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HD 2559

An Act to promote graduate medical education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jamie Eldridge and 3 co-sponsors

MassHealth would fund graduate medical education and training in community-based primary care and behavioral health, expanding to other health professionals.

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Bill Summary · HD 2559

Summary: An Act to Promote Graduate Medical Education (Massachusetts)

Overview

HD 2559, introduced in 2025, proposes adding a new Section 83 to Chapter 118E of the General Laws. The bill would require MassHealth to make graduate medical education (GME) payments for post-graduate residency training and other health-profession training in community-based settings across the Commonwealth, with a focus on primary care, behavioral health, and other areas facing provider shortages. It also allows for the training of other health professionals in these settings and calls for regulatory action within 180 days of enactment.

Purpose and Intent

  • Expand GME funding beyond hospital-based settings to community-based health care, aiming to strengthen primary care and behavioral health capacity and address provider shortages.
  • Support a broader range of health professionals in community-based training, not limited to physicians.
  • Leverage federal reimbursements to maximize funding for these programs.
  • Prioritize training placements in settings with high public payer involvement to improve access for underserved populations.

Key Provisions

1) Creation of MassHealth GME Payments (Section 83)
- MassHealth shall make graduate medical education payments for post-graduate residency and other training in community-based primary care, behavioral health, and other shortage areas within Massachusetts.

2) Eligible Providers
- Payments may support community-based training for other health professionals, including but not limited to family medicine nurse practitioners, dentists, and dental hygienists.
- Eligible settings include community health centers.

3) Federal Reimbursement
- MassHealth shall seek the maximum possible federal reimbursement for these payments.

4) Rulemaking Timeline
- MassHealth must promulgate and revise all necessary rules/regulations to implement this provision within 180 days of enactment.

5) Implementation Priorities and Consultation
- 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. on implementation.

Affected Parties

  • MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program)
  • Community health centers and other community-based primary care and behavioral health providers
  • Medical residents and other health professionals (e.g., family medicine NPs, dentists, dental hygienists) participating in community-based training
  • Stakeholders involved in GME and workforce development within Massachusetts

Financial and Procedural Notes

  • The bill seeks to maximize federal reimbursement but does not specify dollar amounts or funding levels.
  • Regulatory framework to implement the program must be established within 180 days of enactment.
  • The measure emphasizes collaborative implementation with community health centers to ensure alignment with community needs.

Status and Process (as filed)

  • Filed: January 16, 2025, as House No. 2559 (House Docket No. 2559)
  • Sponsored by Rep. Frank A. Moran (and others)
  • Still subject to the legislative process and committee review; no final enacted funding or timeline beyond the 180-day rulemaking requirement.

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

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