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S 1615

An Act to improve health care coordination and safe discharge

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira

Requires hospitals to provide clear discharge plans and medication instructions to patients, family caregivers, PCPs, and home health agencies for safer, well-informed transitions.

Hearing rescheduled to 06/23/2025 from 09:00 AM-01:00 PM in B-1
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Bill Summary · S 1615

Summary: S. 1615 – An Act to improve health care coordination and safe discharge

Overview

S. 1615, introduced May 6, 2025 in the Massachusetts General Court, seeks to improve health care coordination around patient discharge and to ensure discharge plans and medication instructions are clear for patients and caregivers. The bill emphasizes timely communication among hospitals, patients, primary care physicians, and home health care providers to support safe and well-informed transitions from hospital to home or other care settings. A hearing on the bill was rescheduled to June 23, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • Improve patient health care coordination at discharge.
  • Provide clear, actionable discharge plans and medication instructions.
  • Ensure essential discharge information is communicated to all relevant parties (patients, family caregivers, primary care doctors, and home care agencies) to reduce confusion and potential safety risks during care transitions.
  • Address language proficiency barriers for caregivers.

Key Provisions

  • Section 2 (Discharge Notifications to Home Care and Primary Care):

    • When a patient is discharged, hospitals must notify the patient’s home care agency and primary care doctor about discharge steps and medication instructions in a clear format.
    • Hospitals must ensure notification of treatment steps and any updated medications to both the primary care physician and the home health care agency.

  • Section 3 (Clear Discharge Plan for Family Caregivers):

    • Amends Section 236 of Chapter 111 to require hospitals to provide a clear discharge plan to family caregivers.
    • Includes clear instructions for caregivers who have limited language proficiency.

  • Section 4 (Medication Instructions Clarity):

    • Amends Section 51D of Chapter 111 to ensure that medication instructions are clear.
    • The bill adds a proviso that medication instructions must be provided clearly, in conjunction with discharge procedures.

Affected Parties

  • Hospitals and hospital staff responsible for discharge planning.
  • Patients and their families/caregivers, including those with limited language proficiency.
  • Primary care physicians and patients’ home health care agencies.
  • State health care regulatory framework referencing Chapters 111 (Sections 236 and 51D).

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: May 6, 2025.
  • Legislative actions indicate referral to the Public Health committee; earlier listings show references to either Environment and Public Works or Public Health, with a related floor action noted.
  • Hearing: Initially scheduled for June 16, 2025, with rescheduling to June 23, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The hearing location appears to have shifted from A-1 to B-1 in multiple notices.
  • Related bill: SD 2251 (replaces) in the docket.

Sponsorship and Related Information

  • Presented by Jacob R. Oliveira (Massachusetts sponsor).
  • Related “Sponsors” section in the docket lists Ron Wyden (primary) and Mike Crapo (cosponsor), which appears inconsistent with a Massachusetts bill and may reflect a cross-jurisdictional reference or clerical error in the docket.
  • Related bill: SD 2251 (replaces S. 1615).

Potential Impact

  • Improved discharge safety and patient outcomes through clearer discharge plans and medication instructions.
  • Enhanced communication among hospitals, primary care providers, and home health agencies, potentially reducing readmissions and adverse events during care transitions.
  • Increased attention to language access for caregivers, supporting more equitable care transitions.

Note: Some docket entries show inconsistencies regarding sponsoring committees and location identifiers. Readers should verify final committee assignments, sponsor details, and hearing location in the official docket as actions progress.

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

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