An Act improving access to post acute services

HD 3406 aims to improve access to post-acute care services for MassHealth patients in Massachusetts by streamlining administrative processes and expanding community resources. The bill requires the Office of Medicaid to revise beneficiary notices, adopt transparent appeal procedures, and develop community discharge pathways for patients with chronic, medically complex conditions. It also establishes a complex care ombudsman program to assist hospitals with discharges and a pilot program to increase skilled nursing facility capacity for dementia, psychiatric, and geriatric patients. These changes target delays in transferring medically ready patients from hospitals to community-based care, freeing up acute care beds and improving care coordination.