Bill > SB58

This bill establishes the Medicaid Care Transition Program to address the challenges of patients getting stuck in emergency departments while waiting for appropriate post-acute care placements. The program requires county Medicaid managed care plans (called "responsible entities") to create care transition units that will actively work to find suitable placements for Medicaid patients within 24 hours, first seeking in-network providers and then expanding to out-of-network facilities if needed. If a placement cannot be found within 48 hours, the responsible entity must notify the Department of Human Services, which will then intervene by establishing an internal team to resolve barriers. This team may convene conversations with clinical leaders, coordinate with other state agencies, address payment issues, and potentially require corrective action plans from responsible entities. The department will also be required to submit an annual report to legislative committees detailing the program's implementation, including the number of placement challenges, actions taken to resolve them, and aggregate patient information. The bill aims to reduce emergency department wait times, improve patient care transitions, and ensure more efficient use of healthcare resources by creating a structured escalation process for patients needing post-acute care.

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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=58