An Act to protect medically fragile children

This bill amends state laws to ensure that MassHealth fills a growing percentage of authorized skilled nursing hours for medically fragile children, targeting 75 percent by 2023, 80 percent by 2024, and 85 percent by 2025. It directs the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to increase the budget for these services and allows funds to be used specifically to raise nurse wages. Additionally, the bill requires MassHealth to submit annual reports on how many hours are filled and whether authorization rules have become more restrictive. The legislation also mandates an Office of Medicaid review to analyze wage rates paid by home health agencies and provide recommendations for future reporting standards.