HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1565        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4138

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Matthew C. Patrick

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
              Court assembled:

              The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the Cape Care Community Health Trust.

________ _______

PETITION OF:

 

Name:	District/Address:
Matthew C. Patrick	3rd Barnstable
Sarah K. Peake	4th Barnstable
Robert A. O'Leary	Cape and Islands
Timothy Madden	Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket
Cleon H. Turner	1st Barnstable
William Lantigua	16th Essex
John W. Scibak	2nd Hampshire

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand and Nine

_______________

 

An Act relative to the Cape Care Community Health Trust.


 

              Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

              The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by adding the following:

Section 1: Preamble.

The foundation for a productive and healthy Barnstable County is a health care syste m that provides equal access to quality health care for all its residents. Massachusetts spends more on health care per capita than any other state or country in the world, causing undue hardship for the stat e, municipalities, businesses, and residents, but without achieving universal access to quality health care.  In Barnstable County, the worsening economic pressure on care providers has resulted in out-migration, with dimin ished access to care. The Cape Care Community Health Trust will promote the three main pillars of a just, efficient health care system for our residents: cost control and affordability , universal equitable access, and high quality medical care.

(a) Cost Control and Affordability

Controlling costs is the most important component of establishing a sustainable health care system for the County.  The Cape Care Community Health T rust will control costs by establishing a global budget, by achieving significant savings on administrative overhead through consolidating the financing of our health care system , by volume purchasing of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, and by more efficient use of our health care facilities and provider network . The strong public health tradition in this county will be strengthened by enhanced data management capabilities, and will lead to improved control of infectious disease and environ mental health risks . Our present fragmented system also leads to a lack of effective preventive care. Cape Care will enhance primary care “homes” for all enrolled , coordinating health services and removing barriers to access will promote early detection and intervention , avoiding more serious illnesses and more costly treatments.

(b) Universal Equitable Acces s

Thousands of Barnstable County residents still lack health insurance coverage of any sort.  Even more residents are covered by plans requiring high deductibles and co-payments that make medical care unaffordable even for the insured. Even with insurance, many barriers impede access to care. The Community Health Care Trust will provide health care access to all residents without regard to fin ancial status, employment status, ethnicity, gender, or previous health problems.  Coverage will be continuous and affordable for individuals and families, since there will be minimal or no financial barriers to access , such as co-pays or deductibles. And a coordinated approach to care will assure that continuous primary care and timely access to specialty care is available to all.

(c) Quality of Care

The World Health Organization rates health outcomes in the United States health care system lower than those of almost all other industrialized countries, and a number of developing countries as well. Poor health outcomes result from the lack of un iversal access , the lack of oversight on quality due to the fragmentation and complexity of our health care system, and the frequent lack of preventive and comprehensive care benefits o ffered under commercial health plans.  The Trust will reduce errors through information technology , will improve medical care by eliminating much of the present administrative complexity to focus on care, and will incorporate evidence-based , non-commercial education for both providers and consumers . The facilitation of community-wide Electronic Health Records as a means to enhance effective, coordinated and affordable health care, will be a key enhancement possible within a true care-delivery system. The Trust will solicit and evaluate input from patients on the functioning of the health syst em, and will report to the County and community on outcomes measures.

Section 2: Definitions.

The following words and phrases as used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, except where the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Board” means the board of trustees of the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

“Employer” means every person, partnership, association, corporation, trustee, receiver, the legal representatives of a deceased employer and every other person, including any person or corporation operating a railroad and any public service corporation, the state, county, municipal corporation, township, school or road, school board, board of education, curators, managers o r control commission, board or any other political subdivision, corporation, or quasi-corporation, or city or town under special charter, or under the commission for of government, using the service of another for pay in the commonwealth.

“ Executive Direct or ” means the executive director of the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

“ Health care ” means care provided to a specific individual by a licensed health care professional to promote physi cal and mental health , to treat illness and injury and to prevent illness and injury.

“ Health care facility ” means any facility or institution, whether public or private, proprietary or nonprofit, that is organized, maintained, and op erated for health maintenance or for the prevention , diagnosis, care and treatment of human illness, physical or mental, for one or more persons.

“ Health care provider ” means any professional person, medical group, independent practice association, organization, health care facility, or other person or institution licensed or authorized by law to provide professional health care services to an individual in the commonwealth.

“ Health maintenance organization ” means a provider organization that meets the following criteria:

              (1) Is fully integrated operationally and clinically to provide a broad range of health care services;

(2) Is compensated using capitation or overall operating budget; and

(3) Provides heal th care services primarily through direct care providers who are either employees or partners of the organization, or through arrangements with direct care providers or one or more groups of physicians, organized on a group practice or in dividual practice basis.

“ Professional advisory board ” means a committee of advisors appointed by the Trustees.

“ Resident ” means a person who lives in Barnstable County as evidenced by an intent to continue to live in Barnstable County and to return to Barnstable County if temporarily absent, coupled with an act or acts consistent with that intent. The Trust shall adopt standards and procedures for determining whether a person is a resident . Such rules shall include:

(1) a provision requiring that the person seeking resident status has the burden of proof in such determination;

(2) a provision requiring reasonable durational domicile requirements not to exceed 2 years for long term care and 90 days for all other covered services;

(3) a provision that a residence established for the purpose of seeking health care shall not by itself establish that a person is a resident of the County; and

(4) a provision that, for the pu rposes of this chapter, the terms “domicile” and “dwelling place” are not limited to any particular structure or interest in real property. Homeless individuals meeting criteria above shall specifically be considered “resident.”

