An Act relative to individuals from birth to age twenty-two in need of short-term inpatient skilled nursing and rehabilitation services

This bill amends Massachusetts state laws to streamline nursing home admissions for children and young adults up to age twenty-two who require short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation services. Under the new provisions, these individuals can be admitted to a nursing home immediately upon referral from their primary care physician or hospital discharge team, bypassing the usual requirement for prior certification by the Department of Public Health's Multi-Disciplinary Medical Review Team. The legislation defines short-term care as services lasting up to one year, while long-term care remains subject to the existing certification process. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the medical review team must include a majority of independent health professionals and cannot deny certification based on factors such as sex, nationality, or source of payment.