Bill > H4888

This bill proposes several key provisions: 1. It expands the list of individuals who can provide testimony at hearings before the Health Policy Commission, including the assistant secretary for MassHealth. 2. It requires health insurance plans, including MassHealth and the Group Insurance Commission, to cover telehealth services for primary care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management, and prohibits them from requiring patients to have an in-person visit before using telehealth. It also sets standards for telehealth coverage, such as requiring parity in reimbursement rates between telehealth and in-person services. 3. It authorizes nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse mental health clinical specialists to independently prescribe medication and order tests and treatments, after meeting certain experience requirements. 4. It requires MassHealth to pay nursing facilities to hold beds for up to 20 days for residents hospitalized with COVID-19. 5. It provides enhanced Medicaid payments to certain eligible hospitals to help ensure their financial stability. 6. It addresses billing and payment for out-of-network emergency and inpatient services related to COVID-19. The bill is intended to promote resilience and access in the healthcare system, particularly through the expanded use of telehealth and workforce policies.

House Committee on Ways and Means (House)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H4888