Code of Massachusetts Regulations
101 CMR - EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Title 101 CMR 614.00 - Health Safety Net Payments and Funding
Section 614.02 - Definitions

Universal Citation: 101 MA Code of Regs 101.614

Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024

As used in 101 CMR 614.00, unless the context otherwise requires, terms have the following meanings. All defined terms in 101 CMR 614.00 are capitalized.

340B Provider. An Acute Hospital or Community Health Center eligible to purchase discounted drugs through a program established by § 340B of United States Public Law 102-585, the Veterans Health Act of 1992, permitting certain grantees of federal agencies access to reduced cost drugs for their Patients, and registered and listed as a 340B Provider within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) database. Services of a 340B pharmacy may be provided at on-site or off-site locations.

Acute Hospital. A hospital licensed under M.G.L. c. 111, § 51 that contains a majority of medical-surgical, pediatric, obstetric, and maternity beds, as defined by the Department of Public Health.

Administrative Day. A day of inpatient hospitalization on which a Patient's care needs can be provided in a setting other than an inpatient Acute Hospital in accordance with the standards in 130 CMR 415.000: Acute Inpatient Hospital Services and on which the Patient is clinically ready for discharge.

Ambulatory Surgical Center. Any distinct entity that operates exclusively for the purpose of providing surgical services to Patients not requiring hospitalization and meets the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for participation in the Medicare program.

Ambulatory Surgical Center Services. Services described for purposes of the Medicare program pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1395k(a)(2)(F)(i). These services include only facility services and do not include physician fees.

Bad Debt. An account receivable based on services furnished to a Patient that is

(a) regarded as uncollectible, following reasonable collection efforts consistent with the requirements in 101 CMR 613.06: Allowable Bad Debt;

(b) charged as a credit loss;

(c) not the obligation of a governmental unit or the federal government or any agency thereof; and

(d) not a Reimbursable Health Service.

Center. The Center for Health Information and Analysis established under M.G.L. c. 12C.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

Charge. The uniform price for a specific service charged by a Provider.

Community Health Center. A health center operating in conformance with the requirements of § 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 254b), including all Community Health Centers that file cost reports with the Center. Such a health center must

(a) be licensed as a freestanding clinic by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health pursuant to M.G.L. c. 111, § 51;

(b) meet the qualifications for certification (or provisional certification) by the MassHealth Agency and enter into a Provider agreement pursuant to 130 CMR 405.000: Community Health Center Services; and

(c) operate in conformance with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. § 254b.

Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH). An Acute Hospital where a minimum of 63% of the Gross Patient Service Revenue is attributable to Title XVIII and Title XIX of the Social Security Act or other government payers, including the Premium Assistance Payment Program Operated by the Health Connector and the Health Safety Net.

Eligible Services. Services eligible for Health Safety Net payment pursuant to 101 CMR 613.03: Eligible Services Requirements. Eligible Services include

(a) Reimbursable Health Services to Low Income Patients;

(b) Medical Hardship; and

(c) Bad Debt as further specified in 101 CMR 613.00: Health Safety Net Eligible Services and 614.00.

Emergency Bad Debt. The amount of uncollectible debt for Emergency Services that meets the criteria set forth in 101 CMR 613.06: Allowable Bad Debt.

Emergency Services. Medically Necessary Services provided to an individual with an Emergency Medical Condition as defined in 101 CMR 613.02: Definitions.

Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The federal poverty income guidelines issued annually in the Federal Register.

Financial Requirements. An Acute Hospital's requirement for revenue that includes, but is not limited to, reasonable operating, capital, and working capital costs, and the reasonable costs associated with changes in medical practice and technology.

Fiscal Year (FY). The time period of 12 months beginning on October 1st of any calendar year and ending on September 30th of the following calendar year.

Governmental Unit. The Commonwealth, any department, agency, board, or commission of the Commonwealth, and any political subdivision of the Commonwealth.

Gross Patient Service Revenue. The total dollar amount of a hospital's charges for services rendered in a Fiscal Year.

