Bill > H4617

This bill, titled the Establishing the Honorable Peter V. Kocot Act to enhance access to high quality, affordable and transparent healthcare in the Commonwealth, has several key provisions: 1. It creates a process for the Center for Health Information and Analysis and the Health Policy Commission to review and evaluate proposals that would change the scope of practice for healthcare providers. This includes assessing public health and safety impacts, impacts on equitable access and affordability, and the appropriateness of the proposed changes. 2. It expands the responsibilities of the Health Policy Commission to include monitoring the location and distribution of healthcare services and resources. 3. It establishes the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund to support community-based preventive services and programming, with provisions for funding, oversight, and evaluation. 4. It requires the Health Policy Commission to establish a prescription drug academic detailing program to provide evidence-based information to providers on the therapeutic and cost-effective use of prescription drugs. 5. It requires pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers to provide early notice and information to the Health Policy Commission on new drugs, devices, or other developments coming to market that may have a significant impact on state healthcare expenditures. 6. It enhances transparency and consumer protections around facility fees charged by hospitals and hospital-based facilities. 7. It establishes requirements for the licensure and regulation of office-based surgical centers and urgent care centers. 8. It makes various changes to Medicaid, insurance, and healthcare provider regulations to promote telemedicine, standardize quality measures, and address surprise medical billing and pharmacy benefit manager practices.

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H4617