“Trust” means the Cape Care Community Health Trust established in section three of this chapter.

Section 3. Establishment of the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

There is hereby created an independent body, politic and corporate, to be known as the Cape Care Community Health Trust , also hereinafter referred to as the Trust, to function as the single public agency, or “single payer ”, responsi ble for the collection and disbursement of funds required to provide health care services for every resident of Barnstable County. The Cape Care Community Health Trust is hereby constituted a public instrumentality of the County and the ex ercise by the Trust of the powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held the performance of an essential governmental function. The Cape Care Community Health Trust is hereby placed in some relation, to be determ ined, to the Barnstable County Department of Human Services, but shall not be subject to the supervision or control of said office or of any board, bureau, department or other agency of the commonwealth or county excep t as specifically provided by this chapter.

The provisions of chapter two hundred sixty-eight A shall apply to all trustees , officers and employees of the Cape Care Community Health Trust , except that the Cape Care Community Health Trust may purchase from, contract with or otherwise deal with any organization in which any trustee is interested or involved: provided, however, that such interest or involvement is disclosed in advance t o the trustees and recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the Cape Care Community Health Trust: and provided, further, that a trustee having such interest or involvement may not participate in any decision relating to such organization.

Neither the Cape Care Community Health Trust nor any of its officers , trustees , employees, consultants or advisors shall be subject to the provisions of sec tion three B of chapter seven, sections nine A, forty-five, forty-six and fifty-two of chapter thirty, chapter thirty B or chapter thirty-one: provided, however, that in purchasing goods and services, the corporation shall at all times f ollow generally accepted good business practices.

All officers and employees of the Cape Care Community Health Trust having access to its cash or negotiable securities shall give bond to the Cape Care Community Health Trust at its expense, in such amount and with such surety as the board of trustees shall prescribe. The persons required to give bond may be included in one or more blanket or scheduled bonds.

Trustees, officers and advisors who are not regular, compensated employees of the Cape Care Community Health Trust shall not be liable to the commonwealth, to the Trust or to any other person as a result of their activities, whether ministerial or discretionary, as such trustees , officers or advisors except for willful dishonesty or intentional violations of law. The board of the Cape Care Community Health Tru st may purchase liability insurance for trustees, officers, advisors and employees and may indemnify said persons against the claims of others.

Section 4: Powers.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall have the following powers :

(1) to make, amend and repeal by-laws, rules and regulations for the management of its affairs;

(2) to adopt an official seal;

(3) to sue and be sued in its own name;

(4) to make contracts and execute all instruments necessary or convenient for the carrying on of the purposes of this chapter;

(5) to acquire, own, hold, dispose of and encumber personal, real or intellectual property of any nature or any interest therein;

(6) to enter into agree ments or transactions with any federal, state or municipal agency or other public institution or with any private individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association or other entity;

(7) to appear on its own behalf before boards, commissions, departmen ts or other agencies of federal, state or municipal government;

(8) to appoint officers and to engage and employ employees, including legal counsel, consultants , agents and advisors and prescribe their duties and fix their compensations;

(9) to establish advisory boards;

(10) to procure insurance against any losses in connection with its property in such amounts, and from such insurers, as may be necessary or desirable;

(11) to inves t any funds held in reserves or sinking funds, or any funds not required for immediate disbursement, in such investments as may be lawful for fiduciaries in the commonwealth pursuant to sections thirty-eight and thirty-ei ght A of chapter twenty nine;

(12) to accept, hold, use, apply, and dispose of any and all donations , grants , bequests and devises, conditional or otherwise, of money, property, services or other things of value which may be received from the United States or any agency thereof, any governmental agency, any institution, person, firm or corporation, public or private, such donations, grants, bequests and devises to be held, used, applied or disposed for any or all of the pur poses specified in this chapter and in accordance with the terms and conditions of any such grant . A receipt of each such donation or grant shall be detailed in the annual report of the Cape Care Community Health Trust ; such annual report shall include the identity of the donor, lender, the nature of the transaction and any condition attaching thereto;

(13) to do any and all other things necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes of this chapte rs.

Section 5: Purposes.

The purposes of the Cape Care Community Health Trust shall include the following:

(1) To guarantee every Barnstable County resident access to high quality health care by providing reimbursement for all medically appropriate health care services offered by the eligible provider or facility of each resident’s choice;

(2) To save money by replacing the current mixture of public and private health care plans with a uniform and comprehensive health care plan available to every Barnstable County resident ;

(3) To replace the redundant private and public bureaucracies required to support the current system wit h a single administrative and payment mechanism for covered health care services;

(4) To use administrative and other savings to:

              (a) assure affordable coverage to all Barnstable County residents

(b) expand covered health c are services;

(c) contain health care cost increases; and

(d) create provider incentives to improving health care service quality and delivery to patients;

(5) To participate in the Commonwealth ’s Determination of Need process for capital needs for health care facilities in Barnstable County. An evaluation and public report on any Determination of Need application will be prepared and sub mitted to the responsible agency. A decision-making role in that process will be developed.

