Bill > H1911

This bill establishes a State Health Service Corps to improve access to quality, affordable primary and preventive healthcare, reduce health disparities, and boost economic growth by connecting community health centers with healthcare professionals and supporting community-based care. It also creates an Office of State Health Policy to coordinate public health efforts and serve as the state's primary care office. The bill establishes two new trust funds: the Essential Community Health Center Trust Fund for payments to community health centers and the Commonwealth Community Health Center Innovation and Improvement Fund for grants and loans for technology upgrades, capital projects, and other improvements. Additionally, it introduces tax credits for investments in community health centers, amends regulations for licensing and operating community health centers, and mandates increased reimbursement rates for community health centers under various state programs, including a commitment to pay 100% of reasonable costs for patients covered by MassHealth and other state programs. The bill also convenes a workforce development task force to address primary care clinician shortages and proposes measures to streamline audits and exempt community health centers from state fees, while ensuring their essential role in emergency preparedness is recognized and resourced.