Bill > S748

This bill aims to protect medically fragile children by increasing the budget for continuous skilled nursing care provided through MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program. The key provisions are: 1. Requires the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to increase the budget for continuous skilled nursing care to ensure at least 75% of authorized hours are filled by July 2023, 80% by July 2024, and 85% or more thereafter. The budget increases can be used to raise the wage payment rates for nurses providing this care. 2. Requires MassHealth to submit an annual report demonstrating no changes to authorization criteria that would reduce authorized hours, and providing data on filled/unfilled hours, appeals, and hour reductions. 3. Directs the Office of Medicaid to review and report on the wage payment rates paid by home health agencies for continuous skilled nursing care, including any increases, patient acuity levels, and provider licensure levels, and to provide recommendations for future agency reporting.