AN ACT CONCERNING A PILOT PROGRAM TO TREAT CERTAIN MEDICAID PATIENTS AT A SHORT-TERM HOSPITAL SPECIAL HOSPICE.

This bill expands state Medicaid coverage to include room and board costs for patients receiving hospice care at short-term hospice specialty hospitals or licensed hospice facilities. Starting July 1, 2026, the Commissioner of Social Services will use available state funds to reimburse these specific care settings for eligible Medicaid beneficiaries. The legislation requires a report by January 15, 2027, to document any cost savings achieved by treating patients in these facilities compared to acute care hospitals or skilled nursing facilities.