(6) To achieve measurable improvement in health care outcomes ;

(7) To prevent disease and disability and maintain or improve health a nd functionality;

(8) To ensure that all Barnstable County residents receive care appropriate to their special needs as well as care that is culturally and linguistically competent;

(9) To increase satisfaction with the performance of the health care sys tem among health care providers and consumers, including the employers and employees of the county;

(10) To implement policies which strengthen and improve culturally and linguistically sensitive care;

(11) To develop an integrated popu lation-based health care database to support health care planning .

Section 6: Board of Trustees ; Composition; Powers and Duties.

The Board of Trustees shall consist of one elected representative from each of the six state legislative districts in Barnstable County; and of not less than seven, nor more than eleven, specified ex-officio delegates, for a Board of not less than thirteen nor more than sevent een members.

(1)     Elected trustees will be chosen every two years, concurrent with the regular election of state representatives.

(2)     Each Trustee must be a resident of Barnstable County.

(3)     The terms of elected trustees shall begin with the first Wednesday in January succeeding their election and shall extend to the first Wednesday in January in the third year following their election and until their successors are chosen and qualified.

(4)     Ex-officio representatives wil l be selected as delegates by designated organizations on Cape Cod, which have significant involvement or stakeholder role in health care and human services delivery. The initial organizations will be defined in the process of establishing the Trust ; and c hanges thereafter will be by the Board of Trustees .

(5)     The Board, by a simple majority, may add or remove organizations from the list of those delegating representatives, without altering the term of a sitting ex-ofic io delegate. In the event that a designated organization ceases to function, the Board may vote another to fill the role and to delegate a representative

(6)     Each appointed ex-officio trustee shall serve a term of three years; provided, however, that initially two of the total appointed trustees shall serve one-year terms, three shall serve two-year terms, and two shall serve three-year terms. The initial appointed trustees shall be assigned to one, two or three year terms by lot. Any person ap pointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall serve for the unexpired term of the predecessor trustee. Any appointed trustee shall be eligible for reappointment. Any appointed trustee may be removed from his appointment for cause. No trustee will serve more than three full terms

(7)     The board shall elect a chair from among its members every two years. A simple majority of trustees shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the trustees present and eligible to vote at a meeting shall be necessary for any action to be taken by the board. The board of trustees shall meet at least ten times each year and will have final authority over the activities of the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

(8)     The trustees shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses and loss of income incurred for each full day serving in the performance of their duties to the extent that reimbursement of those expenses is not otherwise provided or payable by another public agency or agencies. For purposes of this section, “full day of attending a meeting” shall mean presence at, and participation in, not less than six hours of meeting and travel time

(9)     N o member of the board of trustees shall make, participate in making, or in any way attempt to use his or her official position to influence a decision in which he or she know or has reason to know that he or she, or a family member or a bu siness partner or colleague has a financial interest.

(10) The Board will:

(a) Be responsible for oversight of administration of Cape Care Community Health Trust , including the Executive Dire ctor of the Trust.

(b) Establish all necessary policies, and review and amend them from time to time

(c) Assure ongoing compliance with an approved "Mission Statement."

(d) Attempt to resolve disputes that may arise from time to time

(e) Serve as an Appeals Board for Benefits coverage determinations

(f)      Manage investment of Cape Care Community Health Trust funds ; maintain adequate reserves to cover reasonably p rojected losses; derive safest investment income

(g) Contract and monitor adequacy of reinsurance

(h)     Establish policy on medical issues, population-based public health issues, research priorities, scope of services, an d expanding access to care, based on recommendations of the Professional Advisory Board .

(i)      Evaluate proposals for innovative approaches to health promotion, disease and injury prevention , health education and research , and health care delivery. The specific public health goals of improving diet and exercise patterns, and curtailing tobacco use and smoke exposure will have specific emphasis, for their demonstrated significant role in reducing a population’s cardiovascular disease and cancer risks.

(j)      Develop methods for reporting and making recommendations to municipal and/or County gove rnment, in order to facilitate improved access to healthy foods, nutrition services and exercise , as well as to limit tobacco use and environmental smoke exposure across the community.

(k)     Estab lish standards and criteria by which requests by health facilities requiring state approval for capital improvements shall be evaluated, and oversee submission to the Commonwealth of written comment on any such applications, ba sed on those standards and criteria.

(l)      Oversee preparation of annual operating and capital budgets for the countywide delivery of health care services under the Cape Care Community Health Trust

(m) Regula rly evaluate system performance for effectiveness, efficiency, accessibility and other review criteria as determined by the Board.

(n)     Alter administrative structure as circumstances may dictate.

Section 7: Executive Director; Purpose and Duties.

The board of trustees shall hire an executive director who shall be the executive and administrative head of the Cape Care Community Health Trust and shall be resp onsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of law relative to the Cape Care Community Health Trust. The director will report to, and be responsible to, the Trustees.

