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HD 2876

An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Natalie Blais and 11 co-sponsors

Creates a Hospital to Home Partnership Program in MA to boost hospital-to-home discharges via hospital-ASAP liaisons, linking patients to community services and avoiding SNF care.

Senate concurred
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Bill Summary · HD 2876

Summary: An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program (HD 2876)

Overview

HD 2876, titled “An Act establishing the hospital to home partnership program,” would create a Hospital to Home Partnership Program within the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). The bill aims to strengthen collaboration between acute-care hospitals and aging services access points (ASAPs) to promote discharge from hospital to home or community-based settings, rather than to skilled nursing facilities or other institutions. The bill has advanced through the Legislature, with the Senate concurring.

Purpose and Key Provisions

  • Establishment: Creates the Hospital to Home Partnership Program within 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) and strengthen communication and coordination with community providers to encourage institutional diversion and increased community-based discharges.
  • Hospital Liaison Requirement: Each participating acute-care hospital must have at least one ASAP staff member serving as a home and community-based services hospital liaison.
  • Liaison Role: The hospital liaison will support the hospital’s efforts to connect individuals to home and community-based services programs and other community services to enable community discharge instead of institutional placement (e.g., skilled nursing facilities).

Definitions and Scope

  • Acute-care hospitals: Defined by section 25B of chapter 111.
  • ASAPs (aging services access points): Defined by section 4B of chapter 19A.
  • The program focuses on structuring a formal liaison framework to facilitate post-acute planning and access to community supports.

Implementation and Timeline

  • The text provided does not specify funding, budgeting, or a detailed implementation timeline.
  • The establishment is contingent on enactment and would be implemented by EOHHS, including staffing requirements at participating hospitals.

Affected Parties

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts, via EOHHS.
  • Acute-care hospitals participating in the program.
  • Aging services access points (ASAPs) and other community-based providers.
  • Patients transitioning from hospital to home or community settings.

Legislative and Procedural History

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • House Docket: No. 2876, filed January 16, 2025.
  • Referred to: Committee on Elder Affairs (February 27, 2025).
  • Senate: Concurred (status indicates Senate agreement with House version).
  • Session context: Proposed bill for the 2025-2026 General Court.

Potential Impact

  • Aims to increase hospital discharges to home/community-based settings, potentially reducing reliance on skilled nursing facilities.
  • Improves discharge planning throughDedicated liaison leadership and stronger linkages to community services.
  • Could influence healthcare costs, patient outcomes, and access to post-acute supports, subject to implementation details and funding.

Next steps would include potential committee actions, any amendments, and final floor votes to determine enactment.

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

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