Outside Section 37

Essential Community Provider Trust Fund

SECTION 37.   Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the comptroller, in consultation with the secretary of health and human services, shall develop a schedule for transferring not less than $28,000,000 from the General Fund to the Essential Community Provider Trust Fund established under section 2PPP of chapter 29 of the General Laws for the purpose of making payments to acute care hospitals and community health centers in fiscal year 2008. The secretary shall authorize expenditures from the fund without further appropriation for the purpose of a grant program to improve and enhance the ability of acute care hospitals and community health centers to serve populations in need, more efficiently and effectively, including, but not limited to, the ability to provide community-based care, clinical support, care coordination services, disease management services, primary care services and pharmacy management services through a grant program. The secretary shall consider applications from acute care hospitals and community health centers in awarding the grants.
 
 

Summary:
This section establishes a transfer from the General Fund to the Essential Community Provider Trust Fund to provide grants to Community Health Center who provide uncompensated care.