Bill > S819

This bill aims to address the financial sustainability of the Health Safety Net, which provides payments to acute hospitals and community health centers for reimbursable health services to uninsured and underinsured residents. The key provisions are: 1. Ensuring a minimum annual transfer of funds from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund. 2. Introducing a "supplemental surcharge amount" equal to 50% of the annual revenue shortfall in the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, to be paid by acute hospitals and surcharge payors. 3. Modifying the composition of the Health Safety Net Trust Fund to include the supplemental surcharge amount and federal financial participation revenues. 4. Requiring the Health Safety Net Office to estimate any projected shortfall in the fund and allocate it through a graduated reimbursement system and the supplemental surcharge amount. The goal is to stabilize the funding and financial sustainability of the Health Safety Net, which supports healthcare access for those without insurance or underinsured in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S819