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H 1408

An Act making technical changes to the Betsy Lehman Center for patient safety and medical error reduction enabling statute

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Greg Schwartz

Expands Betsy Lehman Center's role to coordinate statewide patient-safety efforts, share best practices, and create a grant-funded trust to support data, research, and training.

Reporting date extended to Friday, July 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · H 1408

Summary of House Bill H.1408 (An Act making technical changes to the Betsy Lehman Center for patient safety and medical error reduction enabling statute)

Quick facts

  • Bill number: H.1408
  • Title: An Act making technical changes to the Betsy Lehman Center for patient safety and medical error reduction enabling statute
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Current status: Hearing scheduled June 2, 2025, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium
  • Committee referral: Health Care Financing
  • Related action: Senate concurrence noted; HD 2012 replaces prior version

Purpose and intent

The bill seeks technical amendments to the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction enabling statute. It clarifies and expands the center’s role in coordinating state efforts to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors, and it authorizes the center to pursue grant funding through a dedicated fund.

Key provisions

Section 1: Redefinition of the Lehman Center’s purpose and functions

  • The bill replaces subsection (b) of Section 15 of Chapter 12C (as amended by 2024’s Chapter 343) with a new statement of purpose.
  • New core functions include:
    • Serving as a clearinghouse for development, evaluation, and dissemination of best practices for patient safety and medical error reduction.
    • Coordinating efforts among state agencies involved in health care regulation, contracting, or delivery, and with health-care providers licensed in the Commonwealth.
    • Convening entities, consumers, and experts to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan for improving patient safety and the health-care workforce across the continuum of care.
    • Coordinating state participation in state or federal reports and data collection on patient safety.
    • Analyzing available data, research, and reports to improve education and training programs promoting patient safety.
    • Evaluating approaches to monitor and improve health-care system performance through enhanced patient safety data resources.

Section 2: Establishment of a grant-responsive trust fund

  • The center may establish a trust fund structured to receive, maintain, and spend federal and foundation grants in furtherance of its statutory responsibilities.
  • The director of the Lehman Center would have powers described in Section 6 of Chapter 6A to manage and utilize the fund as appropriate.

Who would be affected

  • Betsy Lehman Center staff and leadership (expanded role and potential new funding mechanisms).
  • State agencies involved in health care regulation, contracting, and delivery of health care.
  • Licensed health-care providers, patients, and consumer groups (through enhanced coordination, data sharing, and best-practice dissemination).
  • Grant-making entities (federal and foundation funders) and researchers/data analysts partnering with the center.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025; referred to Health Care Financing.
  • Hearing: Scheduled for June 2, 2025, in Gardner Auditorium.
  • Legislative trajectory includes Senate concurrence noted in related actions; any final passage would likely depend on the committee's report and subsequent votes in both chambers.

Fiscal considerations

  • The bill envisions a grant-based funding mechanism via a trust fund, reducing reliance on general funds for certain activities while enabling external support for the center’s initiatives. Specific appropriations are not detailed in the text.

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

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