Inc. for the operation of a statewide virtual senior center for LGBTQIA+ older adults
And further amend said item by striking out the word “and” the fourth time it appears
And further amend said item by striking out the figure “$29,522,592” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $30,345,092
And further amend the bill by inserting after section 6 the following section:-
SECTION 6A. Chapter 12C of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 21 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-
Section 21. (a) The center shall establish a continuing program of investigation and study of the uninsured and underinsured in the commonwealth, including the health insurance needs of the residents of the geographically isolated or rural areas of the commonwealth. Said continuing investigation and study shall examine the overall impact of programs developed by the center and the division of medical assistance on the uninsured, the underinsured and the role of employers in assisting their employees in affording health insurance.
(b)(1) For the purposes of this subsection, “public health access program beneficiary” shall mean a person who is an enrollee in a: (i) MassHealth program established in section 9A of chapter 118E; or (ii) subsidized health care plan through the commonwealth health insurance connector authority established in section 2 of chapter 176Q.
(2) Annually, not later than December 1, the center shall submit a public health access program beneficiary employer report to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care financing. The center may consult with other relevant agencies and departments to prepare the report. The report shall include data for the preceding fiscal year.
(3) The center shall utilize all available data, including, but not limited to, self-reported data provided by individuals who apply for public health assistance, if applicable.
(4) The report shall include the following information about each employer of 50 or more public health access program beneficiaries in the commonwealth: (i) the name and address of the employer; (ii) the number of each type of public health access program beneficiaries who are employees of the employer; (iii) the number of public health access program beneficiaries who are spouses or dependents of employees of the employer; (iv) whether the employer offers any employee health benefits; (v) the estimated cost to the commonwealth of providing public health access program benefits; and (vi) an analysis aggregating public health access program beneficiaries attributable to any single franchisor licensing 10 or more franchises in the commonwealth.
(5) The report shall not include the names of, or other identifying information about, any individual public health access program beneficiaries, and the report shall be subject to any applicable federal and state laws.
And further amend the bill in section 7 by striking out, in line 13, the words “so appearing” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- appearing in the 2024 Official Edition”.
And further amend the bill by inserting after section 36 the following 2 sections:-
SECTION 36A. Said chapter 118E is hereby further amended by inserting after section 67A the following section:-
Section 67B. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:
“Ambulance service”, as defined in section 1 of chapter 111C.
“Executive office”, the executive office of health and human services.
“Public ambulance service”, ambulance services that are provided by a city or town, county, district or other governmental body and are licensed pursuant to section 6 of chapter 111C.
(b) The executive office shall implement voluntary programs to increase funding to public ambulance services, including, but not limited to, intergovernmental transfer programs, as authorized under section 1903(w)(6) of the federal Social Security Act, 42 CFR 433.51.
(c) Any additional funds received by public ambulance services pursuant to subsection (b) shall not be used to replace other payment commitments between public ambulance services and the commonwealth.
SECTION 36B. Section 69 of said chapter 118E, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following subsection:-
(e) Notwithstanding 101 CMR 614.00 and any successor rules or regulations or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the office shall not apply a payment adjustment with respect to a shortfall allocation to a federally qualified community health center established under chapter 147 of the acts of 1995.
And further amend the bill in section 37 by striking out, in line 420, the words “appearing in the 2024 Official Edition” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- so appearing.
And further amend the bill by inserting after section 51 the following section:-
SECTION 51A. (a) There is hereby established a special commission to study and report on the appropriate level and structure of dental benefits provided by MassHealth and the health safety net. The commission shall evaluate whether the MassHealth and the health safety net dental benefits are clinically appropriate, financially sustainable and sufficient to ensure access to medically necessary dental services.
(b) The commission shall consist of the following 17 members: the secretary of health and human services or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the undersecretary of MassHealth or a designee; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing; the chairs of the joint committee on public health; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member who is a representative of Massachusetts Dental Society; 1 member who is a representative of Health Care for All, Inc.; 1 member who is a representative of The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc.; 1 member who is a representative of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Inc.; and 4 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of an oral health advocacy organization and 3 of whom shall be dental providers that participate in MassHealth.
(c) The commission shall: (i) assess the current dental benefit structure, including covered services and utilization among adult populations; (ii) evaluate alternative benefit designs, including, but not limited to, dollar limits, defined service packages or other models and their clinical appropriateness; (iii) examine the impact of benefit structures on patient outcomes, including access to preventive, restorative and emergency services, oral health status and unmet need; (iv) assess impacts on providers and other health resources, including participation in MassHealth, financial viability, administrative burden, capacity and emergency care; (v) analyze geographic variation in access to care and identify areas with provider shortages; (vi) evaluate how benefit design influences provider enrollment and participation, including barriers and opportunities; (vii) consider the needs of underserved populations and assess how benefit design affects disparities in access and outcomes; and (viii) review best practices from other state Medicaid programs and relevant national standards.
(d) Not later than January 1, 2027, the commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on health care financing and the joint committee on public health. The commission’s recommendations shall include, but shall not be limited to, the appropriate level and structure of benefits, including changes to covered services, limits or reimbursement based on the study and review of benefits pursuant to subsection (c).
And further amend the bill by inserting after section 56 the following 2 sections:-
SECTION 56A. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, shall transfer $37,500,000 from the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund established in section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws, inserted by section 2 of chapter 214 of the acts of 2024, to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws.
SECTION 56B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, at the direction of the secretary of administration and finance, shall transfer $8,000,000 from the Commonwealth Federal Matching and Debt Reduction Fund established in section 2EEEEEE of chapter 29 of the General Laws, inserted by section 2 of chapter 214 of the acts of 2024, to the General Fund.
And further amend the bill by inserting after section 72 the following section:-
SECTION 72A. Not later than October 1, 2026, the executive office of health and human services shall submit proposals to the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services pursuant to subsection (b) of section 67B of chapter 118E of the General Laws, inserted by section 36A, as necessary to make supplemental payments for public ambulance services that make an intergovernmental transfer.