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H 780

An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Natalie Blais and 21 co-sponsors

Creates the Hospital to Home Partnership Program in EOHHS to boost discharges to home via hospital–ASAP partnerships, requiring every hospital to designate an ASAP liaison.

Accompanied a new draft, see H4432
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Bill Summary · H 780

Summary: H.780 An Act Establishing the Hospital to Home Partnership Program

Overview

  • Bill: H 780
  • Title: An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program
  • Primary Sponsor: Kate Lipper-Garabedian (and others)
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Status: Accompanied by a new draft (see H.4432). Referred to Aging and Independence; hearing scheduled; Senate concurrence indicated on Feb 27, 2025.
  • Context: If enacted, creates a statewide hospital-to-home partnership program within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to promote hospital discharge to home and community-based services rather than institutional care.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a formal program to foster partnerships between acute-care hospitals and aging services access points (ASAPs).
  • Strengthen communication and coordination with community providers to promote institutional diversion and increase discharges from hospitals to home- and community-based settings.

Key Provisions

  • Creation of the Hospital to Home Partnership Program (Section 4E of Chapter 19A):

    • Located within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).
    • Mission: Promote partnerships between acute-care hospitals (as defined by section 25B of Chapter 111) and ASAPs (as defined by section 4B of Chapter 19A).
    • Objective: Strengthen communication and coordination with community providers to promote institutional diversion and increase discharge rates to home and community-based settings.

  • Hospital Liaison Requirement:

    • In every participating acute-care hospital, there must be at least one ASAP staff member serving as a home and community-based services hospital liaison.
    • Role of the liaison: Support the hospital’s efforts to connect individuals to home- and community-based services and programs to enable community discharge instead of placement in skilled nursing facilities or other institutional settings.

  • Definitions referenced:

    • Acute-care hospitals: as defined by section 25B of Chapter 111.
    • ASAPs (Aging Services Access Points): as defined by section 4B of Chapter 19A.

Affected Entities

  • Acute-care hospitals in the Commonwealth (participation is required for each hospital with at least one ASAP liaison).
  • Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) that coordinate home- and community-based services.
  • The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), which would administer and oversee the program.

Implementation and Timeline

  • Legislative Actions:
    • 2025-02-27: Senate concurred; bill referred to Elder Affairs.
    • 2025-04-29: Hearing scheduled for May 12, 2025 (A-1 committee room).
    • 2025-06-27: Referred to the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence (per order).
    • 2025-08-28: Accompanied by a new draft (H.4432), indicating ongoing revisions.
  • The bill is part of the 194th General Court (2025-2026) and is in the early stages of committee consideration and potential amendments.

Potential Impacts

  • Operational Changes:

    • Hospitals would need to designate or hire ASAP liaisons to coordinate post-discharge planning.
    • Increased emphasis on discharge planning teams integrating with community-based providers.

  • Access and Care Settings:

    • Potentially higher rates of discharge to home or community-based services.
    • Reduced reliance on institutional placements (e.g., SNFs) when appropriate.

  • Fiscal Considerations:

    • No explicit funding amounts or appropriations are stated in the text provided; legislation would likely prompt future funding determinations or grants through EOHHS.

Notes

  • This summary reflects the version and provisions in the bill text as introduced and subsequent related actions up to the latest available updates, including the accompanying draft H.4432. Readers should watch for final enacted language and any funding mechanisms or administrative rules adopted during implementation.

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

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