Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
as follows:
SECTION 1.
To provide for certain obligations of the commonwealth,
the sums set forth in section 2A are hereby appropriated for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 2000, from the general fund, for the several purposes and
subject to the conditions specified therein and subject to the provisions of
law regulating the disbursement of public funds for said fiscal year.
NO SECTION
2.
SECTION 2A.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE.
Reserves.
1599-1499
For a one-time loan to the city of Quincy for the purpose of facilitating
the conversion of Quincy Hospital from ownership by the city of Quincy to
ownership by a private nonprofit corporation; provided, that such loan
shall be repaid by the city in three equal annual installments, without
interest, commencing in fiscal year 2005 and ending in fiscal year 2007;
provided further, that the terms of the loan shall be established by and
subject to the terms of an agreement to be negotiated between the city,
represented by the mayor thereof, and the secretary of administration and
finance; provided further, that the state comptroller shall intercept cherry
sheet
payments, so called, due the city from the commonwealth upon certification
by said secretary that said city is in default on the loan or any
other terms of the agreement; provided further, that the proceeds of the
loan shall be used by the city for the costs associated with said
conversion, including, but not limited to, obligations of the hospital to
the city for employee benefits and for any indebtedness incurred by the
city on behalf of the hospital; provided further, that in the event
that the financial commitments of the city to the hospital in fiscal
years 2000 to 2004, inclusive, terminate for any reason prior to fiscal year
2005, the annual installment payments of the loan shall become due in the
fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the financial commitments
terminate; provided further, that the city,
in collaboration with the corporation, shall file annually with said
secretary and with the secretary of health and human services, the house and
senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care a
report delineating the benchmarks and milestones established by the
corporation to achieve financial viability and the status of the
corporation in achieving the benchmarks and milestones, including changes
in patient volume and payer mix, the establishment and maintenance of community
benefits by the corporation and the results of affiliations with other
health care providers and health care entities; and provided further, that the
report shall be filed not later than the January 1 following the end of each
hospital fiscal year 2000 to 2004, inclusive.........................................$12,100,000
Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Division of Health Care Finance and Policy.
4100-0065
For the purpose, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law
to the contrary, of awarding one-time hardship relief grants in hospital fiscal
year 2000 to qualifying community health centers and acute care hospitals;
provided, that the division shall establish award criteria for the grants
consistent with the provisions of this item and the recommendations of the
advisory council established herein; provided further, that the criteria
shall, at a minimum, make eligible for such grants those community health
centers and acute care hospitals that reflect the following
circumstances: (1) when an applicant which is an acute care hospital is
negatively impacted as a direct result of the loan being made pursuant to item
1599-1499; provided, that such applicant is located in a
hospital service delivery area adjacent to the municipality benefiting from
the loan and such applicant incurs among the highest uncompensated care
costs of acute care hospitals in the commonwealth; (2) when an applicant
which is a freestanding or hospital licensed community health center is
experiencing severe financial distress as evidenced by substantial operating
deficits or substantial negative fund balances which jeopardizes the delivery
of
health care services to vulnerable populations; provided further, that such
applicant
incurs disproportionately high uncompensated care
costs pursuant to regulations of the division; or (3) when an applicant which
is an acute care hospital is substantially impacted by the recent or imminent
withdrawal of a Medicare health maintenance organization from the service
delivery area in which the applicant provides services; provided further,
that such criteria shall be submitted to the secretary of administration and
finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means at least ten days
prior to the adoption or promulgation thereof; provided further, that such
applicant shall demonstrate strong management practices or an ability and
willingness to develop such practices that are intended to alleviate any
recurring need for such grants;
provided further, that such applicant shall provide documentation requested by
the division to substantiate requests for such grants including, but not
limited to, information on the number of patients served and the cost and types
of services provided to the patients; provided further, that such applicant
shall submit to financial review by the division; provided further, that an
advisory group consisting of the commissioner of medical
assistance, the commissioner of public health, the executive
director of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, the president
of the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the secretary of health and
human services, or the designees of any such member thereof, shall recommend to
the division not later than 30 days after the effective date of this item, the
most efficacious and equitable means of awarding the grants authorized herein;
provided further, that the recommended criteria shall be consistent with the
provisions
of this item; and provided further, that said secretary shall chair the
advisory group..........................................$7,000,000
SECTION 3.
This act shall take effect upon its
passage.
Approved October 8, 1999.