Guarantor. A person or group of persons who assumes the responsibility of payment for all or part of an Acute Hospital's or Community Health Center's charge for services.

Health Connector. Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority or Health Connector established pursuant to M.G.L. c. 176Q, § 2.

Health Safety Net. The payment program established and administered in accordance with M.G.L. c. 118E, §§ 8A, and 64 through 69 and regulations promulgated thereunder, and other applicable legislation.

Health Safety Net Office. The office within the Office of Medicaid established under M.G.L. c. 118E, § 65.

Health Safety Net Trust Fund. The fund established under M.G.L. c. 118E, § 66.

Health Services. Medically necessary inpatient and outpatient services as authorized under Title XIX of the Social Security Act. Health services do not include

(a) nonmedical services, such as social, educational, and vocational services;

(b) cosmetic surgery;

(c) canceled or missed appointments;

(d) telephone conversations and consultations;

(e) court testimony;

(f) research or the provision of experimental or unproven procedures; and

(g) the provision of whole blood, but the administrative and processing costs associated with the provision of blood and its derivatives are payable.

Hospital Cost Report. The Massachusetts Hospital Statement of Costs, Revenues, and Statistics reported to the Center pursuant to 957 CMR 9.00: Hospital Financial Data Reporting Requirements.

Hospital Licensed Health Center. A Satellite Clinic that

(a) meets MassHealth requirements for reimbursement as a Hospital Licensed Health Center as provided at 130 CMR 410.413: Medical Services Required on Site at a Hospital-licensed Health Center; and

(b) is approved by and enrolled with MassHealth's Provider Enrollment Unit as a Hospital Licensed Health Center.

Hospital Services. Services listed on an Acute Hospital's license by the Department of Public Health. This does not include services provided in transitional care units; services provided in skilled nursing facilities; and home health services, or separately licensed services, including residential treatment programs and ambulance services.

Indirect Payment. A payment made by an entity licensed or approved under M.G.L. chs. 175, 176A, 176B, 176G, or 176I to a group of Providers, including one or more Massachusetts Acute Hospitals or Ambulatory Surgical Centers, that then forward the payment to member Acute Hospitals or Ambulatory Surgical Centers; or a payment made to an individual to reimburse him or her for a payment made to an Acute Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center.

Individual Medical Visit. A face-to-face meeting at a Community Health Center between a Patient and a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, registered nurse, or paraprofessional for medical examination, diagnosis, or treatment.

Individual Payer. A Patient or Guarantor who pays his or her own Acute Hospital or Ambulatory Surgical Center bill and is not eligible for reimbursement from an insurer or any other source.

Institutional Payer. A Surcharge Payer that is an entity other than an Individual Payer.

Low Income Patient. A Patient who meets the criteria in 101 CMR 613.04(1): General.

Managed Care Organization. A managed care organization, as defined in 42 CFR 438.2, and any eligible health insurance plan, as defined in M.G.L. c. 118H, § 1, that contracts with MassHealth or the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority; provided, however, that a managed care organization does not include a senior care organization, as defined in M.G.L. c. 118E, § 9D, or an integrated care organization as defined in M.G.L. c. 118E, § 9F.

MassHealth. The medical assistance and benefit programs administered by the MassHealth Agency pursuant to Title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396) , Title XXI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397) , M.G.L. c. 118E, and other applicable laws and waivers to provide and pay for medical services to eligible members.

MassHealth Agency. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 118E.

Medically Necessary Service. A service that is reasonably expected to prevent, diagnose, prevent the worsening of, alleviate, correct, or cure conditions that endanger life, cause suffering or pain, cause physical deformity or malfunction, threaten to cause or to aggravate a disability, or result in illness or infirmity. Medically Necessary Services include inpatient and outpatient services as authorized under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Medicare Advantage. A type of Medicare health plan established by Title II of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.

Medicare Program (Medicare). The medical insurance program established by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.

