Bill > S364

This bill amends existing law to allow nursing home residents who are recipients of MassHealth, a state program providing health care for low-income individuals, to reserve their beds during certain leaves of absence. Specifically, if a MassHealth recipient in a nursing facility is hospitalized, the state's division responsible for MassHealth will pay to keep their bed available for up to 20 days per medical event, reimbursing the nursing facility for this "medical leave of absence," which includes hospital stays longer than 24 hours for observation. Additionally, for nonmedical leaves of absence, the division will pay to preserve the bed for up to 10 calendar days per year, also reimbursing the nursing facility.