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SD 2245

An Act to increase access to health transportation

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

Hospitals and home health agencies must provide health transportation for vulnerable patients, offer a free appointment companion, and enable online, auto-transfer requests.

House concurred
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Bill Summary · SD 2245

Summary: SD 2245 — An Act to increase access to health transportation

Overview

SD 2245, titled “An Act to increase access to health transportation,” is a proposed Massachusetts law introduced on January 17, 2025 by Senator Jacob R. Oliveira (Senate Docket No. 2245, Senate No. 1613). The bill seeks to ensure vulnerable patients have reliable access to transportation for medical care by directing hospitals and home health agencies to provide or facilitate health transportation, including an aid concept called an “appointment companion.” The bill was reported as having passed the House (House concurred) on February 27, 2025, and is presented as an emergency measure to promptly address transportation barriers.

Key provisions

  • New statutory section. Adds Section 245 to Chapter 111 of the General Laws.
  • Providers responsible for access. Requires hospitals and home health agencies to provide access to health transportation for vulnerable patients (defined below).
  • Appointment companion. Introduces the concept of an “appointment companion,” a person provided through a hospital or home health agency to ensure a patient can get to and from appointments, regardless of whether the patient uses personal, public, or healthcare transportation.
  • Cost responsibility. An appointment companion shall not be responsible for transportation costs incurred by the patient.
  • Process and coordination improvements. Hospitals and home health agencies must implement streamlined processes and effective coordination to facilitate access to health transportation.
  • Online access for patients. Patient online accounts must include a section to request transportation services via an appointment companion for vulnerable patients.
  • Automatic transfer of requests. If a patient has requested transportation for a medical appointment and that appointment is scheduled, the transportation request will automatically transfer to future appointments.
  • Regulatory implementation. The Department of Public Health (DPH) is tasked with promulgating regulations to implement the new section.

Definitions and scope

  • Vulnerable patients include: geographically isolated individuals, low-income individuals, those with English language challenges, illiterate persons, individuals with disabilities, and elder adults dealing with dementia.
  • Appointment companion is a designated individual provided by a hospital or home health agency to accompany the patient to and from appointments.

Affected entities

  • Hospitals and home health agencies operating in the Commonwealth.
  • Patients who are vulnerable or face transportation barriers.
  • The Department of Public Health (DPH), which would regulate and oversee implementation.

Implementation and timeline

  • Regulatory framework: DPH must promulgate regulations to implement Section 245.
  • Effective status: The bill is framed as an emergency measure, indicating intended prompt effect upon enactment. Specific effective dates are not provided in the text.
  • Legislative path: Referred to the Public Health Committee on February 27, 2025; subsequently, the House concurred on the same date.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Increases access to medical care by reducing transportation barriers for vulnerable populations.
  • Shifts some transportation facilitation responsibilities to hospitals and home health agencies, with costs borne by providers or the health system (not charged to patients for appointment companions).
  • Improves care coordination via online appointment transportation requests and streamlined scheduling.
  • Requires regulatory action by the DPH to define standards, oversight, and implementation details (privacy, data sharing, safety, and funding considerations are not specified in the bill).

For readers seeking a quick takeaway: the bill would require hospitals and home health agencies to provide transportation access for vulnerable patients, create an appointment companion program at no cost to patients, and establish online and automated coordination features, with implementation guided by new DPH regulations.

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

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