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H 3986

Sportfish Restoration Project, 75th anniversary

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

Massachusetts H. 3986 requires insurers to hire care coordinators and share real-time discharge data with hospitals to cut delayed discharges, with penalties and annual reporting.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 3986

Summary: Materials provided for “H. 3986” (two distinct measures)

Note: The packet you provided contains two different legislative measures that share the label “H. 3986” but are from different jurisdictions and have different subject matter. Below are separate, concise summaries for each measure and their current procedural status.

1) Massachusetts — “An Act relative to addressing delayed patient discharges”

(Inserted as new Section 51D½ into Chapter 111 of the Massachusetts General Laws)

Purpose / intent

To reduce delays in hospital discharges that occur when patients have completed medical treatment but cannot leave due to insurance authorization issues, coverage disputes, or lack of available in‑network post‑hospital care.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section (51D½) to Chapter 111 with definitions, including “delayed patient discharge” and “health insurance company.”
  • Requires all health insurance companies operating in Massachusetts to:
    • Employ or contract dedicated care coordinators to facilitate discharge and transition planning for patients needing post‑hospital placement (nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers). These coordinators must be available outside standard business hours (evenings and weekends).
    • Provide hospitals with real‑time access to secure electronic platforms containing insurance information relevant to discharge planning.
    • Issue timely updates to patients and hospitals on the status of discharge authorizations and arrangements.
  • Requires hospitals to collaborate with insurers and use the secure platforms to ensure timely discharges.
  • Enforcement and penalties:
    • Department (the statute is inserted into Chapter 111; the enforcing department would promulgate regulations) may impose penalties for noncompliance, including fines not exceeding $10,000 per documented instance.
    • Public reporting of noncompliant entities in an annual departmental report.
  • Oversight and reporting:
    • Department may audit hospitals and insurers for compliance.
    • Department, with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, must prepare an annual report (due by December 31 each year) including: number of documented delayed discharges; compliance rates among insurers and hospitals; and recommendations to reduce delays.
  • Effective date: January 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Patients awaiting post‑hospital placement, hospitals, nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities/rehabilitation centers, health insurance companies operating in Massachusetts, and relevant state agencies.

Procedural status (as provided)

  • Filed/introduced (House Docket No. 2424 / House No. 3986) — initial filing dates in January 2025 appear in the text. Referred to the committee on Financial Services on April 3, 2025. A public hearing is scheduled for October 27, 2025 (10:30 AM–4:00 PM) in Gardner Auditorium per the action list.

2) South Carolina — House Resolution: “Sportfish Restoration Program, 75th anniversary” (H. 3986)

Purpose / intent

A non‑binding commemorative resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program as part of the American System of Conservation Funding and honoring anglers, boaters, the sport fishing industry, state fish and wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Key points in the resolution

  • Acknowledges historical conservation efforts by hunters and anglers and the creation of state natural resource agencies funded by license fees and excise taxes.
  • Notes the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (1950) and the Wallop‑Breaux amendment (1984) as foundations of the program.
  • Describes how excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels are distributed to states via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for fisheries conservation, management, and access.
  • States that the combined contributions of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs and license fees since 1939 exceed $78 billion.
  • Directs that a copy of the resolution be presented to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Legal effect

  • Ceremonial/expressive only; does not create binding policy, appropriations, or regulatory changes.

Procedural status

  • Introduced and adopted by the South Carolina House on February 13, 2025. Sponsors list is extensive (many House members listed). The document references the South Carolina General Assembly, 126th Session (2025–2026).

If you want, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of the Massachusetts statutory proposal and typical existing law on insurer discharge coordination; or
- Prepare a short briefing memo on likely implementation challenges and stakeholder impacts for the Massachusetts bill.

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

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