Outside Section 22

Health Safety Net Services

SECTION 22.   (A) Section 1 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of "Critical access services".

(B) Said section 1 of said chapter 118G, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 97, the words "emergency, urgent, and critical access".

(C) Section 34 of said chapter 118G, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the definition of "Critical access services".

(D) Said section 34 of said chapter 118G, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in lines 107 and 108, the words "emergency, urgent and critical access".
 
 

Summary:
This section removes the "critical access" requirement for reimbursable acute hospital Health Safety Net (HSN) services, thus allowing all hospitals to bill the HSN for scheduled primary care visits. It promotes access to primary care for HSN patients. It will not increase state costs because the law caps HSN expenses.