An Act relative to hospital billing and licensure

This bill requires hospitals and physician practices in Massachusetts to obtain a separate license for any location that operates as a secondary site, defined as being more than 500 yards away or having independent utility systems. Under the new rules, each distinct facility must receive its own unique federal provider number and bill insurance companies and patients separately based on that specific location. The legislation also mandates that secondary facilities negotiate their own payment rates with carriers or default to 110% of the Medicare rate if no agreement is reached. Additionally, the state health department must determine there is a need for a new secondary facility before granting a license, though currently operating sites are exempt from this requirement.