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  • This page, Homeless Medical Respite Services, is   offered by
  • MassHealth

Homeless Medical Respite Services

MassHealth covers medical respite services for eligible MassHealth members experiencing homelessness.

These services, called Homeless Medical Respite Services (HMRS), are available to any eligible MassHealth member who is enrolled in any managed care plan, as well as those who are in Fee-for-Service. Members may be eligible if they are 18 or older and experiencing homelessness.

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Overview

MassHealth provides coverage for the following HMRS services.

  • Post-hospital medical respite services for MassHealth members experiencing homelessness who had a recent inpatient hospital admission or hospital emergency department visit for a medical or surgical issue and do not have an appropriate location where they can safely recover.
  • Pre-procedure medical respite services for MassHealth members experiencing homelessness who need a safe and private environment to prepare for and recover after a colonoscopy.

Members are usually referred for HMRS by staff from an acute care hospital. HMRS providers may only take referrals from acute care hospitals for MassHealth members with an acute medical or surgical service-related inpatient stay or Emergency Department visit.

More details about eligibility for HMRS  can be found in the HMRS program regulation.

Post-Hospital Homeless Medical Respite Services

Post-hospital medical respite services include room and meals, case management, health and referral navigation to address other health and social needs, and help transitioning to settings in the community. In addition, while staying at the homeless medical respite location, members can receive intensive housing navigation through the Community Support Program for Homeless Individuals (CSP-HI) services. [future link]

Post-hospital medical respite is available to eligible individuals for up to 183 days per rolling 12-month period.

Pre-Procedure Homeless Medical Respite Services

Pre-procedure medical respite services include room and meals, pre-procedure support services (for example, providing appropriate meals and help accessing prescriptions to prepare for the colonoscopy), and a place to recover once the colonoscopy is complete.

Pre-procedure medical respite is available to eligible individuals for up to two days. The combination of post-hospital and pre-procedure medical respite services may not exceed 183 days per rolling 12-month period.

Providers

Here is a list of HMRS providers and their contact information as of May 2025.

Key Resources

Date published: June 9, 2025

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