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S 844

An Act to improve continuity of care for MassHealth members with chronic conditions

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 2 co-sponsors

S. 844 requires MassHealth to establish care continuity protections for members with chronic conditions, likely increasing coordination mandates and potentially raising program costs.

Accompanied a study order, see S2931
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Bill Summary · S 844

Legislative bill overview

S. 844 aims to strengthen continuity of care for MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) members managing chronic conditions by establishing protections and requirements for care coordination. The bill addresses gaps in how the state's Medicaid program manages patients with ongoing health needs across different providers and settings. Its primary focus is ensuring MassHealth members don't lose access to established treatment plans when circumstances change.

Why is this important

Continuity of care is critical for chronic disease management—interruptions can lead to preventable hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and worse health outcomes. MassHealth serves approximately 2 million low-income and vulnerable residents, many with diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, and other conditions requiring coordinated treatment. Gaps in coverage or provider transitions can be particularly devastating for this population, which often has limited resources to navigate the healthcare system independently.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Mandating enhanced care coordination and continuity protections may increase MassHealth administrative costs or require higher reimbursement rates to providers, raising questions about program sustainability and budget impact
  • Provider burden: Increased documentation, coordination requirements, and continuity obligations could create administrative burdens on healthcare providers, particularly smaller practices with limited care management infrastructure
  • Definition and scope: The bill's specific provisions on what constitutes adequate "continuity" and which chronic conditions are covered remain unclear from the bill title alone; overly broad definitions could be costly while narrow ones may fail to help vulnerable populations

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

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