Bill > H1002

This bill establishes a nine-member "MassHealth Cost Control Commission" to study the potential impact of requiring co-payments, or fixed fees, for MassHealth members, particularly for emergency room visits. The commission's goal is to find ways to encourage the most cost-effective use of healthcare resources by investigating potential savings and the effects, both positive and negative, that co-payments might have on MassHealth members, aiming to incentivize them to use primary care instead of emergency rooms for non-emergency situations. The commission will be composed of representatives from hospitals, MassHealth, healthcare policy experts, taxpayer advocates, and members from both the Senate and House of Representatives, and it is required to submit its findings and any proposed legislation to relevant legislative committees within 90 days of the bill's passage.