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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1616 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 495
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John C. Velis
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to codify the Hospital to Home Partnership Program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John C. VelisHampden and HampshirePaul K. Frost7th Worcester1/29/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin2/3/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/11/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/11/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/26/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex2/26/2025Michael D. BradySecond Plymouth and Norfolk2/28/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1616 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 495
By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 495) of John C. Velis, Paul K. Frost,
Susannah M. Whipps, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for
legislation to codify the Hospital to Home Partnership Program. Elder Affairs.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to codify the Hospital to Home Partnership Program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 19A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4 the
2following section:-
3 Section 4 ½. (a) There is hereby established within the executive office of health and
4human services a Hospital to Home Partnership Program, with the mission to promote
5partnerships between Acute Care Hospitals, as defined by section 25B of chapter 111 and Aging
6Services Access Points (ASAPs), as defined by section 4B of chapter 19A and to strengthen
7communication and coordination with community providers to promote institutional diversion
8and increase discharge rates from hospitals to home and community-based settings.
9 (b) There will be within each participating Acute Care Hospital no less than 1 ASAP staff
10serving as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Hospital Liaisons, with the designated
11role to support the Hospital’s efforts to connect individuals to HCBS programs and community 2 of 2
12services to enable a community discharge instead of a skilled nursing facility or other
13institutional placement