Bill > H4118

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program to test a new emergency medical services (EMS) treatment-in-place (TIP) model in Massachusetts, which allows emergency medical technicians and paramedics to treat patients at the scene or via telehealth for non-emergent medical conditions instead of automatically transporting them to an emergency department. The program aims to improve access to EMS for aging residents, enhance patient care, reduce unnecessary emergency department visits, and create innovative financial models for EMS systems. Participating EMS providers can administer medical care at the scene, coordinate follow-up care with primary providers, or refer patients to community health resources. The Department of Public Health will develop alternative payment models that reimburse providers for TIP services, collaborate with federal Medicare and Medicaid services, and provide financial incentives to participating providers. EMS providers will be required to collect data on patient outcomes, cost savings, and patient satisfaction, and the department will submit an annual report to state leadership evaluating the program's effectiveness, analyzing cost savings, and potentially recommending expansion of the TIP model. The pilot will prioritize providers serving populations with high Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries or communities with limited hospital emergency department access.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4118