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| 2 | 2 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2245 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 3 | 3 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1613 |
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| 4 | 4 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 5 | 5 | | _________________ |
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| 6 | 6 | | PRESENTED BY: |
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| 7 | 7 | | Jacob R. Oliveira |
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| 8 | 8 | | _________________ |
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| 9 | 9 | | To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General |
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| 10 | 10 | | Court assembled: |
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| 11 | 11 | | The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: |
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| 12 | 12 | | An Act to increase access to health transportation. |
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| 13 | 13 | | _______________ |
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| 14 | 14 | | PETITION OF: |
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| 15 | 15 | | NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester 1 of 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2245 FILED ON: 1/17/2025 |
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| 17 | 17 | | SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1613 |
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| 18 | 18 | | By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1613) of Jacob R. Oliveira for |
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| 19 | 19 | | legislation to provide access to health transportation for vulnerable patients. Public Health. |
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| 20 | 20 | | The Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
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| 21 | 21 | | _______________ |
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| 22 | 22 | | In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2025-2026) |
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| 24 | 24 | | _______________ |
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| 25 | 25 | | An Act to increase access to health transportation. |
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| 26 | 26 | | Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to |
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| 27 | 27 | | which is to increase access to health transportation, therefore it is hereby declared to be an |
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| 28 | 28 | | emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience. |
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| 29 | 29 | | Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority |
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| 30 | 30 | | of the same, as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | 1 Chapter 111 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:- |
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| 32 | 32 | | 2 Section 245. A hospital or a home health agency shall provide access to health |
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| 33 | 33 | | 3transportation for vulnerable patients, including geographically-isolated, low income, English |
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| 34 | 34 | | 4language challenged, illiterate, having a disability, or elder adults struggling with dementia. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 5 As used in this section, the term “appointment companion” shall mean a person who, at |
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| 36 | 36 | | 6the request of a patient, is provided through a hospital or home health agency that ensures a |
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| 37 | 37 | | 7patient is taken to and from their appointments whether in a patient’s own transportation, public |
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| 38 | 38 | | 8transportation or health care transportation. |
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| 39 | 39 | | 9 An appointment companion shall not be responsible for any costs that the patient accrues |
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| 40 | 40 | | 10related to transportation. 2 of 2 |
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| 41 | 41 | | 11 A hospital or a home health agency shall ensure an easier process and effective |
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| 42 | 42 | | 12coordination to access to health transportation. Patient online accounts shall include a section to |
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| 43 | 43 | | 13request transportation services for an appointment companion for vulnerable patients includes |
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| 44 | 44 | | 14those in geographically-isolated, low income, English language challenged, illiterate, have a |
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| 45 | 45 | | 15disability, or elder adults struggling with dementia. |
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| 46 | 46 | | 16 If a medical appointment for which a patient has requested transportation is scheduled, |
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| 47 | 47 | | 17the request shall automatically transfer to future appointments. |
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| 48 | 48 | | 18 The department of public health shall promulgate regulations to implement this section. |
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