The executive director may, as s/he deems necessary or suitable for the effective administration and proper performance of the duties of the Cape Care Community Health Trust and subject to the approval of the board of trustees , do the following:

(1) adopt, amend, alter, repeal and enforce, all such reasonable rules, regulations and orders as may be necessary;

(2) appoint and remove employees and consultants :

The executive director shall:

(1) establish an enrollment system that will ensure that all eligible and willing Barnstable County residents are formally enrolled ;

(2) utilize the purchasing power of the County to negotiate price discounts for prescription drugs and all needed durable and nondurable medical equipment and supplies ;

(3) negotiate or establish te rms and conditions for the provision of high quality health care services and rates of reimbursement for such services on behalf of the residents of the  County;

(4) develop prospective and retrospective payment systems for covered services to provide prompt and fair payment to eligible providers and facilities;

(5) oversee preparation of annual operating budgets for the delivery of health care ser vices;

(6) oversee preparation of annual benefits reviews to determine the adequacy of covered services; and

(7) prepare an annual report to be submitted to the County Commissioners and to be easily accessible to every Massachusetts resident .

Section 8: Medical Director and Quality Assurance Division; Duties and Purpose

There shall be a physician medical director, who shall be the chief medical officer of the Cape Care Community Health Trust, and directo r of the Quality Assurance Division. The powers and duties given the medical director in this chapter and in any other general or special law shall be exercised and discharged subject to the direction, control and supervision of the executive director of t he Cape Care Community Health Trust. The medical director shall be appointed by the executive director of the Trust, with the approval of the board of directors, and may, with like approval, be removed. The medical director will serve as chair of the profe ssional advisory committee to provide expert advice.

The quality assurance division shall support the establishment and promulgation of a universal, best quality of standard of care with respect to:

(1) appropriate staffing levels to assure patient access to providers;

(2) appropriate medical technology;

(3) design and scope of work in the health workplace; and

(4) evidence-based best clinical practices for preventive, therapeutic and restorative medical care.

The medical director shall recommend to the exe cutive director a schedule of covered benefits, and a formulary of covered pharmaceuticals. A process shall be established to develop initial recommendations, and ongoing revisions as may be necessary . A process shall be established for appeals from covera ge determinations.

The medical director shall conduct a comprehensive annual review of the quality of health care services and outcomes throughout the County and submit such recommendations to the board of directors as may be required to maintain and impro ve the quality of health care service delivery and the overall health of Barnstable County residents. In making its reviews, the quality assurance division shall consult with the regional, administrative, and planning divisions and hold hearings across the County on quality of care issues. The division shall submit to the board of directors its final review and recommendations on how to ensure the highest quality health care service delivery by October 1 of each year. Subject to board approval, the Cape Car e Community Health Trust shall adopt the recommendations.

Section 9. Professional Advisory Board

There shall be a Professional Advisory Board composed of participating health care practitioners and institutions , public health policy experts, clinical pharmacists, health educators, economists, administrators and other professional advisors as are determined to be necessary for health policy development by the executive director. The medical director , as chief medical officer and head of the Quality Assurance Division, will serve as chair.

The Board will:

(1)    Provide representation and develop policy and procedure recommendations to the exec utive director .

(2)    Monitor health care promotion and delivery to all covered residents .

(3)    Recommend to the director a standard benefit package of health care determined to be medically necessary and appropriate. Benefits may be classified as “core” and “elective” with differential coverage offered. A preventive health focus will be a essential value, including a public health approach to screening standards, and assuring that resources are adequate to achieve goals.

(4)    Evaluate and recommend changes to covered benefits, including new technologies, over time. Reference to authoritative external reviews of costs and benefits will be incorporated.

(5)    Recommend goals for appropriate allocation of limited financ ial and health care resources.

(6)    Be responsible for the drug formulary development, periodic revisions, and oversight of pharmaceutical benefit; with approval of Board of Trustees.

(7)    Recommend to the executive director a reimbursement schedule, including fee modifiers, in order to implement community health policy goals.

(8)    Recommend health manpower development goals to meet regional care needs.

(9)    Oversee the credentialing process for all eligible practitioners.

(10)                           Oversee development of sys tems to facilitate integrated , effective and efficient health care delivery, in an organization where providers will continue to be independently owned and managed. This will involve the following probable c omponents

1. Coverage determinations, and payment and/or provider reimbursement schedules. These would be evidence-based, reflect best practices, and would encourage provision of all necessary and appropriate community health care services. Assuring access to primary care providers for all residents will be a priority.
2. Monitoring of community health trends for health care planning, and support for initiatives to improve health indicators.
1. Claims data analysis for disease patterns and variance, as surveillance for acute- and chronic-illness risk reduction.
2. Long-term health trends and unusual patterns
3. Coordination with findings of Barnstable County Health and Human Resources reports and staff and Town health departments.
3. Education of health care consumers and providers , especially concerning appropriate utilization of heal th care resources.
4. Evaluate and recommend practice support systems as determined necessary.

Section 10: Administrative Division; Director; Purpose and Duties.

There shall be an administrative division within the Cape Care Community Health Trust , which shall be under the supervision and control of a director. The powers and duties given the director in this chapter and in any other general or special law shall be exercised and discharged subject to the direction, control and supervision of the executive director of the Trust. The director of the administrative division shall be appointed by the executive director of the Trust, with the approval of the board of trustees , and may, with like approval, be removed.

The director shall establish a professional advisory committee , composed of participating health care practitioners and institutions , public he alth policy experts, clinical pharmacists, health educators, economists, administrators and other professional advisors as are determined to be necessary for health policy development, to provide expert advice.

