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S 882

Provides plastic or composite eating utensils at state correctional facilities

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Gallivan

MassHealth will pay GME to community-based training sites (residents, NPs, dentists) to expand primary care and behavioral health training in shortage areas.

REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · S 882

Summary — S.882 (An Act to promote graduate medical education)

Status: Introduced (MA Senate), referred to committees; reported favorably to Senate Ways & Means (6/16/2025)
Introduced: 01/16/2025 (filed); sponsor: Sen. Jason M. Lewis
Primary subject: Requires MassHealth to make graduate medical education (GME) payments

Note: the provided metadata includes some inconsistent items (an initial unrelated title about utensils and some committee referrals and sponsor names that appear to be from other jurisdictions). The bill text below and this summary follow the legislative text filed in the Massachusetts Senate (filed as “An Act to promote graduate medical education”).

Purpose / Intent

To create a mechanism for MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid program) to make graduate medical education (GME) payments that support postgraduate residency and other training in community‑based settings. The aim is to strengthen training in primary care, behavioral health, and other provider shortage areas and to support training for other health professionals within community-based providers, including community health centers (CHCs).

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 83 to Chapter 118E of the Massachusetts General Laws directing MassHealth to make GME payments for:
    • Post-graduate residency and other training in community‑based primary care, behavioral health, and other physician/provider shortage areas.
    • Training for other health professionals (explicitly includes family medicine nurse practitioners, dentists, and dental hygienists).
  • Eligible payment recipients include community health centers and other community‑based healthcare settings.
  • MassHealth must attempt to obtain the maximum amount of federal reimbursement for these payments.
  • MassHealth must promulgate or revise any necessary rules and regulations to implement this section within 180 days of enactment.
  • MassHealth shall prioritize placements at community‑based settings that serve a high public‑payer mix.
  • MassHealth must consult with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc. regarding implementation.

Who is affected

  • Medical residents and trainees in community‑based residency programs (especially in primary care and behavioral health).
  • Other trainees (NPs, dentists, dental hygienists) if training programs are supported.
  • Community health centers and other community providers that host trainees.
  • MassHealth (administration and budget) and potentially the Commonwealth’s budget due to state/federal match dynamics.
  • Indirectly benefits Medicaid patients and populations served by safety‑net providers.

Implementation & timeline

  • Rulemaking: MassHealth required to promulgate necessary rules within 180 days after enactment.
  • Federal match: payments are to be structured to seek maximum federal reimbursement; actual fiscal impact will depend on federal approval and match rules.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Could expand community‑based training capacity and pipeline for primary care and behavioral health in underserved areas.
  • May shift or supplement GME funding toward community settings and CHCs (historically many GME dollars flow to hospital‑based programs).
  • Fiscal effects hinge on state appropriation decisions and the degree of federal reimbursement secured; administrative rulemaking will define operational details (eligibility criteria, payment formulas, oversight).

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

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