Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1614 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2249 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1614
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Jacob R. Oliveira
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act ensuring home care patient safety.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester 1 of 2
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2249 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1614
18	18	By Mr. Oliveira, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1614) of Jacob R. Oliveira for
19	19	legislation to ensure home care for high-risk patients. Public Health.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
23	23	(2025-2026)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act ensuring home care patient safety.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
29	29	2is hereby amended by inserting in section 236 subsection (f):-
30	30	3 Definition
31	31	4 “High Risk Patient”: Suffering from a series of chronic conditions that challenge the
32	32	5ability to access care. This may include but not limited to dementia, conditions resulting from
33	33	6diabetes related complications, stroke, and heart related issues.
34	34	7 A home health care agency shall ensure it receives the most updated treatment plan and
35	35	8the most updated medication list from both the primary care doctor and hospital including when
36	36	9a high risk patient is discharged.
37	37	10 SECTION 2. Chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
38	38	11is hereby amended by inserting in section 72 G the following:- 2 of 2
39	39	12 A home care agency shall take specific steps for high risk patients to ensure critical
40	40	13services including medication administration to high risk patients are not disrupted, and shall
41	41	14provide the most updated medication information including any changes to home visiting nurses.
42	42	15A home health agency shall ensure a substitute home visiting nurse has the most updated
43	43	16medication list and updated administration steps.
44	44	17 In cases where a home visiting nurses locks medication, a home health care agency shall
45	45	18ensure a high risk patient always has supply of critical medications.
46	46	19 In case of inadvertent medical errors, a home visiting nurse shall report to medical errors
47	47	20to primary doctor and inform family members.
48	48	21 A home health care agency shall further establish a scheduling notification system for
49	49	22home visiting nurses, a high risk patient’s primary care doctor and family members.
50	50	23 There shall be a commission to study the rising needs of an increasing elder adult
51	51	24population including in low-income communities and causes of patient harm in home health
52	52	25care. The commission shall study the causes of medical errors that result in patient harm
53	53	26including in high risk patients, the challenges for health care workers, and make
54	54	27recommendations to ensure the safety of patients, quality of home health care, and reduction of
55	55	28patient harm including in high risk patient populations.