The ad ministrative division shall have day-to-day responsibility for:

(1) making prompt payments to providers and facilities for covered services;

(2) collecting reimbursement from private and public third part y payers and individuals for services not covered by this chapter or covered services rendered to non-eligible patients;

(3) developing information management systems needed for provider payment, rebate collection and utilization review;

(4) investing trus t fund assets consistent with state law and section nineteen of this chapter;

(5) developing operational budgets for the Cape Care Community Health Trust ; and

(6) assisting the planning division to develop any capital budgets for the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

Section 11: Planning Division; Director; Purpose and Duties.

There shall be a planning division within the Cape Care Community Health Trust , which shall be under the supervision and control of a director. The powers and duties given the director in this chapter and in any other general or special law shall be exercised and discharged subject to the direction, control and supervision of the executive director of the Cape Care Community Health Trust. The director of the planning division shall be appointed by the executive director of the Trust, with the approval of the board of trustees , and may, with like approval, be removed. The director ma y, at his/her discretion, consult with or refer to the professional advisory committee to provide expert advice.

The planning division shall have responsibility for coordinating health care resources to ensure a ll eligible participants reasonable access to covered services. The responsibilities shall include but are not limited to:

(1) an annual review of the adequacy of health care resources thro ughout the  County and recommendations for changes. Specific areas to be evaluated include but are not limited to the resources needed for underserved populations and geographic areas, for culturally and linguistically compe tent care, and for emergency and trauma care. The director shall develop short term and long term plans to meet health care needs.

(2) an annual review of capital health care needs. Included in this evaluation, but not limited to it a re recommendations for a budget for all health care facilities , evaluating all capital expenses in excess of a threshold amount to be determined annually by the executive director , and collaborating with local and statewide government and health care institutions to coordinate capital health planning and investment . The director shall develop short term and long term plans to meet covered health care expenditure ne eds.

In making its review, the planning division shall hold hearings on proposed recommendations. The division shall submit to the board of trustees its final review and recommendations by October 1 of each year. Subject t o board approval, the Cape Care Community Health Trust shall adopt the recommendations.

Section 12: Information Technology Division; Purpose & Duties.

There shall be an information technology division within the Cape Care Community Health Trust , which shall be under the supervision and control of a director. The powers and duties given the director in this chapter and in any other general or special law shall be exercised and discharged subject to the direction, control and supervision of the executive director of the Cape Care Community Health Trust. The director of the information technology division sha ll be appointed by the executive director of the Trust, with the approval of the board of trustees , and may, with like approval, be removed. The director may, at his/her discretion, consult with or refer to the professional advisory commit tee to provide expert advice.

The responsibilities of the information technology division shall include but are not limited to:

(1) developing a confidential electronic medical records system and prescription system in accordance with laws and regulations to maintain accurate patient records and to simplify the billing process, thereby reducing medical erro rs and bureaucracy;

(2) developing a tracking system to monitor quality of care, establish a patient data base and promote preventive care guidelines and medical alerts to avoid errors.

Notwithstanding that all billing shall be performed electronically, patients shall have the option of keeping any portion of their medical records separate from their electronic medical record. The information technology dire ctor shall work closely with the directors of the regional, administrative, planning and quality assurance divisions. The information technology division shall make an annual report to the board of trustees by October 1 of each year. Subject to board approval, the Trust shall adopt the recommendations.

Section 13: Regional Offices .

Cape Care shall maintain three physical sites as home bases for health promotion and wellness activities, as well as other member services, one in the upper Cape, one in the mid-Cape and one on the outer Cape. The trustees shall review the adequacy and appropriateness of the number and location of local offices at least once every three years.

Section 14: Eligible Participants.

Those persons who shall be recognized as eligible to participate in the Cape Care Community Health Trust plan shall include:

(1) All Bar nstable County residents, as defined in Section 2, are eligible for enrollment and coverage, regardless of employment status. No mandate to utilize the Cape Care Community Health Trust for coverage of health care services is expressed or implied.

(2)     Payment for emergency care of Barnstable County residents obtained out of county shall be at prevailing local rates. Payment for non-emergency care of Barnstable County residents obtained out-of-county shall be according to rates and conditions established by the executive director . The executive director may require that a resident be transported back to Massachusetts when prolonged treatment of a condition is necessary.

(3)     Visitors to Barnstable County shall be billed, or have their insurance billed, for all services received under the Cape Care Community Health Trust . The executive director of the Trust may establish intergovernmental arrangements with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and other states and countries to provide reciprocal coverage for temporary visitors .

Section 15: Eligible Health Care Providers and Facilities.

Eligible health care providers and facilities shall include an agency, facility, corporation, individual, o r other entity directly rendering any covered benefit to an eligible patient: provided, however, that the provider or facility:

(1) is licensed to operate or practice in the commonwealth;

(2) furnishes a signed agreement that:

(a) all health care services shall be provided without discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, income status or preexisting condition;

(b) the provider or facility shall comply with all state and federal laws regarding the confidentiality o f patient records and information;

(c) no balance billing or out-of-pocket charges shall be made for covered services unless otherwise provided in this chapter; and

(d) the provider or facility shall furnish such information as may be reasonably required by the Trust for making payment, verifying reimbursement and rebate information, utilization review analyses, statistical and fiscal studies of operations and compliance with state and federal law;

(3) meets state and federal quality guidelines including guidance for safe staffing, quality of care, and efficient use of funds for direct patient care;

(4) meets any additional requirements that may be established by the Cape Care Community Health Trust .

