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HD 6134

A communication from the Department of Public Health (see item 4590-0915 of Section 2 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025) submitting a report on the status of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

HD 6134 requires monthly, detailed status reports on Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, covering services, census, admissions, discharges, and staffing for oversight.

Placed on file
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HD 6134

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Bill: HD 6134, Session 194th
  • Department: Department of Public Health (DPH)
  • Date of document: April 18, 2026
  • Legislative mandate: Pursuant to Line Item 4590-0915 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2025, the DPH must submit a status report on the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. The report is due no later than August 18, 2025 and monthly thereafter to the joint Committee on Public Health and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means.

Purpose and Intent

  • To provide a comprehensive status update on the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children, including services, any changes to services, patient census, admissions and discharges, and staffing.
  • The report aims to inform legislators about the hospital’s current operations, service offerings, and workforce as part of ongoing oversight and planning.

Key Provisions and Content of the Report

The bill requires monthly reporting, with the following elements included in each report:

  1. Summary of Services and Programs
    • Medical services:
      • Medically Complex Care: hospital-level medical/rehabilitative care for patients with complex medical needs.
      • Medical/Behavioral Service: patients with both medical complexity and behavioral health challenges.
      • Caregiver Short-Term Respite: respite care for patients and families at home.
    • Therapeutic/Recreational services:
      • Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Therapy.
      • Psychosocial Support (counseling and behavioral therapy, including complementary/alternative medicine).
      • Recreational Therapy (e.g., equine therapy, rhythmic movement therapy, community integration).
    • Educational services:
      • Special education services provided through DESE’s SEIS program, aligned with each student’s IEP goals and coordinated with the student’s school district.
  2. Service Reductions/Terminations
    • Any reductions or terminations of services and the rationales for each change.
    • The current (as of March) status shows “No Changes” for March, but the provision requires reporting any changes if they occur.
  3. Census on January 1, 2025
    • Total census on that date, with a breakdown: 39 patients (37 long-term care, 2 caregiver respite).
  4. Monthly Admissions and Discharges (since January 1, 2025)
    • A month-by-month ledger of admissions and discharges for long-term care and caregiver respite patients.
    • Includes a running census figure at the end of each month.
  5. Staffing (Total and by Category)
    • Total number of staff employed at the facility, delineated by profession.
    • DPH and DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) employee counts included:
      • DPH: Administrative, Environmental Services, Licensed Practical Nurse, Maintenance, Management, Medical Services, Nursing Assistant, Quality Management, Recreational Services, Registered Nurse, Rehabilitation Services, Respiratory Services, Security Specialist.
      • DESE: Teachers, Specialist Teachers, Instructional Aides, Head Teachers, Program Coordinator, Director.
    • As of March 24, 2026, DPH total FTEs = 180.44; DESE total FTEs = 17.0; Combined total FTEs = 197.44.

Additionally, the report provides explicit line-item detail on the hospital’s service categories, patient care focus, and education partnerships with DESE to support student IEP goals.

Who is Affected

  • Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children: patients and families receiving services.
  • Hospital staff across medical, nursing, therapeutic, recreational, and educational roles.
  • DESE-affiliated educational personnel providing special education services within the hospital setting.
  • State legislative bodies (Joint Committee on Public Health; House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means) for oversight and budgetary considerations.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Mandatory monthly reporting timeline: starting no later than August 18, 2025, and continuing monthly.
  • Reports are submitted by the Department of Public Health to the specified legislative committees.
  • Each report must contain the six requested elements (services, changes, census, admissions/discharges, staffing, and a running census).
  • The current document reflects an annual status and an ongoing reporting obligation tied to the 2025 Acts, with ongoing monitoring through 2026 (per the action history noting the item was placed on file on June 1, 2026).

Summary

HD 6134 establishes a recurring, detailed reporting requirement to track the status and operations of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. The reports cover service types and quality (medical, behavioral health, restorative therapies, and education), any changes in service offerings, patient census data (including a January 1, 2025 baseline), monthly admissions and discharges, and staffing levels by professional category. This mechanism enables legislative oversight of hospital operations, patient care continuity, and workforce planning, ensuring transparency around how the hospital serves pediatric patients with complex medical and rehabilitative needs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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