Bill > S870

This bill clarifies and enhances the rate-setting processes for home health and home care services in Massachusetts by establishing more transparent and comprehensive guidelines for determining payment rates. Specifically, the bill requires that rates for home health and continuous skilled nursing agencies be reviewed at least every two years, using reported costs from a base year no more than 4 years prior and adjusting for factors like new regulatory costs, administrative expenses, and reasonable profit. The executive office must consider various cost factors, including service costs in different care settings, national and regional cost indices, and efficient service delivery models. The bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Elder Affairs provide detailed reports to legislative committees explaining how rates were analyzed, including a comparison with the "Home Health Agency Market Basket" index from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Moreover, the bill requires consultation with stakeholders impacted by these rates and directs the executive office to consider governmental mandates like minimum wage changes and payroll tax obligations when calculating service costs. The goal is to create a more comprehensive, transparent, and responsive rate-setting process that accurately reflects the true costs of providing home health and home care services.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S870