Section 16: Prospective Payments to Eligible Health Care Providers and Facilities for Operating Expenses.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall negotiate or establish, with eligible health care providers , health care facilities or groups of providers or facilities, payment rates for covered services. Such payment rates may be made on a fee for service , capitated system or overall oper ating budget basis and shall remain in effect for a period of 12 months unless sooner modified by the Trust. Except as provided in section sixteen of this chapter, reimbursement for covered services by the Cape Care Community Health T rust shall constitute full payment for the services rendered.

Prospective payments provided under this section can be used only to pay for the operating costs of eligible health care providers or facilities, including reasonable expenditu res, as determined through budget negotiations with the Cape Care Community Health Trust , for the maintenance, replacement and purchase of equipment . Payments for operating expenses shall not be us ed for  payment of exorbitant salaries. Any prospective payments made in excess of actual costs for covered services shall be returned to the Cape Care Community Health Trust. Prospective payment rates and schedules shall be adjusted annually to incorporat e retrospective adjustments.

Section 17: Retrospective Payments to Eligible Health Care Providers and Facilities for Operating Expenses.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall provide for r etrospective adjustment of payments to eligible health care facilities and providers to:

(1) assure that payments to such providers and facilities reflect the differen ce between actual and projected utilization and expenditures for covered services; and

(2) protect health care providers and facilities who serve a disproportionate share of eligible participants whose expect ed utilization of covered health care services and expected health care expenditures for such services are greater than the average utilization and expenditure rates for eligible participants statewide.

Section 18: Funding for Capital Investments by Eligib le Health Care Providers and Facilities.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall not directly fund capital investments ; however, eligible health care providers and facilities may utilize operating income derived from provision of covered services to fund such capital investments.

Section 19: Covered Benefits .

(1) The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall pay for all professional services provided by eligible providers and facilities to eligible participants needed to:

(a) provide high quality, appropriate and medically necessary health care services;

( b) encourage reductions in health risks and increase use of preventive and primary care services;

(c) assure a primary care "medical home " for every enrolled Barnstable resi dent.

(d) integrate physical health, mental and behavioral health and substance abuse services.

(2) Standard covered benefits shall include all high quality health care determined to be medically necessary or appro priate, and recommended by the Professional Advisory Board and approved by the Trustees , including, but not limited to, the following:

(a) prevention , diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury, including immunizations, laboratory, diagnostic imaging, inpatient, ambulatory and emergency medical care, blood and blood products, dialysis, organ transplants, endoscopic screening, mental health services, acupuncture, physical therapy, chiropractic and podiatric services, and a specialist second-opinion option;

(b) promotion and maintenance of health through appropriate screening, cou nseling, and nutrition and health education ;

(c) the rehabilitation of sick and disabled persons, including physical, occupational, speech, psychological, and other specialized therapies;

(d) prenatal, perina tal and maternity care , family planning , fertility and reproductive health care, and genetic counseling;

(e) developmental evaluation ; medical and behavioral;

(f) behavioral health se rvices, including effective mental illness prevention

strategies; inpatient and outpatient testing, diagnosis, counseling, and treatment in the most appropriate settings; coordination with medical providers ; and advocacy services as indicated.

(g) clinical nutrition services;

(h) medical social work services ;

(i) home health care including personal care; other needed su pport services; foster care; adult day care;

(j) long term care in institutional and community-based settings;

(k) hospice care , both inpatient and at-home;

(l) language interpretation and such other medical or r emedial services as the Trust shall determine.

(m) emergency and other medically necessary transportation ;

(n) dental services, other than cosmetic dentistry;

(o) basic vision care and correction, other than laser vision correction for cosmetic purposes;

(p) hearing evaluation and treatment including hearing aids;

(r) podiatry services;

(s) prescription drugs ;

(t) durable and non-durable medical equipment , supplies, prosthetics and appliances.

(3) Mental health services

              (a) Services for mental illness shall be integrated, to the extent possible, with co mprehensive health care delivery

(b) Communication between disciplines will be facilitated.

(c) Centralized triage and referral will facilitate timely, appropriate evaluation and therapy

(d) Reduction of barriers to access services is criti cal.

(e) Suicide prevention strategies will be more available through a community wide network of efforts.

              1. Cape-wide on-call teams

              2. central phone resource line

              3. community education

              4. police training

(4) Because tobacco abuse, poor diet choices, inadequate physical exercise and alcohol account for over a third of all deaths, and that individual choices significantly predict health outcomes, a comprehensive wellness and health promotion program will be central. Individual Health Resources Assessment will be conducted for all enrollees.

(a) Financial and other incentives to risk-reduction behaviors for participants and providers shall be offered.

(b) Adequate resources must available and affordable to the system.

(c) Public health focus on tobacco , diet and physical exercise in collaboration with other community agencies will be de veloped.

(d) Linked electronic medical records shall be utilized for their potential to prompt all providers to interventions.

(5) Standards for appropriate utilization of covered services shall be promu lgated. These will be evidence-based , transparently developed, and open. An appeal process for exceptions to non-covered benefits must be elaborated and shall be available.

(6) Not covered shall be therapies and procedures determined by the director to be principally of cosmetic intent.

(7) Co-payments for services must not present a barrier to access to essential “core” health care services.

              (a) cost shari ng may be required of care that is designated “elective .”

