Bill > S1536

This bill requires the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to conduct a comprehensive assessment of emergency medical services (EMS) and health care service vulnerabilities in southeastern Massachusetts, specifically focusing on Plymouth, Bristol, and Norfolk counties. The department must produce a detailed report to the legislature that includes three key components: 1) a comprehensive list of health care services eliminated or closed since January 1, 2015, detailing the types of services (such as acute care, behavioral health, and maternal health), the number of individuals served, and the patient payer mix; 2) an inventory of existing health care services currently permitted, also including service types, patient numbers, and payer mix; and 3) an analysis of the needed health care service capacity based on the current population and existing services, with an estimation of additional resources required. Additionally, the bill mandates that DPH collaborate with local EMS providers (hospital-based, municipal, and private) to measure and document the average transportation time from a 911 call to arrival at a receiving facility for each municipality. The department is required to submit a comprehensive report with its findings and relevant data to the state legislature's clerks by December 31, 2026.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1536