An Act to require equitable payment from the Commonwealth

This bill requires the state to pay network hospitals their full negotiated rate for behavioral health services provided to MassHealth patients who also receive care from state health agencies, when no suitable alternative placement exists. It directly affects hospitals serving MassHealth patients in behavioral health and the state's health and human services departments. The key provision mandates that hospitals must document good-faith efforts to find alternative placements before receiving full payment. The state will only cover the full rate if hospitals prove they attempted to place patients elsewhere.