              (b) Such determination of covered services considered “core” and “elective ” shall be through an initial and open periodic review of covered services.

(8) No annual deductibles will be imposed.

(9) Patients shall have free choice of participating physicians and other clinicians, hospitals and other inpatient care facilities.

Section 20: Funding Sources.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall be the repository for all health care funds and related administrative funds. The sources of Cape Care Community Health Trust funding shall include the following:

(1) All monies saved by

(a) simplifying administration of health care finance;

(b) achieving volume purchase discounts on pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and specialized services;

(c) early detection and intervention for health problems through timely, universally available primary and preventive care;

(d) reduction in cl inical waste, both related to inadequate access, as well as over-utilization of resources, and to the costs associated with preventable harm.

(2) All monies the commonwealth currently appropriates to pay for health care services or health insurance premiu ms for enrolled residents in Barnstable County, including but not limited to, all current state programs which provide covered benefits and appropriations to cities, towns and other governmental subdivisions to pay for health care services or health insura nce premiums; provided, however, that the Trust shall then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for by the commonwealth with these funds. All current state health care programs that provide covered benefits shall be included in this requirement. The executive director shall seek from the Legislature a contribution for health care services that shall not decrease in relation to state government expenditures of health care services in the year that this chapter is enacted.

              (a) The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall qualify as a health maintenance organization recognized and accepted under the MassHealth program, and receive payments for enrolled residents as the community default provider.

              (b) According to the requirements of Ch. 58 (The Commonwealth Care program) every resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required to have health care insurance coverage that satisfies certain criteria of adequa cy. The coverage provided under the Trust will meet all such criteria, and the Trust shall qualify as a health maintenance organization recognized and accepted by the Commonwealth Care and Connector programs as a valid insurance plan option. As the community default provider, an extensive network of care for enrolled Barnstable Residents will be available.

(4)     All monies the commonwealth receives from the federal government to pay for health care services or health insuranc e premiums for enrolled residents in Barnstable County; provided, however, that the Trust shall then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid by the federal government with these funds. The Trust shall seek to maximize all source s of federal financial support for health care services in Barnstable County. Accordingly, the executive director shall seek all necessary waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation, if needed, so that all current federal payments for health care shal l, consistent with the federal law, be paid directly to the Trust Fund. In obtaining the waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation, the executive director shall seek from the federal government a contribution for health care services in Massachusetts that shall not decrease in relation to the contribution to other states as a result of the waivers, exemptions, agreements, or legislation.

(5)     The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall qualify as a health maintenance organization recognized and accepted by Medicare, and shall receive payments for the care of enrolled residents, as the community default provider under the Medicare Advantage program. Enrolled Medicare Advantage participants will be covered for all standard Trust plan benefits.

              Prior to obtain ing any federal program's financing through the Cape Care Community Health Trust , the Trust will seek to ensure that participants eligible for federal program coverage receive access to care and cover age equal to that of all other Trust participants. It shall do so by:

              (a) paying for all services enumerated above not covered under the relevant federal plans;

              (b) paying for all such services during any federally mandated gaps in participants’ coverage ; and

              (c) paying for any premiums, deductibles , co-payments, co-insurance or other cost sharing incurred by such participants.

(6)     All monies collected by cities, towns and other governmental subdivisions to pay for healt h care services or health insurance premiums for enrolled residents; provided, however, that the Trust shall then assume responsibility for all benefits and services previously paid for by those governmental subdivisions with these funds.

(7)     All monies collec ted though a Barnstable County Health Tax:

(a) The services delivered to eligible and enrolled Barnstable residents shall additionally, be funded in some part in accordance with the procedures established by the Barnstable county home rule charter, and in accordance with this section.

(b )A budget proposal reflecting anticipated revenues and expenses for the following fiscal year shall be submitted annually in accordance with Barnstable county administrative and budgetary procedures.

(c) Subject to the term s and conditions of the Barnstable county home rule charter, the Cape Care Community Health Trust may accept funding including, including certain state tax revenues, and grants from public or private persons or entities. Such receipts shall be applied to t he cost of operation of the Cape Care Community Health Trust.

(d) To the extent that the amounts for the Cape Care Community Health Trust budget exceed revenues derived under subsection (c) such excess amounts may be raised in accordance with sections thir ty and thirty-one of chapter thirty-five of the General Laws. Any such excess amounts shall be exempt from the provisions of section twenty A of chapter fifty-nine of the General Laws and amounts so assessed by the county or any municipality shall not be i ncluded in calculating the total taxes assessed under subsection (a) or the maximum levy limit under subsection (f) for such municipality under section twenty-one C of chapter fifty-nine of the General Laws. Any such assessment made upon the municipalities of Barnstable county in accordance with sections thirty and thirty-one of chapter thirty-five of the General Laws shall be indicated separately from all other county taxes within the assessments made by the assessors thereof. Any amounts received under th e assessments made pursuant to this subsection or pursuant to paragraph (ii) shall be deposited into The Cape Care Community Health Trust.

(7) All monies collected through payment of an Employer Health Care Contribution by all employers, based on total payroll, starting with the enactment of the benefit plan of the Cape Care Community Health Trust, as determined by the Trust in consultation with the Department of Revenue. The amount of this Contribution shall be in line with, or less than, the average co ntributions that employers make toward employee health benefits as of the effective date of this act, adjusted to a rate less than national health care inflation or deflation. The Contribution shall be collected through the Department of Revenue for deposi t in the Trust Fund.

