4513-1020 Early Intervention Services

For the early intervention program; provided, that the department of public health shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the total number of units of service purchased and the total expenditures for the units of service paid by the department, the executive office of health and human services and third--party payers for early intervention services for the following service categories: (i) home visit; (ii) center--based individual; (iii) child--focused group; (iv) parent--focused group; and (v) screening and assessment; provided further, that the department shall make all reasonable efforts to secure third--party and Medicaid reimbursements for the services funded in this item; provided further, that funds from this item shall be expended to provide respite services to families of children enrolled in early intervention programs who have complex care requirements, multiple disabilities and extensive medical and health needs; provided further, that priority shall be given to low--income and moderate--income families; provided further, that not later than February 2, 2026, the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the number of families served by the program and the amount of funds appropriated in this item granted to qualified families; provided further, that no claim for reimbursement made on behalf of an uninsured person shall be paid from this item until the program receives notice of a denial of eligibility for the MassHealth program from the executive office of health and human services; provided further, that MassHealth shall cover the costs incurred for the transportation of MassHealth members who participate in the early intervention program; provided further, that nothing in this item shall give rise to, or shall be construed as giving rise to, enforceable legal rights to any such services or an enforceable entitlement to the early intervention services funded in this item; provided further, that not less than 180 days prior to any change to current eligibility criteria, the department shall provide written notification to the house and senate committees on ways and means; provided further, that no eligibility changes shall be made before April 1, 2026; provided further, that funds in this item may be used to pay for current and prior year claims; and provided further, that the department shall provide services to eligible children through 1 service delivery model and shall not determine eligibility for services based on family insurance status