The Massachusetts Medical Society wishes to be recorded in support
of H.1156, An Act Relative to Urgent Care Access for MassHealth Enrollees.
Specifically, H.1156 would prohibit the Division of Medical Assistance,
health insurers, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management
firms and third party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care
organization or primary care clinician plan from requiring enrollees to obtain a
referral from a primary care physician prior to obtaining health care services
from an urgent care facility. The bill
further requires urgent care facilities to notify enrollee primary care
physicians of any care delivered, or if none exists, to provide the enrollee
with the names of primary care physicians in their area who are contracted with
MassHealth.
Access to care and continuity of care are basic tenants of quality
health care. H.1156 seeks to facilitate both for MassHealth recipients. Barriers to accessing urgent care services,
when necessary, should not exist.
Equally important is follow up with a patient’s primary care
provider. While it is unfortunate that MassHealth
recipients have difficulty accessing primary care providers, this bill would help
rectify that problem by ensuring that urgent care centers help patients do so by
providing them with options in their area.
The MMS urges the Health Care Financing Committee to act
favorably on H.1156.