(a) Any employer that pays to the Department of Revenue such a Employer Health Care Contribution will be recognized as meeting the obligation for coverage under the provisions of Ch. 58.

(b) Any employer that has a contract with an ins urer, health services corporation or health maintenance organization to provide health care services or benefits for its employees, which is in effect on the effective date of this section, shall be entitled to an income tax credit against premiums otherwi se due in an amount equal to the Employer Health Care Contribution due, pursuant to this section.

(c) Any insurer, health services corporation, or health maintenance organization which provides health care services or benefits under a contract with an emp loyer which is in effect on the effective date of this act, with any employees electing Cape Care Community Health Trust coverage shall pay to the Trust an amount equal to the Employer Health Care Contribution which would have been paid by the employer if the contract with the insurer, health services corporation or health maintenance organizations were not in effect, through the plan year. For purposes of this section, the term “insurer” includes union health and welfare funds and self-insured employers.

( d) All employers in Barnstable County will be required to fully disclose to employees residing in Barnstable county, clearly understandable information concerning the comparative availability, scope of covered benefits, health care providers and ancillary services, of the Cape Care Community Health Trust plan .

(8) All monies collected from collateral sources through coordination of benefits, for payment for health care services covered by the Trust. It is the intent of this act to establish a single public payer for all health care in the County. However, until such time as the role of all other payers for health care has been terminated, health care costs shall be collected from collateral sources whenever medical s ervices provided to an individual are, or may be, covered services under a policy of insurance, health care service plan, or other collateral source available to that individual, or for which the individual has a right of action for compensation to the ext ent permitted by law.

As used in this section, collateral source includes all of the following:

(a) insurance policies written by insurers, including the medical components of automobile, homeowners, worker’s compensation and other forms of liability insur ance;

(b) health care service plans and pension plans;

(c) employers;

(d) employee benefit contracts;

(e) government benefit programs;

(f) a judgment for damages for personal injury;

(g) any third party who is or may be liable to an individual for health c are services or costs;

As used in this section, collateral sources do not include either of the following:

(a) a contract or plan that is subject to federal preemption;

(b) any governmental unit, agency, or service, to the extent that subrogation is prohibited by law.

An entity described as a collateral source is not excluded from the obligations imposed by this section by virtue of a contract or relationship with a governmental unit, agency, or service.

The executive director shall attempt to negotia te waivers, seek federal legislation, or make other arrangements to incorporate collateral sources in Massachusetts into the Trust.

Whenever an individual receives health care services under the system and s/he is entitled to coverage, reimbursement, indem nity, or other compensation from a collateral source, s/he shall notify the health care provider or facility and provide information identifying the collateral source other than federal sources, the nature and extent of coverage or entitlement, and other r elevant information. The health care provider or facility shall forward this information to the executive director. The individual entitled to coverage, reimbursement, indemnity, or other compensation from a collateral source shall provide additional infor mation as requested by the executive director.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall seek reimbursement from the collateral source for services provided to the individual, and may institute appropriate action, including suit, to recover the costs to t he Trust. Upon demand, the collateral source shall pay to the Cape Care Community Health Trust the sums it would have paid or expended on behalf of the individuals for the health care services provided by the Trust.

If a collateral source is exempt from su brogation or the obligation to reimburse the Trust as provided in this section, the executive director may require that an individual who is entitled to medical services from the collateral source first seek those services from that source before seeking t hose services from the Cape Care Community Health Trust.

To the extent permitted by federal law, contractual retiree health benefits provided by employers shall be subject to the same subrogation as other contracts, allowing the Trust to recover the cost o f services provided to individuals covered by the retiree benefits, unless and until arrangements are made to transfer the revenues of the benefits directly to the Cape Care Community Health Trust.

Default, underpayment, or late payment of any tax, premium , or other obligation imposed by the Trust shall result in the remedies and penalties provided by law, except as provided in this section.

Eligibility for benefits shall not be impaired by any default, underpayment, or late payment of any tax, premium, or other obligation imposed by the Cape Care Community Health Trust.

(9) The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall retain:

(a) all charitable donations, gifts, grants or bequests made to it from whatever source consistent with state and federal law;

(b) payments from third party payers for covered services rendered by eligible providers to non-eligible patients but paid for by the Cape Care Community Health Trust;

(c) income from the investment of Trust assets, consistent with state and federal law.

Secti on 21: Insurance disclosure.

Insurers regulated by the division of insurance , will be required to fully disclose, to prospective purchasers residing in Barnstable county, clearly understandable information concerning the comparative avail ability, scope of covered benefits, health care providers and ancillary services, of the Cape Care Community Health Trust plan .

Section 22: Health Trust regulatory authority.

The Cape Care Community Health Trust shall adopt and promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter. The initial regulations may be adopted as emergency regulations but those emergency regulations shall be in effect only from the effec tive date of this chapter until the conclusion of the transition period.

Section 23: Implementation of the Health Care Trust.

The first meeting of the Directors shall take place within ninety days of enactment of this legislation.

The Cape Care Community H ealth Trust shall complete its period of transition within two years of enactment of this legislation. Full implementation of the benefit plan of the Cape Care Community Health Trust shall be completed within three years of enactment of this legislation.