Bill
H 1393
MassHealth would pay graduate medical education for training in community-based primary care, behavioral health, and shortage areas, expanding funding beyond hospitals.
Status and Process
- Introduced: February 27, 2025
- Referred to: House Committee on Health Care Financing
- Hearing: Scheduled for May 12, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM, Gardner Auditorium
- Related action: Senate concurrence noted; House Docket No. 2559 (HD 2559) is related/replaces
- Purpose of the bill: Authorize MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) to make graduate medical education (GME) payments for training in community-based settings to address provider shortages
What the bill would do (Key Provisions)
- Create new Sec. 83 in Chapter 118E of the General Laws
- MassHealth shall make graduate medical education payments for post-graduate residency and other training in:
- Community-based primary care
- Behavioral health
- Other areas of physician or provider shortage in community-based healthcare settings in the Commonwealth
- Eligible training and providers
- Payments may support community-based training for other health professionals, including:
- Family medicine nurse practitioners
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Eligible providers expressly include community health centers
- Federal funding and regulatory approach
- MassHealth shall seek to obtain the maximum amount of federal reimbursement for these payments
- MassHealth shall promulgate and revise any rules or regulations necessary to implement the provision within 180 days of enactment
- Priority and consultation
- MassHealth shall prioritize placements at community-based settings and organizations with a high public payer mix
- MassHealth shall consult with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc. regarding implementation
Impact and implications
- Policy objectives
- Expands MassHealth-supported GME beyond traditional hospital-based settings to community-based primary care and behavioral health
- Aims to strengthen the pipeline of providers in shortage areas and improve access in community settings
- Potential effects
- Increased training opportunities at community health centers and similar organizations
- Broader GME funding to include non-physician clinicians (e.g., nurse practitioners, dentists, dental hygienists)
- Possible growth in federal reimbursements through increased GME funding, offsetting state costs
- Implementation considerations
- Requires development of rules within 180 days of enactment
- Ongoing coordination with community health centers and professional associations
Notes
- The bill focuses on strengthening the medical and health workforce in community-based settings, prioritizing areas with high need and high public payer involvement, and leveraging federal matching funds where possible.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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