Bill > H998

This bill establishes a special commission to study and recommend ways to improve the quality and efficiency of home health care services in the Commonwealth. A "home health agency" is defined as a provider of "home health services," which are medical and/or behavioral health care services provided in a patient's residence, excluding hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. The commission will be co-chaired by the commissioner of public health and the secretary of elder affairs, and will include appointees from the House of Representatives, the Senate, directors of home health agencies, and a representative from the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. The commission's responsibilities include identifying the number of home health agencies, assessing payment adequacy by MassHealth for services, and analyzing supplemental rates for specialized care. It will also recommend regulations for oversight of these agencies, considering options like deemed accreditation or licensure for agencies already certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a federal agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid. The commission's final report, including recommendations for licensure standards, draft legislation, and projected costs, is due by December 31, 2016, and will be submitted to various legislative committees and officials. Section 3 repeals Section 2, and Section 4 states that Section 3 takes effect upon the commission's report being received by the clerks of the House and Senate.