Bill > H3235

This bill aims to ensure safe and equitable ambulatory care in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Expanding the Health Policy Commission's oversight to monitor the development of accountable care organizations (ACOs), patient-centered medical homes, and alternative payment methodologies, as well as protect patient access to necessary healthcare services. 2. Requiring the Health Care Cost Transparency Center to collect and analyze data on the financial conditions of ambulatory care providers like ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care clinics, and limited services clinics. 3. Prohibiting acute hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care clinics, and limited services clinics from discriminating against Medicare beneficiaries in admission, services, treatment, or discharge. 4. Establishing requirements for comprehensive discharge planning for Medicare patients, including the right to request a review of the discharge plan. 5. Imposing restrictions on the establishment of new acute hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, urgent care clinics, and limited services clinics not affiliated with existing acute care hospitals in the same service area. 6. Mandating the use of needle-safety devices and other measures to protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries at various healthcare facilities. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency, patient access, and worker safety in the ambulatory care sector in Massachusetts.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3235