Bill > S1397

This bill establishes five regional pilot programs across Massachusetts to explore alternative transportation methods for behavioral health patients. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will design these programs to promote non-emergency medical transport for individuals requiring behavioral health intervention, with input from existing hospital-based behavioral health treatment providers. MassHealth and its contracted health insurers, health plans, and other related entities will be required to provide reimbursement for non-emergency medical transport under these pilot programs. Additionally, the health policy commission, in collaboration with the center for health information and analysis and the executive office of health and human services, will conduct a comprehensive study of the pilot programs. This study will analyze various aspects including patient transfer times, patient treatment experience, cost-effectiveness, and resource utilization compared to traditional ambulance transport. The study will also examine MassHealth reimbursement for these services and develop recommendations for potential reimbursement structures in both Medicaid and commercial healthcare markets.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1397