What is EHS Discharge Support?
EHS Discharge Support staff aid with trouble-shooting benefits issues, connecting with resources not known to the facility, and coordinating with state government partners to address the individual’s needs.
The EHS Discharge Support is limited to providing support to staff for only those situations when the patient will be forced to go to a homeless shelter or the streets upon discharge. For those patients in need of skilled or long term care, please contact the EOHHS Long Term Care Discharge Support Line.
This EHS Discharge Support is meant to supplement comprehensive discharge planning efforts as required per applicable EOHHS regulations and contracts. This service is a resource meant for use by provider staff only.
When to contact EHS Discharge Support Staff
Discharge staff should contact the EHS Discharge Support only after they have exhausted all efforts.
Types of assistance the EHS Discharge Support can provide:
Staff will attempt to identify any agency that is currently assigned to work with the specific patient, such as a managed care organization or state agency, and bring that entity into the conversation about discharge options. Staff will also attempt to identify any untapped resource that may be of assistance, such as resources from MassHealth, the Department of Mental Health, or the VA.
Recognizing that there may still be a handful of situations when a patient has no option but to go to an emergency shelter upon discharge, discharge staff should contact the shelter ahead of time to discuss the situation.
How to connect with the EHS Discharge Support:
- Please begin with emailing a completed intake form to EHSDischargesupport@mass.gov to ensure the support team has all the relevant information.
- Download the intake form: EOHHS Discharge Intake Form. To use this process, you will need to be registered as a user with the secure email system. If you have not used this system before, go to the URL below and register as a new user to send an email via this system: https://ppsecuremail.state.ma.us/encrypt
- Support is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can reach the Support team by emailing EHSDischargesupport@mass.gov or by calling (617) 660-4810.