Amendment ID: S3290-23

Amendment 23

Community Health Center Patient Assistance Funding

Ms. Friedman, Messrs. Brady, Cyr, Driscoll and Collins, Ms. Kennedy, Messrs.  Gómez, Oliveira and Cronin and Ms. Edwards move that the proposed new text be amended in section 2A, by inserting the following item:-

xxxx-xxxx  For a reserve fund to assist community-based providers with new federally imposed reporting requirements and to assist patients in maintaining health insurance coverage, including Medicaid; provided, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for each community health center, defined as an entity receiving funding pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 254b, and community behavioral health center, as defined by section 13D½ of chapter 118E, to conduct health coverage outreach, enrollment, and retention assistance for patients at risk of losing health coverage due to new federally imposed reporting requirements; and provided further, that MassHealth shall administer a grant program to assist community based providers providing behavioral health services in enhancing or establishing outreach and enrollment capacity, including hiring or expanding outreach and enrollment staff and assisting patients in maintaining health insurance coverage or Medicaid eligibility............................$10,000,0000