Non-acute Hospital. A nonpublic hospital that is

(a) licensed by the Department of Public Health under M.G.L. c. 111, § 51 but not defined as an acute-care hospital under M.G.L. c. 111, § 25B; or

(b) licensed as an inpatient facility by the Department of Mental Health under M.G.L. c. 19, § 19 and regulations promulgated thereunder but not categorized as Class VII licensees under the regulations.

Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA). The Office of Pharmacy Affairs, and any successor agencies, is a division within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that monitors the registration of 340B pharmacies.

Patient. An individual who receives or has received Medically Necessary Services at an Acute Hospital or Community Health Center.

Pediatric Hospital. An Acute Hospital that limits services primarily to children and that qualifies as exempt from the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS).

Premium Assistance Payment Program Operated by the Health Connector. An insurance subsidy program that provides state subsidies for low-income individuals and families administered by the Health Connector.

Prospective Payment System (PPS) Rate . The Medicare Prospective Payment System rate for Community Health Centers set annually by CMS as described in 42 CFR 405.2467.

Provider. An Acute Hospital or Community Health Center that provides Eligible Services.

Publicly Aided Patient. A person who receives Acute Hospital or Community Health Center care and services for which a Governmental Unit is liable in whole or in part under a statutory obligation.

Registered Payer List. A list of Institutional Payers as defined in 101 CMR 614.05(3)(b).

Reimbursable Health Services. Eligible Services provided by Acute Hospitals or Community Health Centers to Uninsured and Underinsured Patients who are determined to be financially unable to pay for their care, in whole or in part and who meet the criteria for Low Income Patient; provided that such services are not eligible for reimbursement by any other public or third party payer.

Shortfall Amount. In a Fiscal Year, the positive difference between the sum of allowable Health Safety Net costs for all Acute Hospitals and the revenue available for distribution to Acute Hospitals.

Sole Community Hospital. Any Acute Hospital classified as a Sole Community Hospital by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services', Medicare regulations, or any Acute Hospital that demonstrates to the Health Safety Net Office's satisfaction that it is located more than 25 miles from other Acute Hospitals in the Commonwealth and that it provides services for at least 60% of its primary service area.

Source Year. The Fiscal Year two Fiscal Years prior to the regulation effective date, from which data is collected to calculate current payment rates, unless otherwise specified by the Health Safety Net Office through administrative bulletin.

Surcharge Payer. An individual or entity that

(a) makes payments for the purchase of health care Hospital Services and Ambulatory Surgical Center Services; and

(b) meets the criteria set forth in 101 CMR 614.05(1)(a).

Surcharge Percentage. The percentage assessed on certain payments to Acute Hospitals and Ambulatory Surgical Centers determined pursuant to 101 CMR 614.05(2).

Third Party Administrator. An entity that administers payments for health care services on behalf of a client plan in exchange for an administrative fee. A Third Party Administrator may provide client services for a self-insured plan or an insurance carrier's plan. A Third Party Administrator is deemed to use a client plan's funds to pay for health care services whether the Third Party Administrator pays Providers with funds from a client plan, with funds advanced by the Third Party Administrator subject to reimbursement by the client plan, or with funds deposited with the Third Party Administrator by a client plan.

Total Surcharge Amount. An amount equal to $160,000,000 plus 50% of the estimated cost, as determined by the Secretary of Administration and Finance, of administering the Health Safety Net and related assessments in accordance with M.G.L. c. 118E, §§ 65 through 69.

Urgent Care Services. Medically Necessary Services provided in an Acute Hospital or Community Health Center after the sudden onset of a medical condition, whether physical or mental, manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) that a prudent layperson would believe that the absence of medical attention within 24 hours could reasonably expect to result in placing a Patient's health in jeopardy, impairment to bodily function, or dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. Urgent Care Services are provided for conditions that are not life threatening and do not pose a high risk of serious damage to an individual's health. Urgent Care Services do not include Primary or Elective Care, as defined in 101 CMR 613.02: Definitions.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.